EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 33 



town was incorporated in 1639, and soon after this was commenced the 

 manufacture of cloth. Although these Eowley people were from the 

 woolen districts of England, especially the seat of the broadcloth manu- 

 facture, flax and cotton, as well as wool, appear at first to have formed 

 a considerable part of their- raw materials. But although after the in- 

 troduction of fulling-mills much of the woolen cloth of household manu- 

 facture was worn in its unfulled and unfinished state, the mention of 

 the Rowley people as the first cloth-makers must be understood to imply 

 the first manufacture of fulled and dressed cloth, or cloth wholly of 

 wool, of which none was previously made. Maverick, in 1660, describes 

 these Yorkshire men of Eowley as a very laborious people, who " drive 

 a pretty trade, making cloath and ruggs of cotton wool, and also sheep's 

 wool, with which in a few years the country will abound not only to 

 supply themselves but also to send abroad. This town aboundeth with 

 corne and cattle, and has a great number of sheep." 



In May, 1645, two years after the erection of the first fulling-mill at 

 Rowley, the general court of Massachusetts made an order for the care 

 and increase of sheep, not only for the supplying of their wants, but 

 with a view to trade in other parts. It said: 



Forasmuch as woolen cloth is so useful a commodity, etc., by reason of the cold 

 winters, and being at present scarce and deare, and likely soon to be so in parts 

 where we can expect to get it, by reason of the wars in Europe destroying the flocks 

 of sheepe, and killing and hindering the trade of those whose skill and labor tend to 

 that end, and as for want of woolen cloth many poor people have suffered cold and 

 hardship and impaired their health and some hazarded their lives, and those who 

 had provided their families with cotton cloth (not being able to get the other) have 

 by that means had some of their children much scorched by fire, yea, divers burnt to 

 death; this court, therefore (taking into consideration our present condition in 

 that particular, as also having an eye to the good of posterity, knowing how useful 

 and necessary woolen cloths and stuff would be for our more comfortable clothing, 

 and how profitable a merchandise it is like to be to transport to other parts), doth 

 hereby desire all towns in general and everyone in particular within the jurisdiction, 

 seriously to weigh the premises, and accordingly, that you will endeavor the pres- 

 ervation and increase of such sheepe as they have already, as also to procure more 

 with all convenient speed into the several towns by all such lawful ways and means 

 as God shall put into their hands, and for the better effecting thereof, we thinke meete 

 it to be appointed to each several town, being assembled together to know who will 

 buy ewe sheep at the rate of 40. apiece, under three years old, and appoint one in 

 each town to take the names and return them by the 7th next month to Mayor Gib- 

 son, his house in Boston ; and further it is desired that those having friends in Eng- 

 land desiring to come, would write them to bring as many sheepe as convenient with 

 them, which being carefully endeavored, we leave the success to God. 



On May 14, 1648, the general court made an order 



That forasmuch as the keeping of sheepe tends to the good and benefit of the 

 country, if they were carefully preserved, henceforth it shall be lawful for any man 

 to keepe sheepe in any common, accounting five sheepe to one great beaste, and if 

 any dogge shall kill any sheepe the owner shall either hange his dogge forthwith or 

 pay double damages for the sheepe; if ye dogge hath been seen to course or bite any 

 sheepe before, not being sett on, and his owner had notice thereof, then he shall 

 both hange his dogge and pay for the sheepe. 

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