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What is this swastika looking symbol in John Hancock's family papers from circa 1762

English Language & Usage Asked on April 3, 2021

I was looking at the "From The Page" software and tried to transcribe a section of the Hancock family papers, and on Page 137 (seq. 139) the author used what seems to be swastikas to initialize some script. What could this be?
Second line in:

Determined to be so 卐 will not willingly 卐 quietly subject myself

Citation: Hancock family papers, 1712-1854 (inclusive). Volume JH-6 John Hancock letterbook (business), 1762-1783. Mss:766 1712-1854 H234. Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School.

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One Answer

I am free & determined to be so & will not willingly & quietly subject myself to slavery.

& = "and"

I am free and determined to be so and will not willingly and quietly subject myself to slavery.

Look carefully at the circled symbols in the document. You can see that the first and last are clearly the standard ampersand symbol &. The other two are sketchy versions where I guess the pen has for an instant lifted off the paper.

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Now look at the following. I have added to the less clear ones without overwriting any part of them to show that they have the same form.

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Correct answer by chasly - supports Monica on April 3, 2021

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