Subscriber Login

 Home  | Contact Us  | Lost Census Records  | Reconstructed Censuses  | Glossary  | Frequently Asked Questions  | Statement of Purpose  | Abbreviations  | Search Names  | Subscribe  | News & Views  | Bibliography  | Free Search 

Value of Petitions/Memorials (Signature Lists)

Among the most important information petitions and name lists (including censuses) can provide is the location of residence of individuals. Once the location of a person has been determined, a researcher can then study available records for that locality to find out more information about ancestors. But, in addition to residence, many other things can be learned.

1. Much information about an individual can be obtained from the signature such as:
• A wavy signature may be a sign of old age or potential health problems such as palsy.
• A signature with spelling or syntax problems (such as not capitalizing the beginning letter) may indicate the level of education of a person.
• Signatures that show skill in handwriting may indicate a higher level of education and social status.
• A slow deliberate writing may indicate age, health problems, and/or limited education.
• The spelling of the name may provide a clue on how the name was pronounced. Possibly the pronunciation will indicate an accent that could suggest a country of origin. Using the Gothic script when signing one’s name suggests the person was from one of the European countries such as Germany.
• Using an “x” or other character by the name sometimes with “his mark” or “her mark” usually indicates the person is illiterate. This information can be useful when trying to decide between individuals of the same name.
• Sometimes additional information is given with the signature perhaps as a means of identifying persons of the same name. Occasionally the occupation, military rank, civic officer, name of father, marital status of female signers, etc., may be identified.
• Comparing the handwriting of a signature on a petition with signatures in other localities can identify individuals because their handwriting is similar. This is especially helpful when common names are involved.
• Using handwriting analysis (Graphology) one may be able to determine some personality traits of an individual.
  
2. The text of the petition may provide details about the person(s) that signed it such as:
• Persons with the same surname in close proximity on the petition may be related.
• Family history details may be include such as the following quote from an actual petition dated 10 Nov 1773: “. . . for in ancient times when our Ancestors Settled the Town of Bergen they was under the Necessity of Settling Together on account of the Natives of the Country and their Lands laid out in Such Narrow Lotts in general from fourteen to Eighteen Dutch Rods in width In all running about A Northwest Course So that a road as aforesaid would Cut those Narrow Lotts Cattecorners and make A vast many of So little value to their Proper owners that it would be hardly worth their while to keep them in fence” . (New Jersey State Archives, R. Group: Legislature, Series: Petitions re Bridges, Canals, Dams, Ferries and Roads, 1765-1835, Loose Papers Relating to Roads, Box 4, Folder 3.) Not only does this statement provide historical details about the challenges experienced by the first settlers of Bergen, New Jersey, it also indicates that those who signed the petition descended from those early pioneers implying that they and their ancestors have lived in the area from the beginning. Thus one may not need to find a place of origin for many that signed the petition because it should be the area in and around Bergen.
• By tracking names in petitions over a period of time one may be able to determine migration patterns of family members especially if an individual shows up on an earlier petition in one area, and somewhere else on a later petition.
• Insights into personal feelings, cultural settings, literacy, hardships, and historical details about an individual.
• Information about individuals who lived in the area prior to its becoming a part of the United States. Petitions may also be available to help replace records destroyed in courthouse fires, etc.

Please note:

It is important to realize that the variety of spellings for names from signature lists is unusually large. Often these people who signed the petition were so creative in spelling their name that one may miss important entries when relying on traditional ways of alphabetizing. To correct this weakness, sometimes it is necessary to go through every entry. But, that can be very time consuming. On www.censustrail.com we provide a “soundex” search feature that overcomes many, but not all of these problems. With the added wildcard (“%”) searching capability on our website most entries should be found regardless of the spelling challenges.