Stock Marks Aren't Just Animal Brands -- Use Them to Identify People Also!

Colonial laws reference marking stock. These records don’t just identify animals; we learn about their human owners. Explicit family relationships, rank/position, etc., are frequently enumerated. It’s easy to associate branding with large cattle, sheep, goats, and other ranches often found west of the Mississippi River. You do so at your own risk! The need for animal identification has been needed, though ever since people have lived near one another and have raised such. Colonial states passed laws regarding the marking of animals as a form of identification. These records can help place individuals, sometimes quite early, in a community. Let’s explore stock marks, their role, and most importantly, for genealogists, where we can find them across the U.S. and Canada.

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