Arthur Heywood and Sons customer signature book

On opening a bank account, 19th century customers were requested to leave a specimen signature; an early form of identification and verification. Customers who could not read or write were asked to leave their mark in the form of a cross (X) and the Clerk would write an accurate description of the customer next to their name. Some examples in this volume include: 4816 James Parker - has lost all the fingers of his right hand, a labouring man in appearance; 5191 Elizabeth Cook - round faced old woman; 5256 Thomas Cunliffe - cowkeeper aged 28 about 5ft 8in rather small face, pinched nose, blue eyes; 5322 Elizabeth Chisnill - stoutish flabby chested woman, hair turning grey; 7748 Ann Ogle - old woman, lame and stoops, teeth out in front, thickish moustache.