Madison Historical Society

PO BOX 505 MADISON, NH 03849

Madison, NH "Old Town Pound"

Town Pound prior to cleanup July 12, 1999

Photos by Mary K.W. Lucy

Town Pounds were enclosures, usually built of stone and timber, for wayward livestock in violation of the law. The Madison Pound which still stands today is on what was once known as the Danford (Danforth) land. This Pound was built in 1792 and described as, "a square enclosure built all the way round with a high stone wall. On the top of the wall on the four sides were hewed beams one foot square. Posts one and a half feet high were sunk at intervals in the beams. On top of these posts other beams four inches square were placed with the posts fastened in them."¹

The Pounds were maintained by the town authorities who elected a Pound Keeper in charge. His duties included keeping it in good repair and locked, looking after stray livestock, and collecting pay for any damage done. There was a set price on the head of every animal be it horse, oxen, sheep, pig or goose. The last Pound Keeper was Thomas Granville. He was elected in 1861 and served several more years until the Pound was abandoned. Before the town split in 1852, there may have been more than one Pound located in the town of Eaton.

From: "Old Pound" as it used to be, told by Robert Chick, written by Edith Chick: On the north side was a swing gate with a lock. The pound was used to put stray cattle, horses, sheep, swine or other domestic animals. The owner could get them only after paying for the damage that they had done, also a fee to the Pound Keeper; There was a Pound Keeper elected each year at the March Town Meeting.

From: The Old Madison Town Pound continued by Ernest A. Meader: After the Old Pound ceased to be used it soon lost its purpose and was forgotten. In 1976 it was estimated that it had not been used for at least one hundred years, at this time it was overgrown with large oak and pine trees. This being the Bicentennial Year, the Madison Historical Society members voted to rebuild the Old Madison Town Pound, as a Bicentennial Project. With the help of a Town appropriation, the "Bud Shackford" crew with their equipment rebuilt the stone work in an excellent manner. The Madison Historical Society members had several work parties and the 12 x 12 timbers were put in place, this is where the project stopped. The small framework and the gate are yet to be added to complete this worthwhile project, hopefully this will take place this year of 1981.

After the Pound cleanup. Pictured: Jay Buckley.

From Eaton Town Records, Vol. 1-B :

The town voted:

Build a pound on land of Ebenezer Hall and Hall to be pound keeper. 1786 March 26

Build a pound at the fork of the road nigh (near) Thomas Danford 40 feet square and 7 feet high; to vendue at the lowest bidder to build; of white pine timber with the bark peeled off; with one good gate hung on iron hinges.

Sixteen days work to Henry Woods and Shaber Nickerson to build the pound by the last of June next.

Pound Keeper - Thomas Garland 1792 March 26

To build a pound 36 feet square to be built of hewed or sawed timber. 1793 March 25

The town expected the pound built near to Richard Lary and voted to raise by way of a tax $22 for said pound, also voted that the east end of town should not pay their part until they built them a pound.

1802 August 30, p. 83

Pound Keeper: Capt. John March - 1803 March 7

Pound Keeper: Nathaniel Banfield - 1804 March 13

Pound Keeper: Richard Lary - 1805 March 12, 1806 March 11, 1807 March 10, 1808 March 8, 1809 March 14, 1810 March 13, 1811 March 12, 1812 March 10, 1813 March 9, and last 1814 March 8 - Then voted to release him as pound keeper. 1815 March 14 - reelected. Continued 1816 March 12, 1817 March 11.

Every man shall keep his rams in his own enclosure or forfeit the same.

1810 March 13, p. 145

Town will build a pound.

The town will have two pounds.

The last vote reconsidered.

Capt. Allard, Eli Glines, Richard Lary be a committee to pitch on a place to set the pound.

Accepted report of committee. Pound to be set up near the gate to the road where Timothy Danford (Danforth) lives.

Pound to be 30 ft. square, 7 ft. high, 5ft. thick at bottom, 3ft. at top, to be built of stone with a cap of timber. Richard Lary bid it off at $20.

Voted to raise money for the pound.

Stephen Danforth to be pound keeper. 1818 March 10 p.496

Pound Keeper: Stephen Danford (Danforth) 1819 March 9, 1821 March 13, and again in 1833, 1841, and 1849.

Pound Keeper to be Samuel Flanders. 1819 March 30, Pound Keeper 1822 — 1828, 1832, 1834, 1835, 1838, 1846, and 1850.

1836: August E. Jackson was paid $1 for repairing Pound.

Pound Keeper: Ebenezer Jackson 1830, 1831, 1837, 1839, and 1842.

Pound Keeper: Moses Ferren 1840, 1843 — 1848, 1851 and 1852.

1999 Cleanup crew: Douglas Haver, Mary Lucy,

Emily Beaulieu, Jay Buckley. Not pictured: Mark Lucy.

Compiled and written by

Mary K.W. Lucy

for the

Madison Historical Society , 2000