Availability of Parish Registers

[Andrew Tarr]

I think you are being confused by the myth that our ancestors were not literate, studies have shown that literacy levels in the 19th century were as good if not better than modern standards and even as far back as the 17th century there were good levels of literacy amongst the working classes.
There is even evidence to show that the peasants’ revolt of 1381 was organised by way of the written word.

Guy, I can't help feeling that you may be in denial of some sort.  Please consult Gregory Clark 2008 for an analysis of historical English literacy rates.  He claims they rose fairly steadily from a plateau of about 60% before 1800 to approaching 99% today, men being more literate than women, not surprisingly.  There may well be surprising occurrences of literacy in history, but I won't accept that there has been any regression.  As others have posted, it is quite likely that an X mark on a certificate may be misleading, however.

[KGarrad]

If by literacy you mean the ability to write a coherent English sentence, free of spelling and punctuation errors, then I am in complete agreement with Guy!

Some of the posts on RootsChat have to be seen to be believed!
And they are the ones I ignore!

[Andrew Tarr]

If by literacy you mean the ability to write a coherent English sentence, free of spelling and punctuation errors, then I am in complete agreement with Guy!   Some of the posts on RootsChat have to be seen to be believed!
And they are the ones I ignore!

lol.  Don't know what G Clark's criteria were.

[majm]

If by literacy you mean the ability to write a coherent English sentence, free of spelling and punctuation errors, then I am in complete agreement with Guy!

Some of the posts on RootsChat have to be seen to be believed!
And they are the ones I ignore!

Yes, and  I am sure I will not be the only one to support KG's support.

Plenty of evidence of literacy in NSW among those transported to the colony.   If asked to "place your mark here" when I was a teenager, I would certainly have squiggled rather than signed my name.   When asked to "initial" here I would still make my "mark" .    If asked to 'sign here' then I would use my normal signature, unless it was a very formal document, when I would likely look up and say "usual signature" or do you want full signature with all my given names included in it....

Cheers,  JM

[BumbleB]

Will someone please give me a clue - who is Gregory Clark?    Mr G has given me a few alternatives, but none of them seem to fit the criteria of "historical English literacy rates" 

[majm]

Hi B-Bee,   I think the reference is to http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/gclark/research.html but like you, Mr Google is not exactly forthcoming in assisting the statement made as per quote that follows.  On a bright and cheerful note :  It is 2315 hours here in NSW, Monday evening.   I will awaken tomorrow to the first day of our Summer. 

Cheers,  JM

 

Guy, I can't help feeling that you may be in denial of some sort.  Please consult Gregory Clark 2008 for an analysis of historical English literacy rates.  He claims they rose fairly steadily from a plateau of about 60% before 1800 to approaching 99% today, men being more literate than women, not surprisingly.  There may well be surprising occurrences of literacy in history, but I won't accept that there has been any regression.  As others have posted, it is quite likely that an X mark on a certificate may be misleading, however.

[coombs]

Apparently the 1911 census was filled in by the householders rather than the enumerators, I dont know if that happened in every household but if so then it does appear people were more literate back then than we give them credit for. I have ancestors who put their mark but signed in other documents. My ancestor signed her name when she wed in 1856 but gave her mark in some of her children's birth certs. I find Guy's posts very interesting, and he knows what he is talking about, having spent decades doing genealogy.

What I do hate is people who point out the odd spelling or grammar error in others posts, as if their typing is so perfect. Sometimes you may accidentally hit the next key on the keyboard without realising etc.

[BumbleB]

Thanks majm - I did eventually suss out who he was - the author of A Farewell to Alms - a Scotsman, now living in America. 

Added:  before someone takes offence.  Mr Clark was educated at Cambridge 

[Andrew Tarr]

Hi B-Bee,   I think the reference is to http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/gclark/research.html but like you, Mr Google is not exactly forthcoming in assisting the statement made as per quote that follows.
Cheers,  JM

I was looking at http://ourworldindata.org/data/education-knowledge/literacy/ .   Andrew