Just out of curiosity

[KathMc]

Very interesting.

1. My 9x great-grandfather was Shakespeare's lawyer, so he could write. He is the farthest back I have gotten with definite proof of that, although I have another line back a bit farther in Alsace and I think they could also.

2. I have a deed with my gg grandparents' signatures both being X. I think my gg grandfather was too sick at the time to sign his own name, but was a little suprised to see my gg grandmother, although she had stayed home to raise half siblings and then her own kids, so shouldn't have been so suprised.

3 and 4, none, although I haven't confirmed rumors of Welsh blood yet. If I could just take my Davis line back farther. 

Kath

[mahees]

Kath- My brother-in-law is Shakespeare mad. I'll ask him if he wants your autograph 

I have no Smiths or Jones'.
I don't have much in the way of certificates but on my G-Grandad's birth cetificate 1884 his Mum marks with an X, but when he grows up he can read and write as I have his army records and he's filled a page out, so it's that generation for me I think.
On the other side of my tree, my GGGG Grandfather, born 1802 was a lawyer, so I guess he could too.

Erin

[tigces]

Thanks for all the answers so far, as for my own line - from memory

Eliza Howard born 1848 signed with x (It has been pointed out to me that the wedding certificate, all the writing is the same so whether George should have signed  with x is debatable)

No men yet have signed with an x

Sarah Pitt born 1818 - I will have to examine the writing on the wedding certificate to see if it is the same.


Ruth Smith DOB 1848 dad's side
Alice Jones DOB 1847 mum's side

[Comosus]

Thanks for all the answers so far, as for my own line - from memory

Eliza Howard born 1848 signed with x (It has been pointed out to me that the wedding certificate, all the writing is the same so whether George should have signed  with x is debatable)

If you got the certificate fro the GRO, they all have the same handwriting as each certificate is a written copy of the original.  I didn't need a marriage certificate for my GGG Grandparents as I knew the wife's parents, so I got the birth of my GGG Grandfather instead.  Later in the year, I decided to look through the marriage records on microfiches at the library where they were held.  These were copies of the originals so they had all the original handwriting.  What's more: It only cost me 10p to print it off and now I have my GGG Grandparents' handwritings - both of them could write


Andrew

[KathMc]

Kath- My brother-in-law is Shakespeare mad. I'll ask him if he wants your autograph 

Erin

That is my claim to fame. Actually, I would call it my claim to almost fame.  I'll sign anything but a check. 

[Siamese Girl]

All the male Childs havedefinately been literate since Richard Child signed his will in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire in 1678 - women are more difficult to say as they tend not to sign documents so often as men, so you don't find them so much before the marriage registers of 1754+

I'm sure the level of literacy was much higher in the C18th than it was in the C19th.

regards

Carole

[Kezlyn]

Not sure about the first two.

My mother's maiden name was Smith. The male line, going backwards, is John, Bill, Fred, and Charlie. They were a NIGHTMARE to trace!!

No Jones' at all (yet)!

[Comosus]

Not sure about the first two.

My mother's maiden name was Smith. The male line, going backwards, is John, Bill, Fred, and Charlie. They were a NIGHTMARE to trace!!

No Jones' at all (yet)!

My Smith male line goes George, John, John, John!

Andrew

[MrsLizzy]

Question 3

My mother-in-law was a Smith

Question 4

My Gran was a Jones (my dads mum)

Needless to say I have not really started to look at them lines yet Oh the headache just thinking about it.

Ken

I thought Phillips was bad enough!