Daily AncestorNotary public
A notary public was an officer licensed to witness signatures, take oaths and acknowledgments, and certify deeds and other documents.
A notary public serves the public in routine legal matters: confirming the identity of people signing documents, administering oaths, taking affidavits, and taking acknowledgments of deeds and other conveyances.
The odd word order copies Law French, the way attorney general does. In American records a notary's name usually turns up at the foot of a deed, power of attorney or sworn statement, certifying that the signer appeared before him.
As seen in a recordDeeds, affidavits and pension papers, 1800s and 1900s
Sworn and subscribed before me, Jno. Barlow, Notary Public
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Daily Ancestor. "Notary public." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/notary-public. Last checked 2026-10-10.