Daily AncestorHis mark
His mark, written beside an X on a document, shows the person could not sign their name and made a mark that witnesses confirmed.
When someone could not write, the clerk wrote their name with the words his mark or her mark, and the person drew an X or other sign between them. Witnesses confirmed the mark was made.
A mark usually means the person could not write, or could not see well enough to sign. Distinctive marks, where used, can help separate two men of the same name.
As seen in a recordDeed recorded in a county deed book, 1800s
John [X] Kelly, his mark. Witness: Thos. Ryan.
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "His mark." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/his-mark. Last checked 2026-10-01.