The general laws and liberties of the Massachusets colony

SHEEP.

VVHereas the keeping of Sheep tends much to the benefit of the Country, and may in short time make good supply towards the cloathing of the Inhabitants if carefully preserved;* 1.1 and forasmuch as all places are not fit and convenient for that end;

* 1.2It is Ordered by this Court; That henceforth it shall be lawful for any man to keep Sheep on any Common, be it for Cows, Oxen or otherwise, belonging to the Town where he lives, or where at that time he may have Right of Common and that without limitation,* 1.3 in Commons not stinted, and in such Commons that are stinted, it shall be lawful for any Inhabitant to use any or all his proportion of Common for Sheep, ac∣counting

five Sheep for one Cow, Steer or Oxe; and further, it shall be lawful for the Select-men of every Town from time to time,* 1.4 to make such Orders in their respective Towns,* 1.5 for the clearing of their Commons of Wood and Brush, for keeping of Sheep, as also for the fines of putting Rams to their Flocks, as they shall judge meet.

2. It is further Ordered; That if any man shall course Sheep with a Dog arrow_forward , or otherwise molest them, by driving them from their feeding, he shall pay five shillings for every such offence,* 1.6 besides double damages, and if any arrow_back dog arrow_forward shall kill any sheep, the Owner shall either arrow_back hang arrow_forward such arrow_back dog arrow_forward , or pay double damages for the sheep, and if any arrow_back dog arrow_forward hath been seen to course or bite Sheep before, not being set on, and his Owner hath had notice thereof, then he shall both arrow_back hang arrow_forward his arrow_back dog arrow_forward , and pay for such Sheep as he shall either bite or kill; And if in such case he shall refuse to arrow_back hang arrow_forward his arrow_back dog, then the Con∣stable of the Town upon notice thereof, shall forthwith cause it to be done.

3. It is further Ordered;* 1.7 That all Owners of Sheep, who shall put their Wool so sale,* 1.8 shall, and hereby are enjoyned yearly to wash their Sheep in clear water, not being either salt, brackish or dirty, and shall take care they be not kept in dirty or sandy Ground,* 1.9 between the time of washing and shearing; And in making up the Fleeces to take care no short Locks, Lumps of dirt, or course Tails be wound up therein, upon the penalty of forfeiture of twelve pence a Sheep for all and every defect aforesaid. [1648, 53, 56.]

Notes

• * 1.1

  L. 2. p. 14.
• * 1.2

  Liberty to keep Sheep on all Commons
• * 1.3

  Five sheep for one Cow
• * 1.4

  A. 56. p. 12.
• * 1.5

  Select-men to Order clearing of Commons for sheeps pasture
• * 1.6

  Dogs killing sheep to be hanged
• * 1.7

  A. 53. p. 18.
• * 1.8

  sheep to be wash¦ed before shorn,
• * 1.9

  wool to be made up clean