Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-08-16
barberry bushes or forfeit the sum of nineteen

barberry bushes or forfeit the sum of nineteen
shillings."
Ensign Theophilus Munson of this parish
was the first one to feel the clutches of the
law for either neglecting or defying this vote.
Him the authorities made short work of by
vigorous prosecution and fine of sc lis.
Afterwards, being penitent, they refunded
him this amount. Fines of this nature did
not remove the evil and the now incensed
grangers rose up in their might a second
time in 1726 and hurled this manifesto at the
offending shrnbbery, "Then disseminated
destroyed and the selectmen shall call out
the inhabitants" With this bold deolaIa-
ton, the authority of the town seemed satis-
fed, for we find no more meddling with the
matter. The impression remains, however,
particularly along the shore line towns, that
this vote was imperative if anything, and
that not all the barberry bushes were cutter
" destroyed" within their limits.
EAR MARKS.
Undoubtedly the first ''Trade nark' in the
colony was that designed by the settler for
the Identification of his cattle. Whether the
custom was brought from England or from
the sxiRencies of the case originated here. the
writer does not pretend to say. Certain 1t
was some means were needed in new coun-
try where the fences were 80 sparse as to
afford very insufficient barriers to the roam
ing of cattle and their consequent herding
together. It was not because material was
SO scanty, but because mems possessions were
SO large and scattered that fences for many
years were mainly built to guard the crops
rather than pasturage. Besides this, there
were the Commons on which the herds
might Craze at will. To identify them when
| thus mingled, or when astray or perehance
when stolen, the system of 'esr marks was
| adopted as affording the best relief.
The settler having fixed upon such device
| taking care from an examination of the REQ
| ords that 1t was the duplicate of no other
design, appeared with it's description before
| the proper town official who infinitely en-
| tered the same in q volume kept for the
purpose, whereat said "mark" became as
much the property of its originator as was
the animal who bore 1t. No man might
| tamper with either.
| 1t strikes one as rather homogeneous to
| say the least, to find that In the case of the
| New Haven Colony the early record of such
marks was kept in with that of the Births,
Marriages and Deaths of that day. Because
| they are 80 quaint, and the fact of their ex-
istence probably new to portion of our
| readers, we transcribe some of those given
in connection with this locality. 1t does not
appear though, that every stock owner in
Nathaniel Yale 1908.
His ear mark for his Cattell is crop of We near
ear and a slit on We underside of We same care.
Samuel Tharp 1905.
l His ear mark for his Cattel We q crop of We
right ear and q half penny nnder We further
year.
Samuel Todd 1706.
His ear mark for hys cattell We hole in We left
care and crop Of ys same care
John Molthrop 1895.
Hys ear mark for hys catte is a half crop Of We
| under side ye right ear.
l Samuel Bassett 1896.
Heis ear mark for his cattell crop of ye rear ear
| and slit in ye crop Of we same ear.
/ Moses Blackesle .172i.
The ear mark for his cattle is two halfpenneys
/ the under side of the left ear.
Abraham Blacke sic 1925
The ear mark for his cattle Is slit on the upper
! side the near ear
Daniel Barnes 172S.
The ear marks for his cattle is slanting cross We
under side OF each ear and slit in ye upper side Of
ye near ear.
Such was the system and such some of the
marks used by our ancestors in the ownership
| of cattle. The inquisitive farmer will ask
what became of these marks when trades
| were made and the property changed hands,
The records contain no allusion to such an
| emergency The presumption ia that the old
devices were effaced as much as possible and
the new ones added. After two or three such
/ exchanges the condition of the traded ami.
malls ears can be better imagined than de-
soribed.
SHELDON B. THORPE.