In a message dated 8/27/2003 6:38:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time, giegerg@hotmail.com writes: Frequently, folks could not write their name, and transcribers did not realize that the "X" was their mark, unless the scrivner wrote "His (or Her) Mark" (as the case may be) above and below the "X" I have some probate records from the estate of my husband's great-great grandfather. Some of the documents are signed by his wife in this manner, with an X instead of a signature. Then the words "her mark" to indicate that. Kelli Mallard