Chirograph a deed or other public instrument in writing, which anciently was attested by the subscription and crosses of witnesses: afterwards, to prevent frauds and concealment, people made their deeds of mutual covenant in a script and rescript, or in a part and counterpart, and in the middle between the two copies they drew the capital letters of the alphabet, and then tallied or cut asunder, in an indented manner, the sheet or skin of parchment; which, being delivered to the two parties concerned, were proved authentic by matching with and answering one another. Deeds thus made were denominated syngrapha by the canonists, and with us chirographa, or hand writings. Chirograph was also used for a fine, the manner of engrossing which and cutting the parchment into two pieces was observed in the chirographer's office of the Court of Common Pleas until those assurances by matter of record were abolished by the (English) Fines and Recoveries Act, 1833 (3 & 4 Wm. 4, c. 74), 2 Bl. Com. 296; 2 Inst. 468; Kenn. Antiq. 177; Dugd. Mon. 6. 2, p. 94.
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