USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > East Granby > History of Newgate of Connecticut, at Simsbury, now East Granby: its insurrections and massacres, the imprisonment of the Tories in the Revolution, and the working of its mines. Also, some account of the state prison, at Wethersfield > Part 1
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Gc 974.602 Ea37р 1147165
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 5540
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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https://archive.org/details/historyofnewgate00phel_0
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Eng ª by A. H Putchie.
Amo Blaban
A HISTORY
OF NEWGATE OF CONNECTICUT, AT
SIMSBURY, NOW EAST GRANBY ;
ITS
INSURRECTIONS AND MASSACRES,
THE
IMPRISONMENT OF THE TORIES IN THE REVOLUTION, AND THE WORKING OF ITS MINES.
ALSO, SOME ACCOUNT
OF THE
STATE PRISON AT WETHERSFIELD.
BY RICHARD H. PHELPS.
ALBANY, N. Y .: J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 1860.
ALBANY, N. Y .: MUNSELL & ROWLAND, PRINTERS.
1147165
INTRODUCTION.
HATEVER relates to the early history of a Locality or People, illustrating the manners, the civil, religious or criminal policy thereof, is un- doubtedly worthy of preservation. The records of deeds and events, apparently of slight moment at the time of their occurrence, increase in importance as ages roll away, and are the indices by which we estimate the truth of history. It is therefore needless to dwell upon the necessity of recording events in their day, lest the memory of them be destroyed by the tooth of time, or they lapse into tales and traditions.
There is an exciting fascination in the eventful history of Newgate of Connecticut, to all who have been familiar with it, more especially to those who, like the writer, have resided in its vicinity and witnessed many of its scenes; and if we may judge by the numbers that travel far to
Mensaga - 4.00
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Introduction.
explore its caverns and the works which now cover its grounds, it will long continue to be an object of interest and examination. When the aged residents in its vicinity are gone, which must soon be, this prison fortress will doubtless remain. The traveler will inquire, Who built these towers? Why these iron grates, these trenches and walls ? How came these huge caverns to be dug out of solid rock, and why these rings and fetters bolted to their massive sides? Surely the echo of the caverns can not answer, nor the people who lived cotemporaneous with their use. Enough, then, by way of apology for these sketches.
The materials here presented, have been gathered from a variety of sources. Besides what came within the knowledge of the writer, he has availed himself of the statistics afforded by the ancient colonial and state records ; of the facts recorded in the History of Simsbury, by N. A. PHELPS, Esq .; of the verbal statements kindly furnished by aged persons still living; and a multitude of facts, preserved from the recorded relations of witnesses long . since passed away; all of which may be relied upon for entire accuracy.
Windsor, Ct., 1860.
NEWGATE OF CONNECTICUT.
-
HIS is the name by which the prison was known in the time of the American Revolution, and it was so called after Newgate pri- son in England. It is well known that our forefathers, in giving names to their towns and rivers, and other objects of nature and art, by which they became surround- ed, drew freely upon those which they had been accustomed to in their ancestral homes ; thus they endeavored to make their adopted country, in names at least, to assimilate to their native land. So, in denominating this receptacle for their crimi- nals after the world-renowned prison of London, they intended to endow it with all the terror which attached to that fearful abode of the depraved.
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Newgate of Connecticut.
The mines and prison buildings occupy an emi- nence on the western declivity of the greenstone mountain, which rises to an elevation higher than at any other place in the state, and is here sar- mounted by lofty, precipitous and craggy rocks. This range of mountains extends through the whole length of the state, and terminates at the East Rock near New Haven. Towards the west and south, can be seen in the distance, bold and irregular outlines of mountains, interspersed with extensive valleys, forming a scene of impressive grandeur and sublimity, seldom surpassed. Says a writer :
" The appearance of this place forcibly reminds " the observer of the walls, castles, and towers, "erected for the security of some haughty lordling " of the feudal ages; while the gloomy dungeons " within its walls, call to remembrance a Bastile, "or a prison of the Inquisition."
The mines were formerly included in the limits of the town of Simsbury, and so remained until 1786, when a part of the town, including mines and prisons, was set off and incorporated under the name of Granby ; hence the place was at that time known by the name of Simsbury Copper Mines, on Copper hill.
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Newgate of Connecticut.
The town of Granby was subdivided in 1858, and the mines are at present included in the town of East Granby. If the state of Connecticut con- tinues henceforth to increase her legislative ratio of representation by subdividing her towns, it will become difficult to trace the topography of some places within her borders, nor can it well be fore- seen what town will have the honor of containing Simsbury mines at the next subdivision.
MINING.
The period at which copper ore was first dis- covered at this place is not definitely known. The first company for working the mines, is supposed to have been composed of land proprietors of Sims- bury, in 1707. The association agreed to pay the town ten shillings on each ton of copper produced, of which two-thirds was appropriated for the sup- port " of an able schoolmaster in Simsbury," and the other third to the collegiate school, Yale col- lege; the residue of profits was to be divided among the partners pro-rata, according to the amount of their respective subscription shares.
All the land on Copper hill, and in that region, was covered with the primeval forest, and occupied only as hunting ground by roving bands of Indians ;
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Newgate of Connecticut.
and as the land was unsold, and under the con- trol of the original proprietors of the town, the association comprised chiefly all the inhabitants. The company concluded only to dig the ore, and the first year they made a contract with three clergymen, for smelting the same, viz: John Wood- bridge of Springfield, Dudley Woodbridge of Sims- bury, and Timothy Woodbridge, Jr., of Hartford.
Clergymen at that early period were regarded as the principal embodiments of science as well as theology, and as many of them received their education in England, these contractors were sup- posed to possess the best facilities for obtaining information from foreign sources, in regard to the difficult process of smelting and refining. The theologians, however, did not understand the busi- ness, or at least failed to prosecute it to advantage ; for in four years from their commencement, the proprietors appointed a committee to call them to account, and, if necessary, to sue them for the ore " that had been brought to them at divers times." The mines had at that time attained a good degree of celebrity, as appears by a public act passed by the colony.
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Newgate of Connecticut.
" Anno Regni ANNA Regina V. Septimo A. D. 1709."
An Act relating to the Copper Mines at Simsbury.
" Whereas there hath lately been discovered a "Copper mine at Symsbury, which hath been so " improved as to give good satisfaction to conclude " that a public benefit might arise therefrom ; Now " for the better encouraging, directing, and ena- " bling the proprietors and undertakers, or others " that are or may be concerned therein, their heirs " and assigns, to manage, carry on, and improve " said mines to the best advantage," &c.
The act authorized the appointment of three commissioners, who were to settle all controver- sies, and who were authorized to summon a jury in disputes exceeding a certain amount. The sessions of this court were held generally at or near the mines, and great numbers of business and liti- gated cases, were adjusted in a summary and economical way, for the space of more than sixty years. During that whole period, the company of proprietors worked the mines, either themselves, or by leasing to other parties, who agreed to pay the company a per centage of the ore or metal pro- duced. In their leases it was expressly stipulated, that one-fifth of all metals, &c., should go to the
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Newgate of Connecticut.
crown ; thus, acknowledging themselves most loyal subjects of taxation and revenue to the crown of England.
It is not ascertained what per cent of profits was made on the investment in these mines, over and above the expenses of working them, but it is natural to suppose that if they were very profita- ble to the operators, all the applause usually at- tendant upon good luck, would not have remained forever hidden in oblivion from the world. Still the illusive charms of mining, had so much of novelty and hope for adventurers in the New world, that new companies were formed success- ively at various periods.
Some of the companies were composed of per- sons of great wealth and respectability. One com- pany was formed in London, one in Holland, others in Boston, New York, and elsewhere. In 1714, the records show that the use of the mines was purchased by Jonathan Belcher of Boston, (after- wards governor), Timothy Woodbridge, Jr., and Wm. Partrige ; and in 1721 they had miners from Ger- many employed, and were expending seventy pounds a month in the work. It appears that this Boston company operated the mines for a period of at least twenty-three years, and in a letter from Governor Belcher, dated 1735, he states that he had
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Newgate of Connecticut.
disbursed upwards of 15,000 pounds, or about 75,000 dollars.
The excitement in the Colonies upon the busi- ness of mining, about that period, was very great, as it would seem from the following petition, copied from the records:
" To the Honnell, the Gov'r Councill and Rep- " resentatives in general Court assembled in New " Haven, Oct. 16th A. D. 1733.
" The Prayer of Joseph Whiting, of New Haven, " Humbly Sheweth; That your Suppliant has Ex- " pended a considerable time & money in Search- " ing after Mines, & has made farther Discoveries " perhaps than any other man in this Colony has " before done, and having met with such incourge- " ment as that I am willing to be at farther Expense "in the Same Search-but ready money being so " absolutely necessary therein; I therefore Humbly "pray this assembly will be pleased to lease me "one thousand pounds of the money Granted last "may to be struck, & now to be disposed of by " this assembly-upon double security in Lands & " Bonds, for the payment of the interest every year ; "the principall to be Returned at the Expiration " of ten years," &c.
Joseph Whiting."
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Newgate of Connecticut.
A great deal of time and money without doubt was expended as the aforesaid petitioner says "in searching after mines," for the evidence may be seen in the numerous pits and shafts which have been dug along the whole range of this mountain to New Haven. At that day, as in all previous time since the world began, and as is seen especially at the present day, the chief aim of many appeared to be to make fortunes by head-work-by speculation, and choosing rather to spend their time and risk their money in mining, and other uncertain pro- jects, than to dig upon the surface of good old mother earth, for a sure and honest living.
Upon the summit of the hill where the greatest excavations were made, and the largest quantity of ore taken, two perpendicular shafts were dug principally through solid rock, for the purpose of raising the ore. One of them is nearly eighty feet . deep, and the other thirty five. At the bottom of these shafts we find the caverns, so termed, extend- ing in various directions, several hundred feet.
By estimating the once solid contents of these subterraneous vaults, an idea can be formed of the great quantity of ore which has been taken out. The percolation of water through the crevices of rock, made it necessary to dig drains or levels, to
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Newgate of Connecticut.
convey it off; but these either became obstructed, or the mines were sunk below them, which allowed the accumulation of water, and it became neces- sary to pump it out. The pumps were kept in motion day and night, and laborers in the vicinity, and farmers in the town of Windsor, were employed to work them during the night, and return to their homes in the morning. The copper ore has some- what the appearance of yellowish grey sand stone, intermixed with nodules of bluish sulphuret, and yellow pyrites, and is very hard and brittle.
The vein is considered as rich, yielding three to five per cent of pure copper, and some large masses have been obtained yielding over fifty per cent. The ore is of a character termed refractory, and the metal does not readily separate from the stone when pulverised and washed, in consequence of the specific gravity of the stony particles.
The mines would doubtless have been profitable to the operators at the price at which copper metal was at that time valued, had not the enterprise been shackled with various incumbrances. A
principal one was, the laws of the mother country prohibiting the smelting of it here. The rigid laws of Britain imposed penalties upon any who should attempt to compete with her furnaces and
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Newgate of Connecticut.
artizans at home, consequently the vast expense of shipping it across the Atlantic, crippled the success of all parties engaged in the business. Notwith- standing the enormous expense, several cargoes were sent to Europe. A large quantity was de- posited about one mile east of the mountain, upon a spot now marked by an entire dearth of vegeta- tion, owing to the poisonous qualities extracted from the ore. From thence it was carried fourteen miles to Hartford, where it was shipped to New York, and from thence to England. The owners were still further disheartened by the loss of two vessels with their cargoes of ore. One was seized and confiscated as a prize by the French, being then at war with England; the other was sunk in the English channel by shipwreck.
In defiance of British restrictions, considerable ore was smelted by the companies. Buildings and furnaces for pounding, smelting, and refining, were erected in Simsbury upon a stream of water a few miles distant, but safety required caution and secrecy in the works, which were finally abandoned. The place where the smelting was carried on, was named by the German worknen, Hanover, from their native place in Germany, which name it still retains.
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Newgate of Connecticut.
GRANBY COPPERS.
Coin was made from this ore in 1737 and 1739, by a Mr. Higley, and was in current circulation for many years. In describing these coins, a writer says: "They were stamped upon planchets of the purest copper, and, in consequence, were in demand by goldsmiths for alloy." The trade of a black- smith, ever since Vulcan was engaged in forging thunderbolts, has given to the world some very remarkable men, and it affords us great pleasure at this time to be able to contribute to the fame of one of the craft, who not only devised, but manu- factured a currency. We have seen it stated that Mr. Higley, the author of these coppers, was an ingenious blacksmith who resided in the town of Granby ; hence the name Granby Coppers; and that with all the notions of utility which he naturally derived from the anvil, he was ambitious of making a little reputation for himself besides. He has certainly left evidence of having been an artist as well as a financier, for the creations of his genius and skill were for the times well executed, and they also became a currency. Subsequently, we are informed, his cupidity led him into the hazard- ous experiment of illegally imitating the issues of
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Newgate of Connecticut.
other coiners, which, being discovered, deprived him of a portion of the laurels that had previously encircled his brow. These coppers bear the sym- bols of their origin, with a due regard to royalty on some of them-the sledge-hammers being sur- mounted by crowns, a something very apparent to the minds of the colonists, but which did not always command their sincere reverence. These coins grace but few cabinets, having been generally so impaired by wear, from being stamped upon unalloyed copper, as to be rarely found sufficiently perfect. We were, however, lately gratified by finding in New York city an electrotype which was perfect. Single specimens of this coin now com- mand from $15 to $25 each. There appears to have been five different issues of them, of several devices; upon one is the figure of a broad axe, with the motto : " I cut my way through !"
AS.
E
R.
PLEASE
000
1737
Obverse.
Reverse.
The engraving represents both sides of a Granby
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Newgate of Connecticut.
copper, now in the Connecticut Historical Society, at Hartford.
No public laws had been made by the colonists to authorize coinage of money, or to specify its value. Specie was very scarce in this country, and the coinage at this embryo mint, was regarded with great favor by residents in the vicinity. The foreign trade of the country, which was chiefly confined to England, was principally controlled by her ; the balance of trade was continually against us, which prevented the importation of specie. The war with France, in 1745, turned the tide somewhat in our favor, and considerable quantities were circulated by England in payment of war expenses.
The first issue of paper money was made by the Colonists in 1709, being the same year in which a public act was passed relating to the Simsbury mines. Previous to that time Provision pay was the common medium of exchange, consisting of the common eatables and other products of the country. The appraised value of such commodi- ties at that time, may be shown by the following extract from the records of the town of Simsbury, stipulating the pay of their clergyman in 1688. They agreed to pay him fifty pounds per annum
3
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Newgate of Connecticut.
" in good current pay, to wit; one third in good " merchantable wheat at four shillings per bushel, " one third in pease or rye, at three shillings per " bushel, and one third in Indian corn or pork ; the " corn at two shillings and six pence per bushel, " and the pork at three pounds ten shillings per bar- " rel," besides other items of fuel, &c. At an ordi- nation nine years later, among the articles furnish- ed on the occasion were the following, with their prices ; Half a lamb of mutton, 2s. 6d .; butter 6d. per pound ; four pounds of sugar, 2s. 6d .; half a bushel Indian meal, 1s. 3d .; two fowls, 8d .; eighty- four pounds of beef, 15s. ; thirty pounds venison, 3s. 9d .; nineteen pounds of pork, 4s. 9d .; nine pounds of mutton, 2s. ; two gills of rum, 9d. Valued by our currency at this day the price of beef was three cents a pound ; mutton three and a half cents, and venison two cents. In some instances it was stipulated that those who paid their rates in specie, should be allowed a discount of one third from the amount. Contracts between individuals unless specially stipulated to be paid in coin, were pay- able in the commodities of the neighborhood, and at prices established by the General court. Taxes laid for military defence against the roving tribes of Indians, for building churches, and for ordinary
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Newgate of Connecticut.
public expenses, were also payable in produce. During a period of one hundred and forty eight years from the settlement of the colony to the peace of 1783, excepting the period of the French wars, the traffic among the people was carried on in part by barter and exchange. In 1709 it was enacted by the Colony, that in order to assist in the expedition against the French in Canada, " there be forthwith imprinted a certain number of " Bills of Credit, on the Colony, in suitable sums " from two shillings to five pounds, which in the " whole shall amount to 8,000 pounds, and no " more."
It was enacted that the bills should be received for dues and taxes, at one shilling on the pound better than money. Taxes were imposed providing for the redemption of the whole amount within two years. The promptness with which the Colony met their own bills, is noticeable when contrasted with the unavailing efforts of the Continental Con- gress, to sustain the value of their paper money, which was issued in the Revolution .*
* To illustrate the ruinous depreciation of the Continental currency, I quote an extract from a letter written by Heze- kiah Munsell of East Windsor. " merchant in Springfield, Mass.
He says : "In 1781 in the months "of Feb'y or March, I drove a "team to Boston with a load, " and brought one back for a
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Newgate of Connecticut.
SLAVERY.
The customs of the colony for many years toler- ated African slavery, and slaves were employed to some extent in laboring at the mines. It is very likely they may have been imported for that pur- pose by some of the foreign companies who leased the mines; this opinion is justified by the fact that slaves were imported into the American colo- nies at various periods by English traders, as the slave trade was not prohibited in England until 1807. The area of slavery in Connecticut must have been of considerable extent, for the territory granted by the Plymouth Company of England in 1630, comprised the whole country from the Atlan- tic ocean to the South sea, or Pacific, and of the pre- sent width of the state from north to south. The first record of slavery in Connecticut, was in an inventory of the property of Henry Wolcott of Windsor in 1680, though it may have been brought into the town by the first settlers in 1633.
In 1660, by a decree of the General court,
" I had a five cattle team. Re- "was two silver dollars, and " turning home I stayed in Rox- " bury one night ; my team was " fed, I had one meal and lodg-
"ing ; my bill in the morning
" continental money had so de- "preciated that I paid it in the "round sum of $140 for that " single night's entertainment."
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Newgate of Connecticut.
" neither Indian nor negar servants shall be required " to train, watch, or ward." Indian enemies cap- tured in war, or convicted of crimes, were sold and held in bondage as slaves.
The thought will readily occur to the mind, that our respected ancestors occupied rather a contra- riety of position in this particular, as they had fled from oppression in the old world, and felt them- selves justified in enslaving the aborigines of the new.
The record of burials in South Windsor gives the deaths of twenty-one negro slaves between 1736, and 1768. In 1784 the Legislature enacted that no negro child born after the first day of March in that year, should be held in bondage after arriving at the age of twenty-five. 1784 an act was passed that children born of slave mothers after August in that year, should be free at the age of twenty one ; but it does not appear that slavery was totally abolished by a formal act until 1848.
The following anecdote, copied from the History of Ancient Windsor, by Dr. Stiles, illustrates some of the difficulties encountered by our people in the liberation of their slaves, and also by our Southern brethren, where, in all their state laws they are obligated to provide for the support of those who are infirm and unable to labor :
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Newgate of Connecticut.
"An aged and faithful Windsor slave working " in the field with his master, was observed to be " very moody and silent. At length he broke the "silence by saying, that such a neighbor had given " his slave his freedom, and modestly suggested " that Massa ort to give me freedom. The master " quietly replied, Well, Tom, you may have your " freedom. May I, Massa-when ? Now, was the " reply. What, now, Massa, right away! ex- "claimed the surprised slave. Yes, Tom, you " may stick up your fork where you are, if you " choose and be free. Tom stood looking upon " the ground more moodily than ever, while his "master went on with his work. After half an " hour's consideration, Tom resumed his labor, "remarking, with a knowing look, No, Massa, you " have de meat, now you may pick de bone. I no "go and take care old Tom myself."
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Newgate of Connecticut.
RECENT MINING.
The work at the Simsbury mines was carried on at various periods until 1773, more than seventy years, through wars and rumors of wars, and by a variety of forces ; by free labor, and by slave labor ; by private enterprise, and by chartered compa- nies ; and, subsequently, by prison labor. Vast sums had been expended in the business, and then they were abandoned for the space of about half a century, for prison occupation.
In 1830, to the surprise of all, another resurrec- tion of mineralogists was announced at the old prison mines. A company of gentlemen from New York, with Richard Bacon of Simsbury, formed the Phenix Mining Company, obtained a charter, and purchased of the state the whole prison property, including the mines, and about five acres of land, for the sum of $1,200. They expended many thousand dollars in digging extensive levels, build- ing furnaces, and constructing engines and ma- chinery, to facilitate their operations in raising, pounding, and smelting the ore. They carried on the business for some time, but owing to a reverse in financial affairs of the country and other causes, they were again abandoned.
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