Aw shucks !! I knew this one was too easy <<G>> Cathy said ownership and taxes and Jane said branding was done by cuts in the ear.........both are correct...........ownership/taxes/notches(in the ears). Marilyn(in Michigan) also sent the correct answer........ Cynthia Moderator of : Ct-River-Valley-L@rootsweb.com VTWindso-L@rootsweb.com CTHartfo-L@rootsweb.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Devlin, Jane <JaneDevlin@netquest.com> To: Cynthia <cyndylou3@earthlink.net> >Cathy: > > Yes you are correct......ownership and taxes.......branding is/was one > > way of doing it but in the very early days of New England, there was a > > common way of "branding" before branding iron was thought of........do you > > know how they did it ? anyone else know ? > Jane: > They cut 'marks' into the ears of the animals - notches, half > moons, removing the tip, etc - the marks were distinguished by > location, size & shape with each settler having one that that set his > animals apart from all others on the grazing grounds. These > marks were listed in the town records and often mentioned in bills > of sale as a way of identifying the animal being sold. > > > Jane Devlin > Lake Orion, MI > JaneDevlin@netquest.com > CTMIDDLE list mom > Middlesex Co., CT, GenExchange Coordinator >