Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
2018.009.001 |
Object Name |
Yoke, Neck |
Title |
Calf Yoke from Williamsford |
Year Range from |
1900 |
Year Range to |
1912 |
Made |
McElwain, Robert? |
Place of Origin |
Williamsford, Township of Chatsworth, Grey County |
Description |
A wooden calf yoke. The front of the yoke is personalized with a large incised "N", flanked with two horizontal diamond motifs. The two neckbows are secured by means of two wooden long pegs each. There are two adjustment holes per side. There is a central iron eye that holds a thick iron ring. They were blacksmith-made (no maker's mark is present). |
Makers mark |
No maker's mark. The large "N" stands for Nicholson. |
Provenance |
Made in Williamsford, Grey County, by a blacksmith (likely Robert McElwain), sometime between 1900 and 1912. It was owned/used by Samuel (Sam) Henry Nicholson, who farmed in Sullivan Township, and later in Holland Township. In 1945, he retired from farming and moved to Palmerston, Ontario, with his family, and the item moved there. He died later that year. Subsequently passed down to his son, Allan Nicholson of Palmerston. |
Collection |
Transportation, Land: Animal-Powered |
Material |
Wood/Iron |
Dimensions |
D-8 cm |
Found |
Palmerston, Ontario |
People |
Nicholson, Samuel McElwain, Robert |
Subjects |
Cattle Ox teams Animal teams Animal training Farming Blacksmithing Blacksmiths |
Search Terms |
Sullivan Township Holland Township Williamsford |
Function |
Used for breaking calves that were about 400 lbs. in weight. It helped in their training to become draft oxen. |

