Are these signatures by the same man?

[Jang]

I'm trying to verify the arrival of my great grandfather, Thomas Taylor, in Australia.

I have a copy of a partial signature from his marriage certificate in 1876 in Victoria.

I also have a signature of a Thomas Taylor, merchant seaman, who was discharged in NSW from the "Time and Tide", in 1861.

They look very similar to me but I'd be grateful for a second opinion.

Jan

[Milliepede]

The Thomas at the top is more spread out so first instinct says not but maybe he was caught for space on the bottom one.

What date in 1861 was it?  Have you found him on census in 1861 (presume he was from UK)

[rosie99]

I am not convinced they are the same person. 

[Jang]

Yes, I thought it looked more squashed up too - but there wasn't a lot of space in the column for him to sign. He was discharged on 21 January 1861. My Thomas Taylor doesn't appear in any censuses after 1851 so that fits.

[cristeen]

The capital T's look different to me. In the higher signature the T is started with an anti-clockwise loop, in the lower it looks like a clock-wise loop

[Jang]

Thanks, Rosie. I'm not sure either :-)

[Jang]

I noticed that too, cristeen. These two signatures are 15 years apart - perhaps he matured :-) He was aged 26 for the first and 41 for the second ...

[Jang]

I should have mentioned that I do know my Thomas Taylor was a merchant seaman, as were his two brothers.

My earlier post:  http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=792323.msg6484736

[smudwhisk]

I agree with Rosie and cristeen, I don't think its the same person.  You wouldn't expect such a change in how to write the capital T even with difference in age.  Its a pronounced change in how to write the letter.