This is the 1716 signature of Lydia Sargent of Malden, Mass., There are times when comparing signatures can help to connect two individuals with the same name in different locations. And there are times when it is simply interesting to have an image of an ancestor's signature when pictures of that person are not available. Not all of our ancestors were literate, sometimes illiterate people left behind marks or signatures, and ancestors with no property likely didn't leave behind a signature at all. But it's worth a look.
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13 October 2014
Do You Collect Ancestral Signatures?
This is the 1716 signature of Lydia Sargent of Malden, Mass., There are times when comparing signatures can help to connect two individuals with the same name in different locations. And there are times when it is simply interesting to have an image of an ancestor's signature when pictures of that person are not available. Not all of our ancestors were literate, sometimes illiterate people left behind marks or signatures, and ancestors with no property likely didn't leave behind a signature at all. But it's worth a look.
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Do you do collect them? If so, do you keep them separate or in with all the other person's papers?
ReplyDeleteI have been collecting signatures of my ancestors for over 30 years. A signature may be one of the only things you will ever see that they crafted with their own hand. Their signature are unique individual, and I find it interesting to see how they may change though their lifetime.
ReplyDeleteI like to see and save signatures too. A point to keep in mind -- just because it says "Her X mark" does not mean the person was illiterate. Sometimes one let the more important official sign out of respect.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting viewpoint on signatures, I've never seen someone lay it out like that and I doubt many other people would. Your ancestors' signatures really can be a unique look into their pasts (and education like you said). Definitely something interesting to collect as I continue my research.
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