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 2
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The old mines were suffered to repose again in quiet for about twenty years, when the note of preparation for working was once more heard. A new company was formed in 1855, called the Connecticut Copper Company, which prosecuted the business for about two years. They found the average yield of metal about 5 per cent, and large masses of ore were taken out which produced over 50 per cent of copper. The deeper the descent, the richer appeared to be the quality of the ore. The chief obstacle to success appears to be, not for the lack of a fair per centage of metal, but in ex- tracting it by the ordinary process of separating and fluxing; and for that purpose the company erected ten of Bradford's separators, at a great ex- pense, and also two steam engines for grinding, and for working the separating machines. The business has been suspended for the present, but it is believed that the aids of science, improved machinery, and sufficient capital, will yet result profitably, and that Copper hill may at no distant day, share some of the fame of the mines of lake Superior.
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IMPRISONMENT OF THE TORIES.
Can then the verdure of these blissful plains Conceal the Caves where penal Rigor reigns ! Where the starved wretch, by suffering folly led To snatch the feast where pampered plenty fed; Shut from the sunny breeze and healthful skies, On the cold, dripping stone, low, withering, lies; Torn from the clime that gave his visions birth, A palsied member of the vital earth! If the sweet Muse, with Nature's best control, Can melt to sympathy the reasoning soul, She bids thee rend those grating bars away, And o'er the dungeon break the beam of day: Give the frail felon with laborious toil, To pay the penance of his wasted spoil. Hear his deep groan, heed his repentant prayer, And snatch his frenzied spirit from despair; Nor let these fields, arrayed in heavenly bloom, Blush o'er the horrors of a living tomb !*
These caverns were first occupied as a place for the confinement of Tories about the beginning of the American Revolution. What an astonishing train of events followed, and how distant from the thoughts of the British company of miners, the
* Extract from a poem writ- ty and formidable character ten by a lady of Boston, in which Newgate had obtained, in the opinion of the benevo- lent and gifted poetess. 1797, after visiting the prison. It indicates the great notorie- 4
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idea that they were actually hewing out prison cells, for the lodgment of their friends, the Tories of America !
The Colony of Connecticut first used the caverns as a permanent prison in 1773. A committee had been appointed by the General assembly to ex- plore the place, who reported that by expending about thirty-seven pounds, the mines could be so perfectly secured, that " it would be next to im- " possible for any person to escape." Whether their opinions were well founded, subsequent events determined. The total expense of purchasing the property, with the remaining lease of the mines, and fortifying the place, amounted to $375.
An act was passed prescribing the terms of im- prisonment. Burglary, robbery, and counterfeit- ing were punished for the first offense with im- prisonment not exceeding ten years ; second offense for life. The keeper of the prison was authorized to punish the convicts for offenses, by " moderate "whipping, not exceeding ten stripes, and by put- "ting shackles and fetters upon them ;" and it was intended to employ them at labor in the mines, which they did, to a considerable extent.
At first the number of Tories confined in the caverns did not exceed five or six, and these were
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guilty of other crimes against the government. But as time developed events, the numbers in- creased to between thirty and forty.
When the 342 chests of tea were thrown into the sea at Boston in 1773, and that port closed by an act of Parliament, so great was the excitement, and so indignant were the people, particularly in Massachusetts and Connecticut, on account of British oppression, that the use of tea and all com- modities imported in British vessels and subject to duty, were prohibited. The duty on tea was so particularly obnoxious, that it was considered a contraband article in household comforts ; true, the contrast in the times may appear rather curi- ous, for at this day, a housekeeper would be judged by common consent deserving incarceration in the mines, or some other place, for not allowing the article to be used.
Our ancestors knew no half-way policy, and seldom adopted dilatory measures to carry their points. Tea vessels, if then kept at all, were kept out of sight; tea pots were run into musket balls, and they were the kind of currency with which the people dealt with old England.
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The following incident from Dr. Stiles's History of Ancient Windsor, shows the marked spirit of the times :
" At an early period in the Revolutionary strug- " gle, and before the war had fairly commenced, " some of the Tories (of whom there were a few in " Windsor) happened one day to come across Elihu " Drake, then a lad about eight years old, and partly "in earnest, and partly in a joke, endeavored to " compel him to say, God save the King. Failing " of success, they tried to intimidate him by threat- " ening him with a ducking in the river. But the " boy still stoutly refused. Becoming somewhat "enraged at the young rebel, they carried their " threat into execution, and thrust him under water, " but as they pulled him out spluttering and chok- "ing, the only exclamation which he uttered was " a fervent God d-n the King. Again, and again " was the little martyr thrust under, but each time " the same reply was all they could extort from " him, and they were obliged to release him with "many hearty curses for his stubbornness. At "the age of twelve, this young hero accompa- " nied his father into the war, in the capacity of " waiter."
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The following appeared in the Connecticut Jour- nal, in 1775, and further illustrates the same spirit : " The Riflemen on their way from the Southern "colonies through the country, administer the new " fashioned discipline of tar and feathers to the "obstinate and refractory Tories that they met on " their road, which has had a very good effect here "(in New Milford). Those whose crimes are of a "more atrocious nature, they punish by sending "them to Gen. Gage. They took a man in this " town, a most incorrigible Tory, who called them "d-d Rebels, &c., and made him walk before them " to Litchfield, which is 20 miles, and carry one of " his own geese all the way in his hand; when "they arrived there, they tarred him, and made " him pluck his goose, and then bestowed the " feathers on him, drummed him out of the com- "pany, and obliged him to kneel down and thank " them for their lenity."
Public opinion in some of the colonies against those who favored the mother country was very rigid, authorizing any person even to shoot them if they were found beyond the limits of their own premises, and one was shot in the town of Sims- bury. Those who possessed not the hardihood
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thus summarily to dispatch a neighbor when he declined to fight for the country, or for purchasing foreign goods, adopted the more humane expedient of applying to the Committee of Safety * in the town, who penned them up in the caverns where they could at least leisurely examine the evidence of British labor, though not allowed the blessed
* In some towns they were termed Committee of Inspec- tion. They constituted what we should call a committee of Vigilance, and their duties were of a very peculiar and delicate nature-" a patriotic " and searching espionage into " the principles, actions and " private affairs of every mem- " ber of the community, with- " out regard to station, profes- " sion or character. It was " necessary to know how each "man stood affected towards " the war-whether his feelings " were enlisted in his country's " behalf, or whether secretly or " publicly he was aiding the "enemy." If any individual fell under suspicion of the people, the committee were immediately notified, and they forthwith
repaired to the person and de- manded an avowal of his senti- ments. If found to be luke- warm or indifferent to the liberal . cause, he was closely watched. If a Tory in sentiment, he was remanded to Newgate. The dividing line of principle was positive and distinct. On the royal side, the British officials proclaimed those to be outlaws who favored the cause of the rebels, and pronounced free par- don to such as ceased their re- sistance, or espoused the cause of Royalty. Besides this it is said they gave secret protection papers to those applying for them on the score of friendship. These acts of the British im- pelled the colonists to take the most rigorous measures in self defense.
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boon of being governed by British laws. We can not for a moment doubt the noble intentions of the American patriots in the severity of those measures, for the results are now universally acknowledged, and generally appreciated. If at the commence- ment of their struggle for liberty, they had permit- ted those emissaries to raise a question as to the right of independent government, and had suffered them to prowl about unmolested, spreading the fuel of disaffection, a civil, instead of a national war must have followed. The proud eagle of Liberty would not so soon have risen over this land of plenty, and the reveille of British soldiery would have told misfortune's tale, of a government of force. Well would it be for us their descendants if like them we could appreciate the blessings of liberty, of our happy form of government, and the value of mutual peace and union of this great confederacy of Sovereign States !
At this day, it seems to us hardly possible that any considerable number could have been found, so indifferent to the possession of liberty, as to op- pose their countrymen in arms, struggling for free-
dom, and the inalienable rights of man. We are prone to regard them as inhuman, deluded beings, unworthy to live. But let us pause a moment,
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yield a little to our charity, to consider the state of the country at that time, and some of the influences by which they were surrounded. The Tories were aware that in the history of the world, every people who had attempted the experiment of a free repre- sentative form of government, although in some cases for a while successful, yet in the end they had positively failed in their hopes and plans, their struggles had only ended in loss of power by the many, and usurpation of it by the few. From the history of the Republics of Greece in early Europe, . through the long vista of twenty-four centuries, the plebeian people had striven through toil and blood, only to bend their necks at last to the yoke of some powerful chieftain in war. They and their ances- tors had suffered and bled in the Indian wars, afterwards in wars with the French, and with French and Indians combined, and their mother England had been an ally who had assisted them in their defence, and to whom they still looked for aid in emergency. Many also, were bound by the ties of near kindred to friends across the ocean. Those in civil power received their authority direct from England, and many of the clergy were commissioned by the church of England, by which also they received their chief support. All of them,
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doubtless, were biassed by early education and prejudice, to prefer a kingly to a free government, and they dreaded the troublesome responsibility of beginning the contest for a change, well knowing that an ignominious death awaited them in case their experiment failed. In the words of our Declaration of Independence, "all experience hath " shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, " while evils are sufferable, than to right them- " selves by abolishing the forms to which they are "accustomed." On the other hand, they are blameable for opposing independence, because the oppression of British tyranny had planted them or their fathers upon the inhospitable shores of a new world; they had generously expended their blood and treasure for the maintenance of the crown, and had obeyed its mandates by assisting in the war against France, which resulted in the acquisi- tion of a vast territory to the English nation. Their trade had been monopolized by her; then, when prudence would have dictated a relaxation of authority, the mother country rose in her demands, and imposed heavy taxes to pay off a national debt of more than $750,000,000. The idea should have been discarded, that a small island, more than two thousand miles distant, should hold in
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bondage, without representation, a territory on this continent, large as the whole of Europe, and des- tined to equal it in population. They should have remembered too, that citizens of the early Repub- lics, possessed not our advantage of historical ex- perience of other Republics, to delineate the faults of free government, by which they could avoid their errors, and adopt their benefits; and no well defined system of confederated states, with a constitution limiting the just powers of government, had ever been devised. The masses in early ages were ignorant, superstitious, and heathenish ; they were crammed into dense cities and villages, which are the hotbeds of vice and corruption; while on the con- trary, the inhabitants of America could glean wis- dom from the history of past ages, and commune with the great and mighty dead. They possessed abundance of territory for all; plenty of room in which to develop their free energies, and afford to all uneasy spirits a medium in which to expend their surplus gas, in the moral atmosphere of a continent. They could realize the sentiment :
"No pent up Utica contracts our powers,
" For the whole boundless Continent is ours."
They also were the disciples of a divine religion,
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which tends to harmonize the heart, and elevate the moral character of man.
The first keeper of Newgate was Capt. John Viets, who resided near by, and who supplied them daily with such food and necessaries as were required. His bill, as recorded for one year, in 1774, is as follows :
" Captain John Viets, Master, as per his bill for " services, boarding workmen and providing for " prisoners, &c., 291. 5s. 10d."
At that time no guard was kept through the day, but two or three sentinels kept watch during the night. There was an anteroom or passage, through which to pass before reaching their cell, and the usual practice of Capt. Viets, when he carried their food, was, to look through the grates intothis pass- age, to observe whether they were near the door, and if not, then to enter, lock the door after him, and pass on to the next. The inmates soon learned his custom, and accordingly prepared themselves for an escape. When the Captain came next time, some of them had contrived to unbar their cell door, and huddled themselves in a corner behind the door in the passage, where they could not easily be seen, and upon his opening it, they sprung
1147165
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upon him, knocked him down, pulled him in, and taking the key from his possession, they locked him up and made good their escape. What were the Captain's reflections on his sudden transition from keeper to that of prisoner is not stated, but he probably thought, with Falstaff, "discretion the " better part of valor," and that he must adopt, in future, more prudent measures. His absence was soon perceived by his family, who came to his relief. The inhabitants around rallied immedi- ately, and gave chase to the absconding heroes,. and finally succeeded in capturing nearly the whole of them. Several were taken in attempting to cross the Tunxis, or Farmington river, at Scot- land bridge, a few miles south ; sentinels having been stationed at that place to intercept them. Some, Santa Ana like, took refuge upon trees, and there met with certain capture. A respected ma- tron, then a child, states, that the news of their escape and capture spread as much dread or terror among the children in the neighborhood as if they had been a band of midnight assassins. Although the prison was considered impregnable, the first convict which had been put there, John Hinson, had escaped. He was committed Dec. 2, 1773, and escaped after a confinement of eighteen days, by
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being drawn up through the mining shaft, assisted, it is said, by a woman to whom he was paying his addresses.
After the general escape and recapture, the fol- lowing report was made by the overseers:
To the Honourable General Assembly now sitting at Hartford :
We, the subscribers, overseers of Newgate Pri- son, would inform your Honors, that Newgate Pri- son is so strong and secure that we believe it is not posable 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 Honourable 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 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
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escaped, is about 70 feet to the bottom of the pri- son, the whole of which is through a firm rock except 10 feet at top, which is stoned up like a well; we therefore propoes that the upper part down to the rock be lock'd 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, about six feet below the surface, we propoes 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 the Miners, &c. All which is submitted by your Hon- or's Most obedient Humble. Servants.
Erastus Wolcott, Josiah Bissell, Joh'n Humphrey.
Hartford Jan'y 17th, 1774.
Connecticut at that period held each year two sessions of her Assembly, and at the next session, four months after, the following report was pre- sented by the overseers :
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To the Hon. the Gen'l Assembly now sitting at Hartford :
We the subscribers hereto, overseers of Newgate Prison, beg leave to represent to your honors, That sone after the rising of the assembly in Jan'y last, three delinquents were committed from Windham, and two others from New London county, where- upon, notwithstanding the severity of the season, we immediately set about making those further securities that your Honors directed, and have built a strong log house 36 feet in length and 20 feet in width, with timbers 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 chim- ney, and compleated 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 otherwise 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 possible 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 be-
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fore your honours or Auditors, to be appointed as your Honors shall direct. Your Honors must have heard that the prisoners have all escaped that pri- son ; 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 securitys could be com- pleated. We would 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 busi- ness, and prevented his coming ; but have engaged him to attend when wanted. All which is sub- mitted to your Honours, by your Honours' most obedient and humble servants.
Hartford, May 14th, 1774.
In the spring of 1776, the prisoners attempted an escape by burning the block house over the shaft. A level had been opened from the bottom of
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the mines through the hill westward, for the pur- pose of draining off the water, and the mouth of this level was chiefly closed by a heavy wooden door firmly fastened. They had by degrees collected sufficient combustibles, and with a piece of stone and steel they kindled a fire against the door, which burned as fast as damp fuel in a damp dun- geon naturally could; but instead of making their escape from the prison, they all nearly made their final escape from the world ; for the dense smoke and blue flame soon filled the apartment and almost suffocated them. Search being made, one of them was found dead, and five others were brought forth senseless, but finally recovered. They were afterwards placed in a strong wooden building, erected for the purpose above ground. They set this building on fire the next year, and burned it to the ground. Nearly all escaped, but several of them were afterwards retaken. A few years after, the block house, so called, was rebuilt, but prudence by the officers in the management was disregarded. Had they been more careful in adopting safeguards for themselves and the pri- soners, they might have avoided the dreadful scene which was soon to follow-a scene of conflict and blood !
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As the war with England now raged with fury, the animosity between the Whigs and Tories had grown in proportion, and the seal of distinct party was in many places stamped with vivid impres- sion, so that at this period the number doomed to . the prison had amounted to thirty, and many of them were Tories. They were a desperate set of men, and for their greater security a guard was allotted to each one, the thirty guards being armed with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets. On the night of the 18th of May, 1781, the dreadful tra- gedy occurred which resulted in the escape of all the prisoners. A prisoner was confined, by the name of Young, and his wife wishing to be admit- ted into the cavern with him, she was searched, and while two officers were in the act of raising the hatch to let her down, the prisoners rushed out, knocked down the two officers, and seizing the muskets of nearly all the rest who were asleep, immediately took possession of the works, and thrust most of the guards into the dungeon after a violent contest. One of them, Mr. Gad Sheldon, was mortally wounded, fighting at his post, and six more wounded severely. Said a venerable old lady recently deceased : " It was a dreadful sight " to see the wounded guard, as they were brought
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" into our house one after another, and laid upon "the floor, weltering in their blood! When I " came into the room, the faithful Sheldon sat on a "bench, his body bent forward, and a bayonet " dripping with blood lying before him, which he " had just drawn out of his breast-it was a deadly "stab !" Many of the prisoners were wounded ; some of them were assailed and gashed by their comrades through mistake, while fighting in the darkness of the conflict. Nearly all made their escape ; some from their wounds were unable to flee. One was taken on a tree in Turkey hills, east of the mountain; a few others were found in swamps and barns in the neighboring towns.
A Committee was appointed by the Assembly, then in session, to repair to Newgate and inquire into the facts respecting the insurrection. They report the evidence in the case, some of which it is curious to notice in their own words. " Jacob " Southwell was awakened by the tumult, took a " gun and run out of the guard-house, and durst " not go back for fear they would hurt him. N. B. " A young man more fit to carry fish to market, than to
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