Earmarks were recorded by some towns in New York
State, beginning in the late 17th century, and dating at least
into the mid-19th century.  Sometimes town clerks
maintained  books of earmarks, or more often they were
entered into town record books with other records of the
period.  This form of registering the earmarks (little
drawings of the marks were often made in these books)
enabled the local officials in change of overseeing animals,
in identifying owners of strayed and stolen cattle.