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 6
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A convict, by the name of Newman, was a no prison breaker. Although he perhaps could
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ust of unlocking, scaling, and digging out of so ny prisons as the famous Stephen Burrows, yet character, as it was written, compared very dl. He escaped in various ways from several ons in Canada and the United States, but this , he said, " was the hardest and most secure dison he ever entered." However, he contrived eral plans for escaping ; once he feigned him- to be dead. He was accordingly laid out as a ose, and preparations made for his interment ; before finding his carcase firmly under ground, concluded it best to have his resurrection, and ength ventured to disclose to his attendants the portant fact, that he would feel quite as com- able in his long home, if he could only get the ath out of his body and make his heart stop ting. He often pretended to have fits, requiring dical aid, and what was of more consequence, aid of a little Brandy or Madeira. He pretended aise blood from his lungs whenever he wished draw sympathy from the guard, until it was dis- ered that it was a substance made to order by wing pieces of red brick, or by pricking his gums. would vary his pulse by pounding his elbows other violent means, and thus deceive the sician. He said he could reduce his flesh in
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ten days by sucking a copper cent in his mou each night, and swallowing the saliva, which stroys the juices of the body, and produces pren ture decay. He was continually apprehens that he would yet be taken back to England, wh he said he should have to answer for the crime murder, as a thousand pounds reward for his arı stood against him. His chief desire was to av labor at the nail block, but he was finally cured his tricks with the threat of having the brand Rogue set on his forehead.
It was frequently customary for farmers a others in the neighborhood to employ the prison in their fields, being accompanied at such tim by some of the guard. They also performed great amount of labor in quarrying stone for t prison buildings, and other uses. Six of them one occasion were sent out a short distance quarry stone, in charge of one officer and two p vates. With no fetters, and a fair field bef them, they perceived the chance a good one escape. Their plan was to get their keepers n together, to employ their attention about so trifle, and quickly seize their arms. Accordin they persuaded their keepers to peel off some bi bark and make caps for them, and while the
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iness was going on, and the attention of the makers was occupied in their vocation, their apons were seized in an instant; the refugees, iding the spoils and forming themselves into ads, quickly scampered over the hills. The orn guards retreated to the prison, told their tale to the captain, and at once received their charge. The prisoners were all retaken; some the western part of the state for stealing; the ers stole a boat in Connecticut river, and steer- down the stream leisurely, were captured in st Hartford meadows. S
The wit of some of the convicts is well illus- ted in an anecdote of one of them, an Irishman med Dublin. He was at his work making nails, en at one time Maj. Humphrey, who then com- inded, came along, and said to him, " Dublin, ır nails are defective; the heads are not made ke." " Ah," said he, "Major, if our heads had Il been made alike, faith, I should not have been aught here." Dublin afterwards tried to escape leaping over the paling. He succeeded in get- g upon the top, and in leaping down, one of the n spikes with which the enclosure was mounted, ught in his fetters and turned him, as he said, other end up." For some time he hung sus-
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pended, head downwards, between heaven al earth, seventeen feet high, until at last, after te: ing off his finger ends and nails in his struggles turned himself back sufficiently to disentangle feet, when he fell to the ground, and soon sca pered away among the swamps and bushes. The he remained until aroused by the unwelcome ca of his stomach, when he ventured out in the nig and opening a window in the neighborhood, appropriated to himself a good loaf of bread and cheese, and again hid himself for two days. trying to break his fetters with a stone, he w overheard by one of the guard, Michael Holcon who called to him, " Dublin, what are you doing "I am driving the sheep out of my pasture," sa he. " But Dublin you must come along with me "Faith, Misthur Holcomb, surely this is not me: replied Dublin. He was taken to the prison, whe Holcomb received the reward of $10 which ha been offered.
In the spring of 1822, there was a rebellion off very serious nature. In the fall previous, betwee thirty and forty criminals were added to the nun ber in prison, and this reinforcement was compose of rough and hard characters. This increase wa in consequence of legislative enactments transfe
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E many from the county jails, which were all esstructed of wood, and very insecure. The is of sentence were mostly long, which served ire them with desperation. The same fall a a was set on foot by them for an outbreak, but h- as discovered and defeated. The next spring perfected their plans of operation in a most
Jaterly manner. The insurgents comprised the le number in the prison, amounting to more di one hundred. Their force was stronger than before, and the number of guards less, being whe time only seventeen. The captain, Tuller, absent through the night, also one sergeant, private, and the cook. The intention of the ls was to rise in all the shops, en masse, at a e n signal to knock down the officers, take their e pons, and get possession of the guard house erre the arms were kept, and then to take the 18 command of the works. The signal was given he nail shop by a blow from a shovel, and fler Roe was instantly knocked down senseless en a bar of iron. They seized his cutlass, and mi attacked a guard ; but so many being engaged en him at once, pulling different ways, that they not succeed in getting his musket. Officer e in the meantime stationed a sentinel at the e
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door of the guard-room, with a loaded musket : bayonet charged, which being noticed by 1 prisoners in the other shops, prevented their vancing to the attack, and seemed to dishear them at once. The bold rebels in the nail s kept up the struggle, and sledges, spikes, and ot missiles flew in all directions, and confusion : uproar reigned throughout. At this critical mon officer Griswold arrived at the prison, and procee directly to the scuffle at the musket. He drew pistol, fired upon and wounded a prisoner. Roe this time had come to his senses ; he arose from ground and shot another, when presently seve guards presented their cocked muskets, which i mediately quelled the assailants. The general of the prisoners was now for quarters : "Spare 1 Don't kill us !- don't kill us !" The capt soon after arrived, and bound the ringleaders double irons.
Ephruim Shaylor, one of the guard, was sent to accompany two prisoners, an Indian and a wh man, about 12 miles from the prison, where tl were employed in reaping. At the close of day, on their return, the prisoners requested F mission to gather some apples and carry th home, to which Shaylor consented; he also v
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ged in picking them up, when they sprang c. his back, crushed him down, and secured his bons, a cutlass and fowling piece. One of them a large stone and was about to smash out his is, but the other dissented, and they concluded st to take him to a copse of bushes near by and dispatch him. One followed at his back ing him by his sword belt with cutlass in hand, the other marched at a respectable distance, musket charged, in true military style, and ard they marched towards the fatal spot. Our now concluded that his final hour had come, thought if he must die, there might be at least ice in the mode ; and considering that a shot in back at such a crisis would be no dishonor, on dden he slipped the belt over his head and e for the prison, while the victors were disput- between themselves which should take the ket and fire upon him. Shaylor reached the on in safety, rallied several others and pursued n, but they were not to be found.
fter their victory, it appears that the Indian posed to the white man to break each other's pers, to which the other agreed, and after those he Indian were broken, the crafty liar took dy leave of his comrade without reciprocating
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the favor, thus proving that the old adage in t instance, is not true, "there is honor among rogue The white man secreted himself in the mounta through the day, and at night went to a bla smith's shop in Suffield, and with a chisel cut his fetters. Both were afterwards taken for cri and recommitted to Newgate, where their condit and that of their enemy as victor and vanquish was strangely reversed, and Shaylor had an opp tunity of enjoying his right of laying upon th bare backs, a few keen lashes.
Mr. Shaylor afterwards held a commission in army, was engaged in the battle of Bridgewat and was wounded. He now draws a pension, a is a respected citizen of Green Bay, Michigan.
A thief by name of James Smith, a native Groton, Conn., was imprisoned for horse-steali in 1822, for the term of six years. He had beer great counterfeiter, and circumstances which ha recently come to light are evidence that he h been a barbarous pirate. The piratical crew h sailed in a French vessel, and after obtaini much plunder, fearing to enter any port with regular papers, they sunk their vessel on the co of North Carolina, carried their specie in th boats and buried it all, except one large trunk fi
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The beach in Currituck county. In corrobora- trof the above it appears that while he was a ta la petness. t ri ner in Newgate, he offered David Foster, a d, $200 if he would assist him to escape, ig him he had a great quantity of specie buried he coast of North Carolina. Foster refused, if promised to say nothing about it. This he sified in court when afterwards called upon as Smith in a few months afterwards hoped from prison, and as was supposed, by pry. The following respecting him is related HIr. Benjamin Taylor, a planter now living in th Carolina. Smith and seven or eight others aje to his house in the year 1822, and hired of a room; they employed him with four of his es to cross Currituck sound, and obtained a in trunk, very heavy, and returned to his house, tre they all remained about one week. While de he saw them divide a large sum of specie ng themselves, and Smith, appearing to be at head, took the largest sum. They were ar- ed on suspicion of being robbers, but for want dufficient evidence discharged. They all then for Norfolk, Va., except Smith, who remained ral weeks. During this time he often appeared e deranged, would talk to himself, and told
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the servants that he "had made many a man wa " the plank overboard." He then went to the nor and was imprisoned at Newgate for stealing horse. After his escape from prison as ab stated, he returned to the house of Mr. Ta? and staid about one week. While there he e ployed several men in digging on the bea Their search was fruitless, for the storms a waves had dashed upon the beach too long, and is supposed swept the treasures into the ocel He then went away to some place unknown
Mr. Taylor. It now appears from the prison cords, that he came to Connecticut, where he v taken and again sentenced for twenty-three ye on four indictments for horse-stealing. His 1 home on earth was in prison, and there he died 1836.
The last tragedy developed at Newgate, to place on the night previous to the removal Wethersfield. Abel N. Starkey, an ingenious minal, was the victim. He was a native of R bury, Mass., was committed in 1824 for twej years, for the crime of making counterfeit mon By his ingenuity and industry at the prison had amassed $100 in cash. On the night of S tember 28th, 1827, being the day previous to
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noval of the prisoners to Wethersfield, he re- eted permission to lodge in the dungeon, which granted to him. From some cause which never been explained, the hatch which covered of the wells communicating with the cavern, unfastened. During the night he laid hold e well rope and ascended upon it part of the up, when it broke and precipitated him into water, and a bucket fell upon his head; the e was heard above, and he was found dead. feet were tied together with a handkerchief ne purpose, as is supposed, of assisting him in bing the rope. Only $50 were found in his ession ; the balance was probably the price for unfastening the hatch. e 1
would seem that Newgate prison, in the se of its duration, had contained all which various in character, determined in crime, deep in degradation. It compassed all ages boyhood to extreme old age; both sexes, 's, and different occupations; students from ge, and others unable to read or write. se skilled in phrenology might have had a rich in exploring the bumps on some of those heads, and the solving of their characteristics
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would have afforded amusement and perhaps struction.
Seriously, it is difficult to account for the v ward inclination of some of them, especially tl who were imprisoned a number of times and the same kind of offence each term, unless itt be accounted for on phrenological principles. may be said to indicate only a depraved heart, a depraved heart must have a strange kin head to run repeatedly into the same crime? get back to the same prison. But I leave ii those who understand the science to defend ground, presuming that the truth of their ca will insure them a triumphant issue.
When the number and difference of charac kept in that prison is considered, and the ti ment which they received is appreciated, it at once be seen how unavailing the system rr have been for their security or their reformat The custom of fastening their feet to bars of to which chains were attached from their nee chaining them to the block, and likewise beam above, while at their work, scourging 1 bodies like beasts, &c., taught them to look u themselves in a measure as they were looked u by others, objects of dread, and possessing
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apsers more like fiends than men. With such tment, reformation must have been, and was, ewrely out of the question. The system was y thr well suited to turn men into devils, but it andd never transform devils into men. Instead it utting them in cells separately at night, where es. might have opportunity for reflection, they art,e suffered to congregate together, good and ind, young and old, to brew mischief, and to teach er vices to those unpractised. Their midnight eiels, as may be supposed, were often like the d vling in a pandemonium of tigers, banishing cap and forbidding rest.
It is not desired that these remarks, however, raculd be so construed as to impute blame to the treers or guard of the prison. Far from it. Although it y were many times in fault, still as the prison ns constructed, and in the way that service was atuired of them, it was impossible to preserve f it degree of order and discipline so essential to ne cess. They had no approved system of prison cipline to study, no correct views of punishment nected with reformation were at that day merally known, and but few branches of business ure thought of, which would yield a fair compen- dion and save the State from cost.
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The insecurity of Newgate prison, and the stant burthen upon the treasury of the state fo support, excited a very strong discussion in public prints, and in the legislature, for sev years. The subject of a new prison on a n modern plan, and the abandonment of the old raised a powerful party in its support. Among foremost in this enterprise was Martin Welles, I who labored zealously for its accomplishm The proposition was opposed by others living the vicinity of Newgate, among whom was ] Orson P. Phelps, an enterprising contractor, who furnished the prison with beef, and other ne saries. The Major indulged his ready poetic on one occasion, by the following sentiment :
" O'er the dark side on Copper hill,
" Martin Welles has stopped their treading mill. "'Tis ten to one if he don't miss it,
"For Doctor Buck can't deal out physic."
He was well answered by the author of anot couplet :
"Say what you will, old Newgate helps
" The beef contractor, Major Phelps."
The following song was composed by Eliphalet Buck, and sung on the occasion of c
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dag the walls of Newgate Prison in 1802. Dr. was for many years the established physician lewgate, and was a complete embodiment of As well as physic, but had not made the art of ny a study, evidently:
ttend, all ye villains, that live in the state, onsider the walls that encircle Newgate, Your place of abode, if justice were done. the assembly in wisdom, when they did behold he first wooden pickets, grown ruined and old, hey granted a sum to the wise overseers, Thich, amply sufficient to make the repairs, And they did decide to repair with hewn stone. 5 Đ
the year one thousand eight hundred and two, A party collected, to split and to hew. heir names in my song, shall last with the wall; irst, Lieutenant Barber the job undertakes ; eneath his strong labor, old Copper hill shakes, Tith his workmen in order, the stone for to square, nd others strong burdens with cheerfulness bear, While each one delights to attend to his call.
the next in the column is sage Pettibone, Those skill in the work is exceeded by none. To handle the gavel, or poise the great maul; With him senior Jared an equal part bears, nd in the hard labor he equally shares: Thile Gillett, and Holcomb, and Cosset appear, nd Hillyer, all anxious the fabric to rear, To lay the foundation-to strengthen the Wall.
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Bold Harrington, Goddard, and Lieutenant Reed, Each lend their assistance the work to proceed.
Perhaps there are others, whose names I don't call, With hammers, and chizzels, and crow-bars, and gads And Wanrax, with other poor prisoner lads, To hand up the mortar, or carry the hod; Which may, to some strangers appear very odd, To think the poor culprits help build their own Wall. November the tenth, for the good of the state, They finished the wall and completed the gate,
Which for numerous years may swing and not fall. Then each one returns to his sweetheart or wife, With plenty of cash to support them in life; With joy and with gladness for what they had done, In hewing and squaring, and laying the stone, Not wholly unmindful of building the Wall. Now here's to the landlord, before that we go, We wish him success, and his lady also,
For their kind assistance to great and to small, For the benefit had from his plentiful bar, And the free intercourse which produces no jar; To him and his neighbors, and every good man, Who always we've wanted to lend us a hand To drive on the work, and finish the Wall. Now last, to the prisoners, we make this remark, Who are left to the keeping of Commodore Clark ? It may be of service, to one and to all, Repine not too much, though your lot may seem hard, You've a judicious keeper, and well disposed guard; If you behave well you have nothing to dread- You've beef, pork, and sauce, and a plenty of bread, So behave well, and get the outside of the Wall.
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ome of the prisoners were made to assist in ding the wall, and it appears that they were nitted to participate in the jollification after it completed. An Irish prisoner, named Patrick, red upon the occasion the following toast : Here's to Lieut. Barber's great wall-May it be ce the walls of Jericho, and tumble down at the und of a ram's horn."
he toast given by Dublin was equally sarcastic,
Here's health to the Captain and all the rest the prisoners."
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CONNECTICUT STATE PRISON.
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The present Penitentiary of Connecticut is ated on the margin of a beautiful cove in town of Wethersfield, about three miles 1 Hartford, and is regarded as a penitentiari the first order. Its location, its construction financial management and discipline, have the admiration of every state in the Union. It proved to the world that criminal punishment be made a safeguard to society, a protection to honest industry of the people, and also a ber to the moral and physical condition of the ( victs. The prison limits comprise about one : a half acres of ground, which is enclosed by a of hard sand stone, 18 feet high, 3 feet thick a base, and inclining to 1 } feet at the top. Wit
and adjoining this wall, are buildings of the s material, and of brick, used as the ward apartment, hospital and chapel, and for w shops and cells. In the yard is a cistern ur ground for water, of the capacity of 100 h heads, and a fire engine is attached to the pre
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A steam engine of forty horse power is con- ed with the shops for propelling machinery, ssary to carry on the various branches of ness. A portion of the cell building is white- hed with lime each day, which purifies the air, gives to the lodging apartments an appearance eatness. Each convict enjoys that blessing of fshment, a separate cell at night, and no one is al- ed during the day to look at any visitor, or to „h the eye of his fellow, but all are intent upon business before them. A library of suitable ts, comprising 1500 volumes, is provided for hi as can read, and those who can not are in- opted by the chaplain, who is assisted in his nl work occasionally by the warden and other ders. The library is highly prized by the con- as, who spend many of their solitary hours in ying, and the benefits have been so apparent, the state has generously appropriated annu- t$100 for the purchase of books for their use. ae convicts are employed at present in the
ufacture of mechanics' tools, boot and shoe
ing, and burnishing. The females are under harge of a matron, and are employed in making mending clothes, washing, cooking, &c. The ces of the male convicts are let by the war-
el
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den to companies or contractors, who pay mor a stipulated price per day for the services of prisoner, and no able bodied person is ex from labor. This system has been found to well, pecuniarily, and the average net profit the state, above the current expenses, officers' : ries, &c., amount to about $2000 per ann This is believed to be the only state prison in Union which meets its entire expenses and le a surplus to the state.
It is interesting to observe how much dep in the success of a prison, upon skill and d pline in its management. For seventeen y previous to the removal of the prison in 1827, annual tax upon the state treasury for the suj of Newgate was over $7000. The present ins tion has paid for all its buildings and fixtures, seventeen acres of land. It has paid $7000 to counties of the state, for the erection of co jails on the improved penitentiary system, $7000 to the school districts in the state for so apparatus, thus causing ignorance and crin help educate the rising generation. It has sented to the Boston prison discipline so $1000, by order of the legislature, besides a plus to a large amount for the state treasury.
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convict has ever escaped from this prison. ffe construction and the active vigilance of its ers, would seem to banish all hopes of escape, render every attempt worse than useless. t order and discipline are apparent in every rtment, and yet without any vain show of er. No bars or fetters are worn; no armed nel is seen, except upon the two towers; no kets, swords, or pistols, are carried daily within walls; and only within the guard room are any pons of murder to be seen.
he first warden of this prison was Moses C. bury,* a former warden of the New Hampshire
Loses C. Pilsbury was a thirty and forty miles on foot, e of Newbury, Mass. he arrived at Newburyport, as emphatically a self- man, and his life affords iking instance of the : of perseverance. Taken school in his tenth year, orked with his father, was a blacksmith, and be farm, until he was y-one. On that day he ome with but one copper pocket, but with a heart of hope and a strong de- nation to conquer every cle. Traveling between
where he engaged to work for a month at haying. For this he received eight dollars, to which, by working nights, he added two dollars more. At the end of the month, there- fore, he was in possession of ten silver dollars; and this was the capital of the man, who subsequently acquired a good education and a hand- some property; who faithfully served his country as an officer in the last war with England,
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prison, and to his skill and experience much W cipl hver rsa in due in connection with the Boston prison pline society, in the first arrangement of the ii tution. He continued in that capacity about ť years, and was succeeded by his son, Amos bury,* who for about seventeen years (exce short interval) remained as the warden, and Lis red Khir wit Fear tice g continued and perfected the admirable syster discipline so well begun. It is not in a pecun respect only that the Connecticut prison has It successful. It has, in a majority of cases, proved the moral and intellectual condition of inmates, where any improvement of the debat
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