More Lambs - Fewer Kings

More Lambs - Fewer Kings

From Story Time at Clatter Ridge Farm by Bobbie Emery

March 19, 2026 · 2 min · Season 2 · Episode 11

About this episode

This episode explores the history of sheep smuggling in colonial America and its implications for independence from British rule.

In an attempt to protect their monopoly on the wool industry, England tried hard to discourage one from ever taking hold in its American colonies. To that end, the exporting of sheep to America was expressly forbidden, but by 1655, a few smuggled sheep had multiplied to 10,000. Oops! I’m not sure what I find more amusing; that colonial sheep smuggling was actually a thing or that breeding sheep became such a subversive (and successful) act of independence. Clearly unable to completely stop America’s burgeoning sheep industry, British Parliament in 1699, attempted to at least contain it by enacting “The Woolens Act”. The law prohibited the export of any woolen items from the American colonies (and Ireland) and the import of textiles from any country other than Britain. Though the law had a devastating effect on Ireland and effectively crushed its economy - it was not well enforced in the American colonies. That benign neglect ended when King George III ascended the throne and made wool trading in the Colonies an offense punishable by cutting off the offender’s right hand. That renewed and elevated threat, along with various other taxes and tariffs, set the stage for the rebellion…

People in this episode

Host: Bobbie Emery

Topics covered

  • colonial history
  • sheep industry
  • British laws
  • American independence
  • women's roles
  • economic impact

Keywords

  • sheep smuggling
  • Woolens Act
  • colonial America
  • King George III
  • Sons of Liberty
  • homespun clothes
  • economic history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: British Parliament, Sons of Liberty

Places: England, American colonies, Ireland

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