Newgate Prison

The Institution

Newgate Prison was constructed within an abandoned copper mine in East Granby, Connecticut. Prisoners worked, lived, and were housed in huts and cabins that were constructed inside the underground caverns and shafts of the mine.

The underground structure of the prison and installation of an iron door over the entrance shaft were at first believed to be escape-proof. Consequently, few if any guards would be required to run the prison. Captain John Viets, Newgate's first keeper, appointed by the Connecticut General Assembly, initially provided the only security for the institution. However, within three weeks, the first prisoner had escaped (with assistance) through a mineshaft. Although additional security measures were implemented by new legislation from the General Assembly, escapes were frequent and sometimes violent.

In addition, overcrowding became a serious issue over time. In one instance, 32 men were housed in an area only 21 feet by 10 feet by 7 feet. As well as escaping, prisoners also regularly burned any structures that were built over the mine. All of these problems were exacerbated by a combination of untrained staff and poor management. Ultimately, the difficulties with security would contribute to the closing of Newgate.

The Prisoners

Initially, the Connecticut General Assembly only dictated imprisonment for males convicted of five offenses: robbery, burglary, horse theft, counterfeiting, and forgery. However, it eventually included women, murderers, political prisoners, and prisoners of war. Newgate also housed Tories during the American Revolutionary period.

Prison labor was one of the core components of life at Newgate. Although at first prisoners worked [Page 640]in the mines, it quickly became evident that they lacked the training and skills necessary to make the venture profitable. Instead, they were set to work making nails, barrels, shoes, and wagons as well as doing farm work.

The prisoners housed at Newgate worked in close quarters with one another and were housed collectively, in contrast to the solitary system proposed in the Pennsylvania model. They were allowed to congregate after the workday to gamble and trade their rations for the day. These rations included a pound of meat, a pound of bread, a pint of cider, and potatoes. Additionally, those who had money from working or other sources had access to a tavern near the prison in the evenings. Such close contact between the inmates provided some savings on the cost of imprisonment, but it also made it easier for violence, riots, and insurrections to occur.

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