H90.0.89

The "AP" brand belonged to Antonio Maria Peralta, son of Luis Maria Peralta. Antonio received that portion of his father's land holdings bounded by 68th Avenue extending to the eastern edge of Lake Merritt, and Indian Gulch, including Alameda. From the History Information Station: Object: Branding irons used in California during the 19th century. History: The "N" iron belonged to the Nacimiento Rancho in San Miguel, California. The "AP" iron belonged to the Peralta family. The letters refer to Antonio Peralta. The "AB" iron belonged to A. Breen. The Breen family came to California with the Donner Party and owned a ranch in the area of San Ardo, near Hollister, in the 1870s. The "V" iron was a Vallejo family brand and was used to brand cattle. The "P" iron, was a Peralta family brand. This particular brand was used by Antonio Peralta. A Burning Question The practice of branding livestock was brought from Spain to the unfenced pastures of Mexico in the early 16th century, and from there to California. Every ranchero had his own registered brand, and no one could adopt or change a brand without the permission of the governor. Each ranchero had three ways to mark his stock: the senal, a notch, slit, or hole cut in the ear; the registered brand burned on the hip of the steer or horse; and the venta, or counterbrand, used when an animal was sold. A brand might be a single letter, insignia, figure, or combination of any or all three. The initials of owners were prevalent, and could be easily "called" aloud at rodeo time when cattle belonging to different ranchos were tallied. Brands were applied in one of five positions: the natural position; upside down; at a forty-five degree angle, or "tumbling"; horizontally, or "lazy"; and reversed. These brand positions, used on horses and cattle more than a century ago, are still used in California today.

Used: Antonio Maria Peralta | Peralta Hacienda neighborhood