History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. •
Rev. Mr. Worcester had leave " to fell trees on the common
for 2000 pipe-staves."
The regulations about goats were repealed so far as to impose
no fine if " the fence was 4 feet high and built of good rails,
& there were no stumps that they could climb on to so that
they might leap over," but otherwise damages were to be col-
lected. Most of- the fields were yet dotted with stumps which
had not decayed. Goat herds were kept on the commons under
the care of a herdsman who was paid by those who turned in.
The fences were mostly built of rails and posts, but sometimes
by stakes or "pales" set in the ground; very little stone wall
had as yet been built. Rail fence must consist of four large
rails or five small ones. The fences were ordered to be set up
by April 1st this year.
The order about wolves and foxes was repealed and a new
one made as follows :
"And it is now ordered that w l
p r son soever shall kill a wolfe
vv th in y e Towne bounds w th
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his gunne shall have 10 s. and
whosoever catcheth or kills them w th a trapp shall have 15 s.
and whosoever kills them in hunting w th doggs shall have 20 s.
also 6 d. p r head for foxes."
Henry Munday, Christopher Batt, Samuel Winsley, Isaac Bus-
well and Josiah Cobham were chosen grand jurors to Salisbury
Court.
June 4th. Samuel Dudley, Samuel Hall and Willie Partridge
were joined to the Prudential men to settle the matter with Mr.
Carr about the ferry.
A rate of ^30 was ordered to pay Mr. Worcester six months'
salary.
Dec. 1 8th. A committee was chosen to review the bounds
next Hampton, consisting of Robert Pike, Samuel Winsley, Wil-
liam Sargent, Henry Ambros, and Phillip Challis.
At this meeting " Mr. Winsley, John Stevens, Joh. Severance,
Henry Broune" were fined 12 d. "a peece for disorderly talking
in the meeting."
It seemed to be characteristic of those early settlers that they
were very much inclined to speak their minds, and in rather