Record copies of deeds and wills at the local courthouse infrequently contain a “replica” of your signer’s signature. What you see is simply the clerk’s transcription of the document and of the signature. If your ancestor made a mark that was different from an “X,” the clerk may have tried to replicate that, but a signature that appears to match the script of the document most likely means that you are looking at a record copy of the document and not your ancestor’s actual signature. It is rare to have an ancestor actually write out his own documents. signatures

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6 Responses

  1. John, you wrote:
    “…a signature that appears to match the script of the document most likely means that you are looking at a record copy of the document and your ancestor’s actual signature. ”

    Did you mean, “…you are looking at a record copy of the document and [not] your ancestor’s actual signature.”? I ask that because of your last sentence and the writing in your post image.

  2. Doesn’t the word “seal” written inside scrolling after the name indicate that it is where a signature was affixed? Wouldn’t that also tell you that it is not the actual handwritten signature of the person?

    • Ernie, what a good question.

      No, the word “seal” or abbreviation “LS” (for legal seal) inside the squiggle represents a now very archaic practice when the wealthy and nobility were the only ones who had documents made in their names. And their “seals” (perhaps molded metal or even carved stone, with a decorative or symbolic device/image were used in documents and to “seal” correspondence with a dab of sealing-wax. Not instead of a signature, but as part of assurance as to authenticity of the instrument. If you search the internet or wikipedia for sealing-wax, you will get a start for some articles about history of such use of seals. Today, high Court officials have Official Seals that are sometimes actually used on documents; they are molded to use sort of like a pliers to make an actual impression in the paper document (not using sealing-wax today). Bear in mind the phrase, “signed, sealed and delivered.” Ordinary folks almost never have had actual seals, and in the USA the use by the wealthy (aside from officialdom) had pretty much disappeared by the beginning of the 19th century. It is pretty amazing to see the “sealing” practice held over into modern times in such things as recorded deeds. Now when you see this, you can grin about historical holdovers.

  3. However, I have a copy of my 3+g-grandfather’s handwriting from his naturalization document. He wrote the document. I am so lucky to have found this, thanks to a great volunteer at the Adams County Historical Society in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. I also have the naturalization document written out by his brother-in-law at the same time.

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