EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 37 



were assisted in watching the flocks by boys and girls, who were 

 obliged also to have some other employment meanwhile, so that their 

 time might not be wasted or habits of idleness formed, as witness this 

 order of the general court: 



1642. The court doe hereupon order and decree that in every towne the chosen men 

 are to take care of such as are sett to keep cattle that they are to sett to some othei 

 employment withall, as spinning upon the rock, knitting and weaving tape, etc. ; 

 that boyes and girls be not suffered to converse together. 



Imagine, if one can, the rocky pastures of New England with flocks 

 and herds grazing on the hillsides, while the boys and girls, seated on 

 the rocks, ran the spinning-wheel and did household knitting without 

 speaking to each other. 



Perhaps the most suggestive and interesting process in all this common herding 

 was in the folding of sheep by means of gates. Lancaster says that a night pasture 

 fenced to keep out wolves is mentioned about 1652 as " that fence set up by the co- 

 partners." Rowley, in 1648, defines the right to sheep-gates, i. e., lengths of fence 

 to be set up in those night folds, in a minute and very curious w%y. "To the end 

 that every man may have an equal share in the commons according to purchase, it 

 is agreed that every 1| acres house lot shall have 1| gates (in the common pasturage) ; 

 that every 2 acres have 4$ gates; 3 acres have 13; 4 acres, 22; 6 acres, 45." These 

 sheep-gates, thus carrying the home protection of the farm out into the public com- 

 mon for the benefit of the weakest animal administering to man's wants, fitly sym- 

 bolize the spirit of the New England Commonwealth.* 



The system of folding sheep by means of gates was carried out very 

 elaborately by Xewbury. First, the selectmen divided part of the com- 

 mons into five distinct ranges or sheep-walks, which were to be occu- 

 pied by five flocks of sheep, each of which was to be kept within its 

 own prescribed limits under penalty of ~L2d. a head for every sheep 

 so disorderly (so says the town records) as to be out of place night or 

 day. Each flock was under the care of a shepherd, hired by the owners 

 of the sheep. The following agreement, signed by eight owners of 

 sheep feeding on one of the five ranges, shows how each company 

 managed its concerns : 



April 16, 1683. At a legall meeting of the company, whose names are here set down, 

 we have agreed that every man shall take his full turn of folding for this year in order 

 according as their names are set down ; and for the next year it shall begin with that 

 man that had no benefit, or that had not his whole benefit of folding upon his corn, 

 and so successively from year to year till every man hath had that benefit of folding 

 upon his corn or otherways in season. And also it is agreed that every man shall 

 bring a sufficient gate for every score of sheep he doth bring or send to the flock be- 

 longing to this company, according to the number of sheep given in for folding. It 

 is also agreed that Mr. Nois (Noyes) and Mr. Garrish shall tack account of every 

 man's sheep and proportion to every man his share of folding, and to conclude the 

 end of fouldiug the fifth of November and let the first share of fouldiug to the biggest, 

 if they make any difference in every man's two shares. It is agreed that Evan Mor- 

 ris shall keep sheep for this year, 1683, and he is to have six shillings a week in pay, 

 and he that have above forty in the fold shall give him one shilling out of the whole 

 in money, and all that are under thirty shall pay sixpence in money a man. They 

 whose sheep are kept shall allow him his dyett besides the said six shillings per week 

 where the sheep are folded. 



* Economic and Social History of New England. William B. Werdeu. 



