CHAPTER XX
POUNDS; SHEEP AND CATTLE MARKS

The early inhabitants of Goffstown, following the custom and practice of their ancestors in England, established a pound or pounds in which to confine or distrain stray domestic animals found at large doing damage. Any cattle, horses or other creatures doing damage on the highway or within the enclosure of any person other than their owners, were liable to be taken to the pound and there kept until redeemed by the owner.

The first record we have concerning the pounds was at a meeting in July, 1761, when it was "voted that there be two pounds, one at James Karr's and the other at Enoch Page's in said Goffstown." And the following year it was "voted that the pound be removed from Enoch Page's to Ebenezer Hackett's."

Whether a pound was built at Enoch Page's is a matter of uncertainty, as the custom was early in vogue to use a barn or some other enclosure since the town was bound to provide a pound. It is reasonably certain that a pound was built at Ebenezer Hackett's, which is substantiated by the fact that in laying out a highway the same began at the pound by Ebenezer Hackett's. And the same year they "voted that a pound be built at Thomas Hall's and one at James Karr's, and that Thomas Hall be poundkeeper for the one at the river, James Karr and Ebenezer Hackett for the pounds built by their houses respectively."

William McDole, Thomas Hall and James Karr were elected a commlttee for the construction of the same. The pounds should be built by the first day of May. These enclosures, built of logs were about thirty feet square and six feet high, had a huge door or gate and no covering.

The next record we find relative to pounds is in 1773, when the question of a new pound came up and it was "voted to build a pound near the meeting-house the present year." Here the matter was allowed to drop. Since the average life of these wooden structures was not over twenty years, in all probability some or all had so far gone to decay, as to be unfit for enclosing cattle or horses.

At a town meeting holden in October, 1779," voted that there be a pound built in Goffstown in the most convenient place near the meeting-house in said town." And in the following spring the selectmen gave notice that they propose to agree with the person that will contract with them to do the work the cheapest.

The next action upon the pound question was in August, 1787, when the town "voted to build," and instructed the selectmen to provide timber the next winter in order for building in the spring. It seems the selectmen did not carry out the vote of the town, for in 1789 a vote was passed to build a pound thirty-five feet square, and to seat the same on the top of the hill in the crotch of the roads west of the meeting-house.

They further "voted to build with slatwork framed with good siles (sills) and a Good Capp Pace (cap piece) on the top, and to let out the building at publick Vendue."

It is apparent that the public vendue, if holden, produced no visible effect, for the following spring an article was inserted in the warrant "to See the minds of the town whether they want agree to Set the pound Down by Mr Josiah Chandlers for several Reasons may then appear." Probably some good and sufficient reason did appear, for they "voted to locate the pound near Mr Josiah Chandler's," and they built the same, and Mr. Josiah Chandler held the office of poundkeeper.

In the month of October, 1809, a special meeting was called, the import of which was to attend to the consideration of building a pound. The first vote passed was to build a pound, the second that it should be built of stone forty feet square, and six feet high surmounted with a timber three square to rise one foot, to be completed by the first day of April, 1810, and should be located on the main road within forty rods of the meeting-house or within forty rods of Timothy Johnson's corner on the Mast Road (which is the house owned by Clement Sawyer). The contract for the construction of the same was awarded to Joshua Dustin for $48.50. And the selectmen were empowered to see that the same was constructed according to contract.

The next time the subject of a pound was before the people of Goffstown was on the first day of September, 1827, when the selectmen were instructed "to procure a piece of ground and build a good pound of common stone," and $300 was voted with which to build the pound and repair the bridge near George Henry's.

The selectmen, in accordance with their instructions, purchased of John Greer a piece of land two rods square, situate between the road and mill pond where the land projects into said pond northerly of the sawmill owned by John Greer and others. The land was conveyed by deed, and it was stipulated in said deed, that the land was to be used for a seat to build a pound upon. The pound was constructed and remained in this location until 1848. This was southerly of the present Baptist Chapel.

At the November election in 1848, authority was granted to Alfred Poore and Ephraim B. Wells to remove the pound from their mill yard to some place satisfactory to the selectmen.

The selectmen requested to be excused, and Noyes Poor was chosen as agent to select a location for the removal. The spot selected was upon the northerly side of the road leading from the main road easterly past the residence of Calvin Kidder, a short distance from the main road, and nearly opposite of the sawmill of Alfred Poore. Here it remained until 1877, when the stone was sold to the P. C. Cheney Co., and they removed the same. This year the law requiring towns to maintain pounds was amended, by allowing any town to vote not to maintain a public pound.

SHEEP AND CATTLE MARKS

Before the early settlers had constructed fences of sufficient height to keep their cattle and sheep within their own enclosures the earmarks upon their stock were used by each owner to designate his animals. They were originally used when the common and undivided lands were used for pasturage and creatures roamed at will. Subsequently they became a means of identification when cattle and sheep becoming breachy and light-footed wandered to other enclosures and mingled with other herds. The first cattle mark recorded was July 29, 1761:

   "Alexander Walker Esq. cattle marked with a crop of the neare Eare."
   "Antipas Dodges cattle mark was a hole thro the nears care."
   "Job Rowels Cattle and Sheep were marked with a cross of the off Ear and a slit in the underside of the near Ear."
   "March 30, 1774 Job Dows Cattle marked with a Crop of the nar Ear and a slit in the top of the off Ear."
   "Moses Wells Cattle marked with a Slit in the top of the off Ear."
   "Enoch Sawyer Cattle marked with a half crop in the uper Side of the neare Eare."
   "Timothy Johnson Cattle marked with hole thro the near Ear."
   "Samuel Ordway Cattle marked with a Crop of the off ear and a slit in the same and a half peney in the underside of the same."
   "John Sargent Cattle and Sheep marked with a Swallowstail in oft Ear."
   "Henry Blaisdel Marke of Sheep and Cattle with a Slit the under side of each Ear."
May 8, 1795.
   "James Eatens Cattle marked with a Crop of the near Ear and a slit in the under side of the same."
   "Moses Little Cattle marked with a Slit in the uper side of the off Ear."
   "Thomas Ferrin Cattle and Sheep Marked with a Slit in the top of the left Ear."
   Jany1 1798 "Phillip Joness Cattle and Sheep marked with a Crop of the oft Ear and a Slit in the under side of the near Ear."
   October 20 1798 "Ephraim Dimond Cattle and Sheep marked with a Crop off the oft ear and Swallowtail in the nier ear."
   Sept 2n 1799 "John Ordways Cattle and sheep marked with a Crop and Slit in the near Ear and a half peney on the under side oft Ear."
   May 1800 "William page Cattlel and sheep marked a Slit in the oft Ear."
   March 25th 1803 "Timothy Stevenses Cattle and sheep marked a swallowtail on the near Ear."
   April 1 1819. "Lt Amos Jones Cattle and Sheep Mark is a Crop off the oft Ear and half Crop off the nigh ere."
   Bartholomew Stevens sheep Mark is two holes through the left ere."
   June 15 1832 "Robert Craigs sheep mark is a C cut from the tip of the left ere."
   "Joseph Butterfields sheep mark is a C cut from the under side of the left ear." March 2, 1832.
   1833. "Sheep mark of James McDoels is a Crop off of the end of each ear and a Swallows tail in each ear."
   1833. "Sheep mark of Robert Craig is a C cut in the end of his left ear."
1839. "Daniel G. Dodge sheep and cattle mark is a hole through the left ear."

The necessity of distinguishing marks on cattle and sheep is well illustrated by the following advertisements:

   "Taken up in Damage by me the Subscriber on the tenth day of november 1779 a brindled stear one year old with a Crop of the off Ear no other mark as yet Diserned.
"WILLM CALDWELL."


   "Taken up by the subscriber a dark Chestnut Coloured Cow branded on the near horn supposed to strayed out of some drove the owner may have her again by proving property and paying charge.
"JOHN HADLOCHE."

   "December 4, 1797.

   "Taken up Damage Fesent and Impounded in Goffes town pound By me the subscriber a sparked ox But mostly Rid Judged to Be Seven years old But no other mark Either Natural or artificial as yet Desarned.
"GEORGE HADLEY."
   "Goffes Town September 25, 1769.

STRAY SHEEP

   "Came into the Barnyard of which the subscriber is occupant on the 3rd day of December six ewe sheep four of them ear marked as follows left ear cropped, right ear the lower half of the end taken off and one of them right ear cropped the other left ear notched.
   "The owner is requested to pay charges and take them away.
"S. B. CLOUGH."

   "Goffstown Dec. 7, 1832.

When stray creatures were taken up and empounded and no one appeared within a reasonable time to claim them, it was necessary to appraise them and have them sold to pay for their keeping and other expenses.

The following is a case of this kind:

   "Taken up foot toop in Inclosure by me the subscriber and empounded in said Goffstown pound on the fourteenth Instant and strayed a Brownish or Chestnut Couloured Mare with black mane taile and Leg with some white hairs in the tail and a few white hairs on her back suposed to he caused by the saddle with one of her off joints striped supposed to be Elieven years old no other Natural nor any artificial mark as yet Discoved.
   "The owner may have her again on his paying charges.
"TRUEWORTHY LADD."

   "Goffes Town May 17 1772.

The mare was appraised by Capt. Joseph Little and Benjamin Richards who made oath to their appraisal before Matthew Patten, Justice of the Peace.

       

ALHN Hillsborough County


Email Kathy Chapter 20
History of Goffstown
Hillsborough County
ALHN-New Hampshire
Created March 27, 2001
Copyright 2000, 2001