History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1719.] MEDAD POMEROY^FINANCES—PUBLIC BANK. 559
tiers had too mil cli respect for their ''creatures" or "critters,"
as they were usually called, to humiliate them by
such a criminal process. It was necessary when almost
every man had more or less stock feeding upon the commons,
that all such marks should be registered. No action,
however, seems to have been taken in this direction till
1719. In March of that year the town voted
" that Every man Should Haue a Distinct Ear Mark For His Creatures
to be apointed Him by the Selectt men : and entered in the Town
book, Pursuant whereto we the Select men Haue this 30"' of March
1719 ordered the following marks to be vsed Each mark Respectiuely
by Him to whose name such mark is affixed.''
Then follow several pages of such marks, on which may
be found one hundred fifty-five of them, some paring the
ears of the poor animals out of all natural shape. A part
of the clippings were upon both ears, and not a few Avere
to be on "y'' neer Ear" or ''y'' off Ear."
Bounty on Sheep. Aiiotlier attempt to encourage and protect
the business of sheep raising, was made in
1718 and 1719. Frequent allusion has already been made
to this subject. Its manifest benefit to the colony, collectively
and individually, was duly recognized by the General
Court, and brought to the attention of the towns. A
bounty on sheep had been offered and many persons profited
thereby. Entries upon the account books of the second
Joseph Hawley, indicate that he received "sheep money"
or " bounty money for sheep," for many persons, giving
them credit for the amount collected. It varied from five
to twenty-five shillings.
A Meeting called In January, 17]^, the selectmen warned the
to stimulate the inhabitants of Northampton living "in the
n us, ry.
East Military Division " to meet for the pur-
pose of considering the report of a committee about the
'
' encouragement of a flock of sheep in said town. " Who
created this committee, or empowered it to act, is unknown.
The town records fail to disclose any action ever taken for
such a purpose. Though no record of its proceedings is
extant, the outcome of this meeting seems to have been the
adoption of by-laws concerning the pasturage and protection
of these animals.
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