Here is a link to see types of signatures and handwriting by farmers in Europe in 1750. Some of the signatures are sure-handed and we can be sure that they could read and write. Some farmers signed only with the letters of their names or a sign, and some have other persons write down their name and make a cross above it. This was the legal way in signing official documents. Here are the links: http://www.suetterlinschrift.de/Lese/Sutterlin7.htm