Hi Ursula,
J.H. instead of L.H. etc.: shame on me for not looking correctly! The
remark about the C and L being very similar in the old Deutsche Schrift
or later Suetterlin script is correct. Latin script ("normal" C) was
used sometimes together with the old Deutsche Schrift in the same document.
Illiteracy in the middle of the 19th century (and later) in Germany (or
other European countries) is no myth. One of my own ancestors was only
just able to sign her last name as "fer" instead of writing Fehr when
signing as a witness at her daughter's wedding in 1853. Her first name
was Catharina which cannot be recognized at all on the act. Especially
for peasant women access to more schooling was difficult: labour in the
fields and in the house was a priority. - Only 50 years before, there
are plenty of church/civil records where the minister or priest or mayor
wrote: declared that he/she couldn't sign.
This particular ancestor was a Catholic. The situation differs
regionally. In Catholic regions/ countries the peasantry sometimes
wouldn't be able to read nor write until about WW I. There are many
examples in France (Catholic country). In Protestant regions bible
reading helped a little towards what they called "knowing one's letters
and numbers".
Regards
Colette (Llorca)
www.llorca.ovh.org