USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Simsbury > A record and documentary history of Simsbury > Part 17
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FIRST CHURCH BUILDING . 1683
XXII
Newgate Prison
Col. Rec. Vol. XVI. "New Gate" P. 92 & 3
In 1773, "Colo. William Pitkin, Erastus Wolcot Esqrs and Capt Jonathan Humphrey" were appointed by the General Assembly "to view and explore the Copper Mines at Symsbury, their situation, nature and circumstances, and to examine and consider whether they may be beneficially applied to the purpose of confining, securing and profitably employing such criminals and delinquents as may be committed to them by any future law or laws of this Colony, in lieu of the in- famous punishments in divers cases now appointed; and at what probable expence the said mines may be obtained for the purpose aforesaid, and make report of what they shall find in the premises, to this Assembly".
The Committee, having made the inquiries and examina- tions required by the foregoing resolution, reported: - "That the place is 18 miles from Hartford; - The shaft is 25 feet deep & 372 ft in diameter; then extends east 8 feet to an opening 10 rods long & 6 or 7 rods wide & five feet high.
ib.
Near the South part is a shaft 70 feet deep, where is a fine spring of water, and by it is communicated pure air. A Lodg- ing room may be made 16 feet square & 20 feet from the Surface, which will cost about £17. The doors will cost £20. When completed, it will be next to impossible for prisoners to escape. The mines are leased for 20 years, for 1/30th part of the ore".
The Report was referred to a Committee, who upon in-
202
quiry, reported "that Capt. Holmes would relinquish his lease for £60.".
The first Committee were then authorized to make an agreement with the proprietors or lessees of the mines to receive and employ the criminals, or purchase the lease.
At the next session of the General Assembly, October 1773, the Committee reported "That they have purchased the Lease from Capt. Holmes for £60 .: - prepared a well-finished Lodging-room 15 by 12 ft-25 ft below the surface, and fixed a large Iron door, about 6 ft from the surface of the ground". The Bill of expenses, amounting to III lbs. ls. was presented and allowed, and ordered to be paid by the Treasurer.
The particular crimes, for which the perpetrators were to be committed, were Burglary, Robbery, Counterfeiting, or passing counterfeit bills or coin, and Horse-stealing.
The original design was to employ the convicts at hard labor in the mines, which, for a time, was done, but subse- quently this was discontinued, and other labor, mainly making nails, was substituted.
At the same session of the General Assembly, holden at New Haven, in October 1773, an Act was passed, entitled. - "An Act for constituting, regulating, and governing a Public Gaol or Work-House, in the Copper Mines in Symsbury, and for the Punishment of certain atrocious Crimes and Felonies". -
"Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representa- tives, in General Court assembled and by the Authority of the same. That the subterraneous caverns and buildings in the copper mines in Symsbury - lately purchased and erected by Order of the General Assembly, with such other buildings as may hereafter be erected and made in said caverns - or on the surface of the earth at or near the mouth of the same, shall be, and they are hereby constituted and made a public gaol and work-house, for the use of this Colony, and shall be called and named New-Gate Prison, and shall be kept and maintained in good and sufficient repair, at the expence of this Colony".
"That there shall be a master or keeper and three over-
203
Col. Rec. "New Gate" P. 343
P. 122. ib.
Ib. 207
Laws of Conn.
Col. Rec. Vol. XIV. P. 205
seers of said gaol or work-house, nominated and appointed, from time to time, as there may be occasion, by the General Assembly; and in case said master or keeper shall die, re- sign, or become unable, by sickness or otherwise, to exer- cise said office, the overseers for the time being may appoint another master thereof. who shall hold and exercise said Office until the next session of Said Assembly".
Ib.
206
The remaining sections of the Act relate to the duties of the Officers, and the management of the prison, and among other things, require the Overseers, if need be, "to hire one or more Skilful Miner or Miners, to instruct and assist said Prisoners in their work, and shall be paid for the same out of the wages and earnings of said Prisoners and hired Men, if the same be sufficient, and if not, the Surplus shall be paid out of the Colony Treasury".
At that time there were no walls, or enclosure, of any kind above ground, - not even a fence, to mark the site of the Colonial Prison. There were two holes in the ground, in one of which was fastened against the wall a perpendicular ladder, of twenty-five feet in length; at the bottom of the other was a never-failing spring of pure water. These com- municated with each other through the caverns created by the mining operations of the preceding half century.
In these caverns were erected the "bunks" or sleeping apartments of the culprits confined there. From the foot of the ladder, in the first mentioned shaft, which was twenty- five feet below the surface of the ground, a gallery led away by a gradual descent, and a tortuous course, to the bottom of the other shaft, which was seventy feet below the surface of the ground, and filled with water. From this gallery others branched off in various directions, but following the dip of the vein or lode, which was at an angle of about twenty-three degrees with the horizon. In a portion of the space between these shafts, among the windings and projections of the gallery, were the sleeping bunks of the prisoners. In accordance with the law constituting the prison, a Master or Keeper was ap- pointed, and three Overseers. The first Keeper of the prison was Capt. John Viets, who resided near the shafts, and who
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furnished the prisoners with their daily food, and had the particular care of the prison and the prisoners. By authority or courtesy the keeper was styled "Captain".
The first board of Overseers, appointed by the General Assembly, were Erastus Wolcott, Josiah Bissell and Jonathan Humphrey, Esqrs. Their duties were "to provide for such prisoners necessary and suitable food and cloathing, and also such tools, implements and materials as shall be proper for employing and keeping such prisoners to work". - "to pro- vide for the relief of any sick or weak prisoner". - "and if need be may procure and hire one or more skilfull miner or miners to instruct and assist said prisoners in their work, &c" - "and to make necessary Rules and Orders, from time to time, as they shall find expedient, for the ruling, governing and punishing such persons, as are committed there".
John Hinson was the first prisoner incarcerated here, but made his escape after an imprisonment of eighteen days. He was committed on the 22d of December, 1773, and escaped on the 9th of January following. His escape was effected by being drawn up through the eastern open shaft, by a woman, who, in this case thought "it was not good for man to be alone". Doubtless she had scruples in regard to "solitary confinement". The Committee had reported that "when completed, it would be next to impossible for prisoners to escape", yet the "next to an impossibility" was easily and speedily accomplished.
The overseers at once reported the facts of the case to the General Assembly, as follows:
To the Honorable General Assembly now sitting at Hartford. "We, the subscribers, overseers of New Gate Prison, would inform your Honors, that New-Gate Prison is so strong and secure that we believe it is not possible for any person put there, to escape, unless by assistance from abroad; yet it so happens that one John Hinson, lately sent there by order of the Honorable the Superior Court, has escaped by the help of some evil minded person at present unknown, who, in the night season next after the 9th inst., drew the prisoner out of the shaft; and we believe no place ever was or can be made so secure, but that if persons abroad can
Col. Rec. 1773 P. 210
Ib. P. 210
Ib. P. 206, 207
Crimes and Misde- meanors V. 1 P. 352
Col. Rec. "New Gate"
205
Col. Rec. 1774 P. 220
have free access to such prison, standing at a distance from any dwelling house, the prisoners will escape; we therefore recommend it to your Honors, that some further security be added to that prison in order to secure the prisoners: - what that security shall be will be left to your Honors; yet we would observe to your Honors that the east shaft, where the prisoner escaped, is about 70 feet to the bottom of the prison, the whole of which through a firm rock, except 10 feet at top, which is stoned up like a well; - we therefore propose that the upper part down to the rock be lockd up, and stones about 15 or 18 inches square and of suitable length, be laid across said shaft about eight inches asunder &c. And as to the west shaft, which is about 25 feet deep, secured with a strong iron gate, almost six feet below the surface, we propose that a strong log-house be built of two or three rooms, one of which, to stand over this shaft to secure it from persons abroad, and the other rooms to be for miners &c. All which is submitted by your Honor's most obedient Humble Servants". Erastus Wolcott. Hartford Jany 17, 1774. Josiah Bissell. John Humphrey".
1774.
These recommendations of the overseers were ordered by the Assembly to be carried into effect. Meantime, before the securities directed by the Assembly could be completed, other prisoners were committed. Three were committed to the prison on the 26th of February, 1774. Of these, one es- caped on the 9th, and the other two on the 23d of the following April. And on the 5th of April, one was committed, who, having been imprisoned four days, made his escape on the 9th of the same month. How they escaped is not known, but probably by means similar to that by which Hinson es- caped. At first, it is evident, there were no guards or watch- men employed; there would be little difficulty, therefore, in the prisoners' communicating with and receiving aid from the outside world.
In May following, the Overseers of the prison made a report to the General Assembly, then in Session:
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Col. Rec. "Newgate"
"To the Hon. the Gen1 Assembly now sitting at Hartford:
"We, the subscribers hereto, overseers of Newgate Prison, beg leave to represent to your Honors, That soon after the rising of the Assembly in Jany last, three delinquents were committed from Windham, and two others from New London County, whereupon, notwithstanding the severity of the season, we immediately set about making those further se- curities that your Honors directed, and have built a strong log house 36 feet in length, and 20 feet in width, with tim- bers 10 inches square, divided into two rooms, one of which includes the West Shaft, and in the other, which is designed for the miners to lodge in &c, we have built a chimney and completed the whole except the under floor, the planks for which are not yet sufficiently dryed, and fit to lay, and some ceiling to secure the miners from the cold winds, which other- wise will pass betwixt the timbers. We have also secured the east shaft where the first prisoner escaped, with iron and stone, and every other place where we thought it pos- sible for any to escape; and we apprehend that said prison is now well secured and fitted to receive and employ those offenders that may be sent there.
An account of our disbursements &c, we have, ready to lay before your Honors, or Auditors, to be appointed as your Honors shall direct. Your Honors must have heard that the prisoners have all escaped that prison; it would be long, and perhaps difficult, in writing, to give a particular and distinct account how this was done; your Honours will excuse us if we only say that they effected their escape by the help of evil- minded persons abroad, before the necessary and proposed securityes could be compleated. We further inform your Honours, that we had engaged two miners to assist the prisoners at work, who were to have been there about the time the prisoners escaped, and one of them actually left his business and came there a few days after the escape; him we have retained, and to this time principally employed in compleat- ing the securities to the prison; the other we gave intelligence of the escape before he left his business, and prevented his coming; but have engaged him to attend when wanted. All
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which is submitted to your Honours, by your Honours' most obedient and humble servants".
Hartford, May 14th 1774.
(Signed by the Overseers)
Other escapes were afterwards attempted with varied success. A level had been opened westward, through the hill, for the purpose of draining the mine. The mouth of this was closed by a heavy wooden door. In 1776 an attempt was made to burn down this door, by piling combustibles against it, and setting them on fire. The dense smoke suffocated them. One was found dead, and five others were brought out from the cavern in an unconscious state, and with difficulty restored.
In 1777, a strong wooden building or block-house was erected, in which the prisoners were confined. They set fire to it, and burned it to the ground, and most of the prisoners escaped. It was rebuilt in 1780. The next year a bloody con- flict occurred, resulting in the death of one of the officers and wounding many of the prisoners. About thirty were en- gaged in the conflict, nearly all of whom escaped. In Novem- ber, 1782, the block-house was again destroyed by fire. At this time, in addition to its being used as a Colonial prison, it was used for the confinement of the Tories, in the time of the Revolution. In 1781, Congress applied to Gov. Trumbull for its use "for the reception of British prisoners of war, and for the purpose of retaliation:" but the war being soon after- wards brought to a close, there was no further need of it for this purpose.
About this time a wooden palisade was built, for the better security of the prisoners, surmounted with iron spikes. It included about half an acre of land, on which the work- shops and other buildings stood. This remained till 1802, when, under a contract with the state, Lieut. Calvin Barber, erected a substantial stone wall in its place, enclosing the works of the prison. These are still standing. In 1786, the town of Simsbury was divided, and the North half incor- porated as a town, by the name of Granby. This later, by the division, included the "Newgate Prison". Its history, from that date, belongs to the latter town as a local institution.
Many fabulous stories have been told of the horrors of
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the Old Connecticut Prison. In the dismal gloom of its dun- geons, and the despair of its victims, it is associated with the Bastile of France, or the Black Hole of Calcutta. Writers have vied with each other in describing its terrors.
Of these, one McMasters, author of an alleged "History of the United States", which is apparently made up from clippings from sensational newspapers, thus describes it:
"New Gate Prison
"For more than fifty years after the peace, there was in Connecticut an underground prison, which surpassed in terrors the Black Hole in Calcutta. This den, known as the New Gate Prison, was an old worked out Copper mine, in the hills near Granby. The only entrance to it was by means of a ladder, down a shaft which led to the caverns underground. There, in little pens of wood, from thirty to one hundred culprits were immured; their feet made fast to iron bars, and their necks chained to beams in the roof. The darkness was intense; the caves reeked with filth; vermin abounded, water trickled from the roof, and oozed from the sides of the caverns; huge masses of earth were perpetually falling off. In the dampness and the filth, the clothing of the prisoners grew mouldy and rotted away, and their limbs became stiff with rheumatism".
Many of the statements in this short extract are easily shown to be devoid of truth. In this, as in the neighboring colonies and in other countries, the penalties for the crimes above specified were infamous and cruel. The horse-thief, for instance, when convicted was sentenced to pay the owner of the horse stolen, "Treble the value thereof a fine of ten pounds to the Colony treasury, - and further, to be pub- licly whipped on the naked body, not exceeding fifteen stripes, - and to be confined in a work-house of correction, not exceeding three months, at hard labor; and to be further whipped, on the first Monday of each month, not exceeding ten stripes each time; and for want of estate wherewith to pay such damage and fine, to be assigned to service to the party injured, or, in case of his not accepting such service, to any other person."
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For the purpose of avoiding or mitigating the infliction of such infamous punishments, and of profitably employing such convicts, a prison was established, where the prison- ers could be employed in labor instead of suffering corporal punishment. The intention was that they should take the place, in part at least, of the free laborers, who had hereto- fore voluntarily worked the mines. For these convicts to work there was surely no more cruel or terrible than for the free laborers, who, for years, had been voluntarily working there, for hire.
The following answers, by the overseers of the prison to a Legislative Committee of investigation, in 1810, was a sufficient refutation of many of the statements in the fore- going Historical extract;
"Ans." -"With respect to cleanliness; - When committed, the greater part come dirty, and at least one fifth part, covered with vermin; - much pains is taken to clean them of the ver- min which could and would be effected, were it not for the frequent recruits from the County prisons".
"Rations?". - Ans. - "The Rations were I lb of beef, or 3/4 lb of pork, I lb of bread or flour, - 3 gills of peas or beans or 2 lbs of potatoes, and 3 pints of cider".
"Clothing?" - Ans. - "The Winter clothing for prisoners consists of 2 Check flannel shirts, a short Coat, I pair Pants of homemade cloth, 2 pair Woolen Stockings and Shoes. Their Summer clothing consists of a change of tow-cloth frocks and trousers, with stockings and shoes. Their shirts, summer frocks, trousers and stockings, are shifted and washed once a week, and are boiled in strong lye made of ashes, which effectually destroys the vermin."
"Lodging?" Ans. - "The prisoners are lodged in huts, or cabins made in the cavern. They are built on a floor elevated three feet above the ground, and are ranged on each side of a space which lies between them. The roofs and outer sides of those cabins are made close and tight with boards. The berths in these cabins are plentifully supplied with blankets, and generally with straw, when the prisoners wish it. - The straw is shifted as often as is necessary."
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"How secured?" Ans. - "The prisoners are secured by iron fetters round their ankles. While at work a chain fastened to a block is locked into these fetters, or round the ankle. For the more daring and refractory, heavier chains are occasionally used". Here is a fair and candid statement of the condition and treatment of the prisoners in New Gate; and, by those who knew Judge Samuel Woodruff, the messenger selected by the citizens of the United States, to convey their dona- tions and sympathies to the suffering Greeks, in their struggle for liberty, these answers will be accepted as true, when it is known that he was one of the Overseers of the prison, at the time, and the author of the Report, from which these are extracts.
Owing to the condition of the prison, the purity of the air, and the uniformity of temperature in the caverns, sum- mer and winter, the health of the prisoners was proverbially good. Says R. H. Phelps, the Historian of Newgate, who lived but a short distance from the prison, and who, better than any other writer, knew of what he wrote, - "It is a curious fact, that many of the convicts having previously taken the itch, or other loathsome diseases while confined in the county jails which were very filthy, on being for a few weeks kept in the caverns at night, entirely recovered." And he quotes another writer who says: "From the various windings and other causes, it is not cold there, even in the severest weather; and strange as it may seem, it has been satisfactorily ascer- tained that the mercury ranged eight degrees lower in the lodging apartments of the prisoners in the warmest days of summer, than it does in the coldest in the winter". "On the 18th of January, 1811, at eight o'clock A. M. the mercury stood in the cavern at 52 degrees; and in open air, as soon after as it was practicable for a person to get up from the cavern, (which could not have exceeded five minutes) it fell to one degree below o".
Instead of the opprobrium sought to be cast upon the State of Connecticut, for the adoption of these mines as a State Prison, the highest praise should be bestowed upon her. The change in the mode and motive of punishment was
2II
a vast stride in the direction of humanity, far in advance of the surrounding colonies, and of the Governments of Europe; and with proper regulations and management, it would have been better for the State and the prisoners had the prison never been removed.
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FIRST CHURCH BUILDING . 1683
XXIII
Town Treasury and Miscellaneous Acts
For thirty years after Simsbury was incorporated, there was no Town Treasury. The fiscal and financial affairs of the town, prior to 1701, were conducted wholly by the towns- men, or Selectmen and the collector. By them, all the revenues of the town were collected and disbursed. The confusion at- tending and resulting from this mode of transacting the pub- lic business necessarily led to the adoption of a new system.
In 1701, the town created, by the following Act, the office of "Town Treasurer:"
"That whereas there has ben for time Paft fundery Towne Rates made for defraying of towne charges. Annually and for the payeing towne debts, that fo Creditors might have their Juft dues: and there has ben yearly Collectors chofen et. for ye collecting of sd Rates and difcharging towne debts; which fome have ben payde others omitted: and creditors making demaund of the Town or townsmen of their Juft dues: complayning much of their being wronged. befide the many confuffion ariffinge on the mater. therefore the Town at a Genr11 Town metting on the 27th day of January 1700 paft an active Vott to chouff a man amongft them- felves. to be a Town Treafurer: to be yearly chofen for the futter: who is by force and Vertue Here of fully Invefted with power in the time of his refpective office to. call the Collectors to an account how they have difpoffed: the Towns money yearly levyed for the paying of the Towns Creditors as alfo sd officer or Treafurer shall receive and demaund of
S. T. R. B. 212 P. 11 (Back of Book)
213
sd Collecteror et fuch rateable eftate or order to whom fuch eftate to be collected fhall be difpoffed as he ses mett. to the difcharging of Town debts, and fe that within his Tearm of ftanding or his year that sd rate or Rates made for that year. be duely collected: and alfo to mak up their accounts with him. in sd year of his office: and in caffe that the sd col- lecterours dont Collect the whole of sd rate committed to them to collect: he has power by Vertue of this Act to fue them. at common law alfo the sd Treafurer fhall at the time of the expiration of his office or before if required give an account to the Town. or Town Auditors. and the faid officer fhall be Accountabl. and refponfible to the Townes. reafonable fatiffaction. and to make good the fd eftate he is entrufted with. to the Towne.
Andrew Robe chofen to the above sd office For the year enfuing. his office is in the year 1701."
At a Town Metting December 17th 1701, "Andrew Robe was chofen Town Treafurer for the year enfuing and is to have Ten fhilling for his laft yearf pains about ye sayd office."
Mr. Robe was annually reelected to the office of Treasurer till 1731, a period of more than thirty years. His annual salary during that time was ten shillings.
About the beginning of 1707, the country was greatly alarmed by reports that a French and Indian expedition was being fitted out in Canada against New England. A Council of War was held at Hartford. It was resolved that Simsbury and other frontier towns in Connecticut should be fortified with all possible dispatch; and that each should keep a scout of two faithful men, to be sent out every day to discover the designs of the enemy. At the session of the General Court in October, 1708, it was ordered that two garrisons should be maintained at the public expense at Symsbury, and two at Waterbury. Shortly before this, two forts had been erected in Simsbury, one westward of the Falls, the other near the north line of the town on the road to Westfield.
In 1709 an expedition was fitted out from New England for the reduction of the French in Canada. Connecticut cheerfully voted its quota of men, but so great was the scar-
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