Genealogy Chat

OC, you are right. I have a number of examples of marks being made on certificates and documents and I then find that they have signed their signatures on others. Usually women so you could also be right about pretending so as not to embarrass husbands. Susan

Interesting thank you for your responses

Just because your ancestors made their mark, don't be too sure they couldn't write! People were far more obedient to authority in those days, and if a clerk or registrar or vicar said 'make your mark here' they would do so, and never dream of saying that they could write! Also - I suspect that many women who could write, pretended they couldn't, in order not to 'show up' their husbands, who really couldn't write! And don't forget - working class people who could write, were often held in suspicion by their 'superiors'. The middle and upper classes were generally deeply disturbed by the thought of the lower orders getting an education - where would all the maids, skivvies and labourers come from, if everyone could read and write, and get a better job, and question their lot in life. OC

There are still people in this day and age who are unable to sign their name. On the printed out certificate, where the registrar enters what the informant signed, it will say 'The mark of ....'. Likewise, in pencil in the margin in the register, it will probably say the same. Jack

I have certificates and Deeds that have perolpes marks rather than the expected signiture, usually an X or +, this is often a sign of illiteracy ans the words the mark of is oftern added to the line. One set of deeds I have (inherited by an Aunt) has the mark of a Business woman, she was very intellagent and quick, she could barter with the best business men as taught to her by her papa, yet she was illiterate - she never went to school and never learnt to read and write, yet in one of the last enteries on the Deeds, she actually signs her name - we think that she belittled by business men so she got her children to teach her to write her name, she had lovely pen manship.

I have a relative who was literate but made her mark on a birth certificate.One reason could be that she had the baby and other children with her so she had her hands full.In this circumstance it would be easier to make a mark than sign a name.It would be interesting to see if they made a mark or signed the register when they married. Fran

Perhaps, the family could not afford education and were unable to write. Thanks Glen

I recevied some certificates this week and noticed that on my GGGrandmothers name when she has registered some of her children there is a cross against her name and on her fathers name when her registered her. What does this cross mean? Was it a sign that they were poor?

The informant had to sign the document. If they could not write they would 'make their mark' which is usually a 'x'. Could this be what you are looking at? Glen