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  • wills signature

    Hi

    I have a copy of a will on Ancestry from 1852, would the signature on there actually be his? (there is no 'X')
    Robyne


    Name interests: Alderton, Osborne, Danslow, Hanley, Bowkett, Lakin, Elliott, Banner, Walters, Reed, Deighton, Sleight, Dungar ;)

  • #2
    does it appear the same as the witnesses?

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Lensgirl View Post
      Hi

      I have a copy of a will on Ancestry from 1852, would the signature on there actually be his? (there is no 'X')
      Often wills were hand copied when probate was granted so it's possible it is a copy rather than his signature.

      Margaret

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      • #4
        The Scottish wills you find on ScotlandsPeople are all copied out.
        Uncle John - Passed away March 2020

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        • #5
          These days (England and Wales) you have to surrender the original will to get probate but I think you get a copy back, courtesy of Mr Xerox. Even before this kind of copying was possible the executors would need certified copies to deal with the assets but I imagine these would have been made by solicitors clerks. I think kylejustin is inviting a comparison of handwriting; if the writing is very similar then it's probably a copy. If not, it's the original. Ink etc may differ from the body of the will in any case, because it could be that copies might have been made before anybody signed the original. Since everybody signs the original at the same time (give or take a few minutes!) the pen and ink would often be shared but it might be different from the body of the will.

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