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Wax seals on official documents

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Janet 693215

Janet 693215 Report 9 May 2008 22:02

When did people stop using wax seals with their own insignia on?
I work in a charity shop and we have had donated a picture frame which contains three wax seals. Two of them appear to have come from official documents as they are signed by the insignia owners. The third has no name.

The names are Ann Beere and William Weston. I've looked on family search, TNA, ancestry and here but haven't been able to narrow them down.

Any ideas?

Staffs Col

Staffs Col Report 9 May 2008 22:15

You can still buy rings for use with wax and the wax tapers to go with them...so tread carefully in dating your donation

Janet 693215

Janet 693215 Report 9 May 2008 22:19

It really is a conundrum. The signatures look very old and faded to a brown colour (Definately ink) The paper still has the material bit on (I don't have a clue what its called)

Janet 693215

Janet 693215 Report 9 May 2008 23:19

I think I may have found him. I hadn't checked A2A and on the 4th page of hits theres a reference to William Weston in our local archives in the papers of 2nd Earl Cowper. 1737-1762

"the Second Case of William Weston, comprising William Weston's condemnation of the actions of John Pryor towards John Stout, in the form of a letter to the Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends"

All very interesting as in 1699 Spencer Cowper was acquitted of the murder of Sarah Stout. Sarahs Father run a pub in Hertford, was a quaker and is believed to have been responsible for the naming of "Stout" beer. I bet John Stout was her brother. (Cowper was found not guilty but I find it difficult to believe that a person wishing to commit suicide would half strangle them self, tie themself up and then jump in a local river!)

Oh well, I guess I know where I'll be going on Monday!