What did the handwriting in America look like in 1862?

Answer 1

Well written 19th century handwriting was characterized by flourishes and by some forms we would not recognize today. The most commonly misread form used was something that looks like a modern day "f" for the letter "s". However there were as many variations as there were writers. Some old documents were beautifully written by professional scribes and some are nearly illegible, much like variations in handwriting today. A profession that requires the reading of old documents can be tedious at times. To see some genuine examples seek out some sources of archival collections in your area. The land records office may have old deed books which were all handwritten until the early twentieth century. The local probate office may have old probate files with handwritten wills and petitions available for examination. Your local historical society would have old hand written documents available for your inspection. You may even be permitted to make photocopies. Your town clerk's office would have old record books containing birth, marriage and death records available upon request.