True or False: There were only fifteen notaries public in Connecticut in 1800.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

In Connecticut around 1800, notaries public were issued quite sparingly. The office existed, but the practice was still fairly limited in scope and coverage, with appointments made selectively by the state and notaries concentrated in or near the more developed towns. A figure of about fifteen statewide reflects that era’s scarcity of notaries relative to population and geographic spread, meaning there weren’t many officials authorized to certify signatures and administer oaths across the entire state. So, this statement is true because it aligns with how the notary role was staffed at the time. If you compared to later periods, you’d see many more notaries as commerce and population grew and the appointment process broadened.