Professional formation and practice of holding office by the town’s notaries in Knyszyn in the light of chancellery’s forms

Abstract

The present article depicts the practice of holding office by two town notaries Władysław Łukaszewicz and Franciszek Waskielko in the small town of Knyszyn at the beginning of the 18th century. Franciszek Waskielko was a heir to Władysław Łukaszewicz but the former notary was committed to helping him out. A detailed analysis of the forms used by both notaries such as wills and contracts of sale points to the fact that Francizek Wa- skielko, while referring to forms used by his predecessor, was also capable of creating some new clauses. Most probably small-town notaries in the Polish-Lithuanian Com- monwealth who had not been formally educated in law at schools, gained professional knowledge during their work by reading court records and speaking with associates.