Settling My Husband's Estate

This signature comes from an 1856 estate settlement. The widow, a Geman native, is signing one of the documents in the estate settlement of her husband.

Appraising My Neighbor's Estate

This individual signed off on the appraisal of an estate in Hancock County, Illinois, in the 1850s.

1869 Sponsor

This is the name of one of the sponsors on an 1869 christening from Wiesens, Germany.

Registering for World War I in Wyoming

This New York native registered for the draft for World War I in Wyoming.

Helping My Neighbor Get a Pension

This individual was living in Ohio in the 1840s when he provided information to assist his neighbor in receiving her widow's pension for her husband's Revolutionary War service.

This one is easier than some we have had recently.

Helping My Mother-in-law Get a Pension

This signature dates from the 1840s and this individual, approximately in his fifties, is signing an affidavit to assist his mother-in-law in receiving her widow's Revolutionary War pension.

Helping Pa Get a Pension

This signature comes from an 1818 affidavit in a Revolutionary War pension. This Pennsylvania native signed papers in his father's pension application.

Bringing Mother's Will to Probate

This a 1900 era signature of a man petitioning the court to probate his mother's 1889 will.

Witnessing a Will in 1889

This gentleman witnessed a will in 1889. This is his signature from his statement in 1900 in Illinois that he remembers witnessing the will.

New Yorker Living in Wisconsin

This New York native was living in Wisconsin when he registered for the World War II Draft in 1944. He's my wife's uncle, but that's probably not a big clue.

My Sister-in-Law's Bond

This individual signed in 1877 for his sister-in-law's bond to adminstrate her husband's estate.

Witnessing the Lease in the 1870s

This signature  comes from a lease in Illinois in the 1870s.

Signing my 1876 Will

This German native was signing his will in the United States in 1876.

My Neighbor Died

This individual signed the proof of death in an Illinois estate case in the 1870s. This person was a German native---he later married the widow.

Signing the Neighbor's Will

This German native witnessed his neighbor's will in Illinois the 1870s. They had been neighbors in Germany as well as in the United States.

Clayton Township Native to Work as Carpenter in Mexico

This 1917 passport application in Harris County, Texas, was signed by a man born in Clayton Township, Adams County, Illinois, in 1881.

Sister-in-law Gets Passport in 1925

This Belgian native applied for a passport in Rock Island County, Illinois. She was a sister-in-law of my wife's great-great-grandmother.

Rio Native Gets Passport

This native of Rio, Illinois, received a passport in 1920. This one isn't too hard.

In Vermilion County for WW2

This resident of Vermilion County, Illinois registered for the World War Two draft.

The German Farmer Arrives in England

This German farmer arrived in England in 1851.

The Jeweler Born in Missouir

This gentleman was a jeweler, born in Kirksville, Missouri, who was going to Scotland to attend a Sunday School convention in 1924.

Leaving Nebraska for a While

This German native was returning to Europe on a visit in 1922 according to this passport application.

Getting Hitched in the 1840s

From an 1840s era marriage record in St. Lous, Missouri. This one's not too difficult...

Getting the Voter a Job

This signature is from a 1903 letter written by an Indiana Congressman to Secretary of State John Hay in an attempt to get a promotion for a constituent.

Evansville, Indiana Citizens in 1903 sign for Drollette

I'm working on this letter for an upcoming issue of Casefile Clues, where we have discussed George Drollete before. I can read most of the names on the letter of support:

• John H. Foster
• Jas D. [Parris?]
• F. B. Posey
• C. A. DeBruler
• Phiip W. Frey
• Geo A. Cunningham
• Walter A. Legeman

I usually don't give the answers right away, but thought I would this time. The second last name has me wondering. He likely was a "well-known" Evansville resident at the time.

The typed part of the letter wasn't too hard to read (grin!).

I Say It Is Who They Say They Are

This person signed an acknowledgement of the transfer of  a land warrant in Mercer County, Kentucky in the 1850s.

Supporting My Husband

This writer wrote a letter in support of her husband in his attempt to get a new job in China in the early 1900s.

Ira Sargent's Daughter

This signature comes from a 1943 Social Security Number application for one daughter of my ancestor Ira Sargent. I've written about Ira quite a bit for Casefile Clues, but don't think I've written about this person yet. This individual was born in 1890 and probably did well if she finished somewhere between 5th and 8th grade considering when she first got married.

I Want a Divorce

Readers of Casefile Clues will probably recognize this name. The signature is from a 1921 petition for a divorce in Chicago, Illinois. We don't have a signature from the husband because he never responded to anything.

Signing My Passport In Ohio

Casefile Clues readers will have heads up on this name as he's going to be featured in an upcoming issue. This signature was by an upstate New York Native who was in Ohio while applying for a passport to return to China.

Third Great Grandma Signs an Invalid Will

This is my third great-grandmother's signature from her 1889 will which was refused by the judge in 1900 in Hancock County, Illinois.

Petitioning for Probate of Mother's Will

This is the signature for a petition to probate a will from 1900 in Hancock County, Illinois.