The letters "L.S." on a recorded document designate where the seal would have appeared on the original one. They are an abbreviated form of "locus sigilli", which in Latin means "the place of the seal." An original document would have been stamped with a wax seal indicating that a person's signature was authentic. One can usually infer from the letters "L.S." that a document is a copy, not an original, although by the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the use of wax seals was less and less common. I hope that this is helpful. Dan Knight Edinburg, TX -----Original Message----- From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Diana Bennett Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 5:18 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [VA-HIST] An unusual title Recently I was checking the tax rolls of the 1830's in King & Queen Co. VA. After my ancestor's name was "S.G." What does that mean? Another in Orange Co when signing a deed were the letters L S. ?? Diana Bennett To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html