Compare signatures Please

[Linda_J]

Hi

I have a little bit of a problem and would like oppinions.

The clip shows three signatures from the parish records for marriages over a period of time.
I believe the first and second are the same person and these are from his first and second marriages.

I can't make up my mind about the bottom one which was 33 years on from the previous one.
The person in question was getting on in years so his signature might have been a bit shaky.

Thanks
Linda

[genjen]

I think you can be pretty certain about the first two but the third is very different in its style. It is much more spiky and has almost no looping of letters where the other two have.

My immediate instinct would be to say that they are by different people but I also know from much more recent experience ( my mother's last year, or so) how much handwriting can be affected by poor eyesight and old age.

Sorry, that's not very helpful. Anyone else have any opinions?

Jen

[IrishOrigins]

I'm certainly not an expert in handwriting, but my instinctive reaction is that the last signature is not the same as the others.

The first two look (at first glance) to be something like John Relf but the third looks more like John Bell.

My father had a lovely hand all through his life, until his last illness when his signature, always so clear and nicely written, was almost totally illegible.  This could explain the differences (as already mentioned) but I can't be any more specific I'm afraid.

Sorry -

Philippa

[charlotteCH]

Don't think the first and third are by the same person even allowing for ageing etc.   The J of John in both is differently formed.

cahrlotte

[Linda_J]

Hi Jen, Philippa and charlotte

Thank you for your comments.

Yes I agree the last one must be a different person.

Thanks again

Linda