Signature comparison

[Alexander.]

Twice, I've fully convinced myself two signatures were made by the same person, only to later prove I was wrong. So I'm being very wary here and would greatly appreciated your unbiased advise. I see strong similarities and differences.

The first a witness at an 1811 marriage. The second is a marriage of Mary Francis in 1814. Do you think it's the same person?

Thanks,
Alexander

[wivenhoe]

I will vote yes for same signature.


I don't know if it is significant in handwriting-ology but the spacing of the joins/breaks

between letters is the same in the second word.... F r  an cis   (my correction)

[Wiggy]

I think 'yes' also

 - Mary was being a bit more careful to write straight on her wedding record. 

Wiggy

[majm]

I too think same person both times!

And, as Wiggy said "a bit more careful to write straight on her wedding record" .... well of course she could, there was a line drawn there for her to follow 

And Wivenhoe hotes   (oops) NOTES  the spacing joins and breaks .... all supporting evidence for this being the same person in 1811 and in 1814.
 
Cheers,  JM

[PrueM]

I would say yes - things like the loops on the y and the F are the same on both, as well as all the other similarities the others have noted

Prue

[Alexander.]

Thanks wivenhoe, Wiggy, JM, & Prue,

I had started to doubt it when I saw the next entry had another Mary who wrote "Mary" very similarly.

Now I need to work on the difficult bit - how was this Mary Francis related to the groom of the 1811 marriage?

Alexander

[Alexander.]

Hi again,

I've been browsing more Francis marriages in the same parish - there are lots of them - and I think I may have found another match for Mary as a witness in 1807. In particular it looks very similar to the 1814 marriage don't you think?

Alexander

[Wiggy]

Well the 1807 signature does look the same - but by a less experienced writer - obviously! -  taking more care and less flourish!     

Wiggy

[PrueM]

It's another yes from me, too