Just out of curiosity

[Welsh Jules]

1) My Gx11 Grandfather was a Chaplain in Ordinary to Charles II and had some sermons published in the mid 1600s, I've also got copies of documents in his actual handwriting. I believe from information I have from wills that his daughters could write, that would have been the late 1600s/early 1700s. Although I can't say that that is true 100%.

I can also trace that line back to Jersey in the 1500s where his G Grandfather (my 14xG Grandfather!) was a rector, so I would imagine that he could write.

2) My GG Grandmother died in 1886 and one of her daughters made her mark to act as informant to the death.

3) No Smiths to be found as yet.

4)My earliest Jones so far is the marriage of my GG Grandfather John Jones to Lucy Lewis in 1851. Unfortunately his father was a John Jones as well

[jillynetter]

1. 1870s for the X
No smiths or Jones found yet:)

[Lloydy]

1) What is the earliest date, you've found that someone (women especially) that can sign their names?

2) What is the latest date, you've found that people sign with an X?

3) How far back did you go before you found your first Smith - if you are a Smith how far on the otherside of the tree?

4) How far back did you go before you found your first Jones?

1) 1853
2) 1879
3) No Smiths!! (not yet anyway!!)
4) Not very far at all......I was born a JONES

[avm228]

1) Don't know
2) Don't know
3) A long way back - two of my 4x g-grandmothers were born SMITH
4) No JONES ancestors, but several distant cousins - the closest are 2nd cousins once removed

Anna

[ali607]

hmm interesting

well most of my family lines were quite poor but i do have a few lines that were more well to do and better educated it semms than others

1) In 1843 my ggg grandparents Thomas Tissington and Eleanor Rachel Ridgett both signed their marriage certifiacte along with two other witnesses (one of whom was her dad William Ridgett who was born in 1793!) and also another relative Emma Ridgett. I think thats pretty good going for my family!

2) 1899 - my great grandma Elizabeth Tissington (the above's granddaughter?? Seems strange that the grandparents could write - very well too but she couldnt at the turn of the century!

3) Haven't found any yet -at least none anywhere near my direct line - i have 2 smiths but they are extremely distant i can hardly call them my tree! So far i have got back to 1740s...all my surnames are really quite rare apart from my mums maiden name was Williams - its been surprisingly easy though!

4) Dont have any Jones either! Apart from again very very distant ones who are distant cousins and have descended down a totally different line - then theres only 2.

Alison

[ggrocott]

Not a Smith or a Jones amongst them yet (unless you count the surname JOHNS as a Jones) - mind you I still have my share of brickwalls and untraceables.  In fact sometimes the less common names are worse because there are so many different ways they could be spelt and/or transcribed.

[mshrmh]

1. Earliest marriage with one signature (wife's) 1773; earliest with both 1788
2. Latest marriage with both marks 1860; latest with one mark & one signature 1869. I have an 1880 death certificate where the informant has made his mark.
3 & 4 None found so far - though quite a few other common surnames recur.

[jeune-romantique]

3) I have gone back to the early 1800's with no Smiths. Another line back to 1665, with no Smith's. And another line to the mid 1700's with no Smith's.

4) As with Smith above.

Not sure if its luck, or my ancestors being wise

[Comosus]

My GGGGGG Grandfather could write at the time of his first (of four!) marriages, in 1775.  He was born around 1750.

Andrew