-
HISTORY OF OFFICE
The office of notary public is of ancient origin. It has been said that the office originated in early Roman jurisprudence and was known in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066. In early times a notary was a scribe or scrivener, who took notes or minutes and made drafts of writings and other instruments, both public and private. Keeping in mind that most of the citizens of the world were illiterate in the early days of civilization, the notary’s role was important as both a scribe and as the authenticator of documents.
Today the functions of the office, a public one, have wider scope, and exists and is recognized throughout the commercial world. The office of Notary Public was first established under an act of Legislature, in Pennsylvania in 1791, by which the Governor was authorized to appoint and commission a competent number of persons of known character, integrity and ability as notaries public for the Commonwealth, to reside within such places within the Commonwealth as the Governor directed in their respective commissions. The Governor was limited by this act to appoint no more than six notaries within the city and county of Philadelphia and three to reside in any other county within the Commonwealth. No person was to be commissioned as a notary who had not resided in the Commonwealth two years immediately preceding appointment. The Notary Public Law of 1953 transferred the authority to commission notaries from the Governor to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The law prior to the 1953 act stated that as long as certain requirements, prescribed by Statute, were satisfied, the Governor was the judge of the number and of the personality of those appointed by him to be notaries in the state. In as much as these appointments were entirely subject to his discretion, he could refuse to appoint any person for reasons best known to himself or for no reason. The 1953 act removed this form of patronage from the appointment of notaries public.
< PREVIOUS CHAPTER COURSE INDEX NEXT CHAPTER >