That's a good idea, but the document in question here -- a 1717 rate book for Aldgate parish -- was also signed by 10 other people on the same page and not in much risk of forgery. Other documents where forgery might be a concern, such as deeds, he signs without a flourish. There are two other instances of him using the flourish, on Consistory Court depositions in 1711 and 1713. I can't imagine the clerk of court would be terribly impressed with him wasting time with a doodle -- or, for that matter, the other Aldgate parish officers waiting for him to sign the rate book. best, Michael -----Original Message----- From: Betsy [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 01 September 2006 00:03 To: Michael Scott Subject: Re: [OEL] signature flourish "Despite being a capital offence forging was a common practice in the late 18th century. The notes were printed on an ordinary type of paper and relied heavily on the intricacy of the artist's copperplate flourishes to deter forgers. " this refers to bank notes but if he was signing multiple important documents maybe he would try this technique to deter copies. It had something to do with the advent of steel nibs on pens that could stand-up to the rigors of flourishes and probably with his boredom :) Betsy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Scott" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 5:23 PM Subject: [OEL] signature flourish > Hello, > > I've found a signature from 1717 with a rather unusual ending -- I'm not > sure whether it is just an eccentric flourish or signifies something. I > have > posted an image here > > http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/mbexec/message/5538/surnames.johnson/17448 > > I wonder if anyone has come across something similar? This is someone who > signed hundreds of documents, so perhaps he was just amusing himself with > a > doodle. I've found two others with a similar ending, but mostly he signs > without any flourish. > > thanks, > > Michael > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/434 - Release Date: 30/08/2006 > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ > -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/434 - Release Date: 30/08/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/435 - Release Date: 31/08/2006

Is it possible that there was another of the same name and so, in documents where there might be confusion between them, he used the flourish to distinguish who was who? Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Scott" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 5:26 PM Subject: RE: [OEL] signature flourish > That's a good idea, but the document in question here -- a 1717 rate book > for Aldgate parish -- was also signed by 10 other people on the same page > and not in much risk of forgery. Other documents where forgery might be a > concern, such as deeds, he signs without a flourish. > > There are two other instances of him using the flourish, on Consistory > Court > depositions in 1711 and 1713. I can't imagine the clerk of court would be > terribly impressed with him wasting time with a doodle -- or, for that > matter, the other Aldgate parish officers waiting for him to sign the rate > book. > > > best, > Michael > > -----Original Message----- > From: Betsy [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 01 September 2006 00:03 > To: Michael Scott > Subject: Re: [OEL] signature flourish > > > "Despite being a capital offence forging was a common practice in the late > 18th century. The notes were printed on an ordinary type of paper and > relied > heavily on the intricacy of the artist's copperplate flourishes to deter > forgers. " > > > this refers to bank notes but if he was signing multiple important > documents > maybe he would try this technique to deter copies. > > It had something to do with the advent of steel nibs on pens that could > stand-up to the rigors of flourishes and probably with his boredom :) > > Betsy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael Scott" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 5:23 PM > Subject: [OEL] signature flourish > > >> Hello, >> >> I've found a signature from 1717 with a rather unusual ending -- I'm not >> sure whether it is just an eccentric flourish or signifies something. I >> have >> posted an image here >> >> http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/mbexec/message/5538/surnames.johnson/17448 >> >> I wonder if anyone has come across something similar? This is someone who >> signed hundreds of documents, so perhaps he was just amusing himself with >> a >> doodle. I've found two others with a similar ending, but mostly he signs >> without any flourish. >> >> thanks, >> >> Michael >> -- >> No virus found in this outgoing message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/434 - Release Date: >> 30/08/2006 >> >> >> ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== >> OLD-ENGLISH Web Page >> http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ >> > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/434 - Release Date: 30/08/2006 > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/435 - Release Date: 31/08/2006 > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > To contact the list administrator: > [email protected] > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 268.11.7/432 - Release Date: 29/08/2006 > >