I have a Land deed from Clarke county, AL (DB6:366-367) in which one of the witness singed his name with an "X" followed by a slanted E. Are there Signature Marks recorded like Cattle Brands in the said county or at state level? Charlie Purvis

Another thing regarding a "slanted E" is that if was a mark used for a signature, the angle "might" depend on where the signer was sitting in relation to the person who wrote the deed. I've seen recorded marks for the same person in different documents that were a regular "E", a "backwards E" (which is really just an upside down E), and an E laying on it's side. I don't think that the person changed the way they wrote the E (assuming it was transcribed accurately by the clerk), but that the angle depended on where the person was when they made it. If they were sitting across from the person who wrote the deed, and he said "put your mark here" without turning the deed "right side up" for them, the E would be "upside down" [the same as backwards]. If they were sitting to the side, the E could look like it was laying on it's side on the original document. When a clerk tries to makes an accurate rendition of a mark, I don't think the orientation is as important as the actual shape. I've also what would be read as a "3" as a mark in one record, be a rounded "W" or rounded "M" or rounded "E" in another. Try writing a three a turn it, and you have a W, M, or E. The initials of the signer "might" give a clue as to which it actually is. Rick Saunders -----Original Message----- From: transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Chaelie Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2012 9:43 AM To: TGF Mailing List Subject: [TGF] Brands & Signature Marks I have a Land deed from Clarke county, AL (DB6:366-367) in which one of the witness singed his name with an "X" followed by a slanted E. Are there Signature Marks recorded like Cattle Brands in the said county or at state level? Charlie Purvis The Transitional Genealogists List was created to provide a supportive environment for genealogists to learn best practices as they transition to professional level work. Please respect the kind intentions of this list. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/5960 - Release Date: 12/14/12

Not to my knowledge. Many people did not have *unique* signature marks. Also, keep in mind that you are looking at a deed book written by the clerk, as opposed to the original deed. Some clerks tried to faithfully reproduce signature marks; others did not. Either way, what you are looking at in a deed book would not have been the witness's own signature--at best it would have been a reproduction of his signature. Michael Hait, CG(sm) michael.hait@hotmail.com http://www.haitfamilyresearch.com "Planting the Seeds" Blog: http://michaelhait.wordpress.com CG and Certified Genealogist are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic competency evaluation, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. -----Original Message----- From: Chaelie Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2012 11:43 AM To: TGF Mailing List Subject: [TGF] Brands & Signature Marks I have a Land deed from Clarke county, AL (DB6:366-367) in which one of the witness singed his name with an "X" followed by a slanted E. Are there Signature Marks recorded like Cattle Brands in the said county or at state level? Charlie Purvis The Transitional Genealogists List was created to provide a supportive environment for genealogists to learn best practices as they transition to professional level work. Please respect the kind intentions of this list. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message