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.