Barb: Thanks for the encouraging message ! You mentioned "ear marks"......yes.....I remember when I first came across those odd sounding words and it was in Massachusetts in very early records of what is now Hampden County (once part of Hampshire Co until 1812) and have seen them in Vt, NH, and Maine records. Ok List.....Barb got this one going........start brainstorming..... 1. what are ear marks ? 2. what about "cattle marks" .? Cynthia Moderator of : Ct-River-Valley-L@rootsweb.com VTWindso-L@rootsweb.com CTHartfo-L@rootsweb.com ----- Original Message ----- From: <Mrharveyfo@aol.com> To: <cyndylou3@earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [CTHARTFO] Re: [CRV] What is an assay master/and Other Things > I consider everything such as this a learning experience. I never will > forget the first time I ran into "ear marks" listings in the Vermont Town > Records!! I'm a born and raised Westerner....what did I know abt ear marks!! > So, by digging around in the microfilms of Vermont, I learned a "lesson." > > There is nothing like learning these little side lights...I think it brings > us closer to our ancestors...just as when we read a really personalized, > spiritual sounding Will that was made up by an ancestor. > > Thanks to all who joggles the dusty brain!! > Barb B. >