Historical information

The practice of branding livestock for ownership identification has been used since at least the times of the ancient Egyptians. It was especially valuable when cattle or other domesticated animals were merged with other herds on common grazing land, or if they had strayed or been stolen, as it allowed them to be identified at a glance. The branding iron is heated in a fire, hot coals or by other means and pressed into the hide of the animal creating the brand mark. The word brand originates from the Germanic languages and means anything hot or burning.

This brand belonged to Samuel Amess - who owned Churchill Island in the late nineteenth century - and was used on the farm to mark the cattle he owned.

Physical description

Branding iron with initials SA for Samuel Amess. Surface rust, pitted metal.