There can be no doubt but that some men used both a mark and their longhand signature, especially when a man came to learn how to write AFTER he had signed earlier documents with an X. It was also not uncommon for those who could not write to use their initials, as did your TD, those letters also having been learned before, if ever, the man learned to write his full name. Many signet rings bore the initials of the man, those being used to press into wax as the "seal". By so doing, and often in association with Xs and or signatures. All that said, be double sure there were not two men of that name, even with wives of the same name. Elizabeth was a VERY common name, and was given to many, many baby girls in honor of the great Elizabeth I of England. Paul -----Original Message----- From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Pat Grogan Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 3:06 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [VA-ROOTS] Signing documents In early American times did men always use the same signature from document to document? I have found several deed records where Thomas Dooley and wife Elizabeth bought or sold land. Some of these documents are signed with his X while others are signed with the initials T. D. I suppose there could be two men named Thomas Dooley and each of them had a wife named Elizabeth but I have found no other records that would indicate there were two different men. Pat ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/780 - Release Date: 4/29/2007 6:30 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/780 - Release Date: 4/29/2007 6:30 AM