When colonial towns were being settled, there was much work to do. One of the first jobs was the building of a “cattle pound”. The creation of one signaled that a village had been established. Pounds were particularly important because of the damage caused to crops by roaming animals. While today we think “dog” pound, the colonial structures were animal pounds for pigs, cows, goats and any other animal who was running loose.
Both Rochester and Acushnet built early pounds. There is some question as to when Rochester’s first one was constructed. L.C. Humphrey in his writings gives a date of 1711. Another source has a pound being built close beside the house of Aaron Barlow, the 2nd representative to the General Court in Plymouth, in 1708.
Town records begin to show a Pound Keeper in 1739 and another in 1776. In the 1800’s, there are multiple names listed and there was, no doubt, more than one pound in town. However, the only one still in existence is on Snipatuit Rd. and in the care of the Conservation Commission.
Along with the Keepers, there were also Field Drivers. Their job was to inform the Pound Keeper of any animal doing damage or any strays and to collect them and turn them over to the appropriate Pound Keeper.
At Town Meeting April 1,1861, Article 15 “To see if the Town will build or cause to be built a Town Pound in the North East part of the Town and if they do to locate the same and choose an agent to build it and purchase a lot whereon to build it”, was presented for a vote.
However it was voted not “to build or replace any more pounds and that each Field Driver be Pound Keeper and use his own yard for pound.” This would seem to be problematic as any pound previously built to hold large animals was constructed using large stones. One wonders if Field Drivers’ yards would have been similarly reinforced.
The decision to move away from pounds must not have gone well. Four years later at the annual Town Meeting on April 17, 1865, the town voted to choose an agent “to repair the town pound near Samuel F. Braley’s so that may be suitable for the object such uses.” It was also voted that Rufus Savery should be the agent and” to have such repairs made as soon as possible.”
Over time, the names of Pound Keepers go from 4 or 5 each year to 1. By 1918, the town’s only Pound Keeper was George C. Bennet. Records show that he served the town in this capacity until his death on November 7, 1953 at the age of 89.
By Connie Eshbach