On Mon, 16 Sep 2013 09:11:44 -0400, Keith Nuttle <Keith_Nuttle@sbcglobal.net> wrote: >On 9/16/2013 5:31 AM, cecilia wrote: >> Charles Ellson wrote: >> [...] >>>>> In Scottish records, it's usually just a >>>>> cross and the signature of a witness >>>>> to say that A had made that mark. >>>>> Lesley Robertson >>>> >>>> That's what I've seen in American >>>> colonial and early federal records >>>> as well--mostly wills and related matters. >>>> Some also have a >>>> hand-drawn rosette pattern >>>> labeled "seal" or "sealed." >>>> >>> IME (RHS pond) seals only seem >>> to feature with nobility and corporate >>> bodies with others either signing >>> or else making a mark with the >>> required number of witnesses' signatures. >> >> Sealing (if occuring) can go with either signing or making a mark. >> >> From transcription of probate copy of a will proved at the >> Archdeaconry Court of Ely >> >> "....In Witness whereof I have hereuntoset my hand and Seal the Third >> Day of November One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Six >> Charles Bottomley [loco sigilli] >> Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testator ...." >> > >I do not know about the UK, but in America it is quite common to see a >hand drawn seal. I always assumed that the original document was >transcribed into the Probate court records and the hand drawn seal was >used to represent the actual seal on the original document That could be so, but multiple hand written copies of wills and probate matters exist, in Maryland one "original" copy to the local county court and one to the Prerogative* [central] Court. I have two handwritten copies of one such will--they're verbally identical but with very different handwriting and placement on the page. Both have hand drawn seals, which also differ. One was kept in Talbot County, the other went to the Prerogative Court and ended up in the State Archives. * Colonial court systems varied widely -- Don donsgenes@charter.net