James Phillips sig comparison

[stormswift]

I am looking for a George Phillips son of James Phillips. I have located a possible marriage for the said George but the fathers occupation doesn't tally with the other records I have so far found for him.
James was from Stroud where he was a Blacksmith. He moved to Birmingham just before 1840 were he began Button Making upto the 1851 census when he was about 55. 10 years later he is a gardener. Could he have moved into being a Gun Finisher. I have not found any James Phillips in 1851 or 1861 census as gun finishers upto about 1822 births as George was born about 1836.
Next thought is to compare signatures. The top signature is James in 1856 on Georges marriage, below is his own marriage of 1821 some 30 years previous when he was about 24/25 are they similar enough to be the same person. George has a brother also called James but he signed his marriage and his sisters as a witness with 'his mark' so have cancelled him out as being witness on Georges marriage. Any thoughts ??

[sami]

Considering there is some 30 years between the two signatures I think they are similar enough to be the same person.

Especially in the first name.

sami

[josey]

To me they look like the same hand - with more confidence in the 30yr later one. However, I believe handwriting was taught in a much more standardised & 'copied from the board' way in the 19th century & many people may have had the same style. 

Is it a bit strange that James senior could sign his name but James jnr couldn't?

[Jool]

I also think they look like the same hand, the earlier one is a little more wobbly but that may have been down to wedding day nerves  . I would have thought his blacksmith skills would have been useful in the gun finisher trade.

[stormswift]

Thx for your thoughts. Yes Josey I think so to