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Signed with the mark of a circle, O.

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Gwyn in Kent

Gwyn in Kent Report 19 Apr 2004 18:20

Does anyone know if it had any significance if someone made their mark with a circle instead of a cross? ... We have a witness doing that at a church marriage in Sussex in 1792. The marriage entry above this has different people making the usual X... The witness had also previously married at a Sussex parish church, so is unlikely to be of an obscure belief.

Joan

Joan Report 20 Apr 2004 08:30

Gwyneth, very interesting....only met the usual X so far. Joan

Anne

Anne Report 20 Apr 2004 13:45

I should think they just wanted to be different. I don't think the 'mark' had to be any particular shape but I suppose a cross would be easier for someone not used to holding a pen. I must admit I've never seen anything else, and always wondered if there were some! Anne

(¯`*•.¸*Karen on the Coast*(¯`*•.¸

(¯`*•.¸*Karen on the Coast*(¯`*•.¸ Report 20 Apr 2004 17:03

Hi Gwenyth, i got a birth certificate a couple of weeks ago and the mother had put a circle instead of a cross,this was the first time i'd seen it, Karen.

(¯`*•.¸*Karen on the Coast*(¯`*•.¸

(¯`*•.¸*Karen on the Coast*(¯`*•.¸ Report 20 Apr 2004 17:08

sorry about the spelling of your name,twitchy fingers today, Karen

Gwyn in Kent

Gwyn in Kent Report 20 Apr 2004 20:33

Thanks for your thoughts, folks. We have also found evidence of a blind man signing with a cross..... Karen, - Don't worry about spelling. Growing up in the south of England with a Welsh name, I got used to all manner of spellings.