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Archiver > ESSEX-ROOTS > 1998-02 > 0888435145


From: John & Debbie <>
Subject: History of Ipswich
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 11:32:25 -0800


| PRISON --- HOUSE OF CORRECTION

Whoever looks upon these necessary appendages of orderly society, must
be reminded, that human nature is far from being perfect. When well
fitted and properly conducted, they are likely to promote, in a greater
or less degree, the prevention of crime. But if otherwise, they are
schools of iniquity, which let out upon the community villains made more
villanous, more skilled to deprave the morals and depredate on the
property of the public.
*1652, May 22d. As there is but one prison in the whole colony,
another is ordered to be built at Ipswich.
1656. Theophilus Wilson is keeper of the house of correction. His
compensation is £3 a year, 5s. for each prisoner, and all prisoners are
to pay him for their board and attendance; those not able to meet this
charge are to be kept on bread and water. The selectmen are required,
by law, to supply the house or correction with flax and hemp for work.
† 1684. The towns which send juries to Ipswich are to help build a
house of correction here; and those which send juries to Salem are to
help build one there.
1696. Thomas Fossey is keeper of Ipswich prison.
‡ 1751. The town vote to petition the General Sessions, “that the late
prison be effectually repaired, and established, as heretofore, a prison
and house of correction.”
1760. A committee report, that there be a petition to the same court,
to have a house of correction built here, and to permit the dissolute
poor of the town to be put in the jail, till the house of correction
shall be erected.
1771. A new jail is built on the place of the old one, which site is
now occupied by the Rev. Mr. Kimball’s house.
1810, Feb. 21st. The county had recently erected a stone jail here,
which cost nearly 27,000 dollars and was the only competent one in the
shire for securing prisoners. This, being to the southeast of the former
a considerable number of rods, is kept by Mr. Michael Brown. The
prisoners committed here in 1823, were 13, --- 1826, 31, --- 1829, 20,
--- 1833, 18. Nearly the whole of them were intemperate, and one-fourth
of them could neither read nor write.
1828. The old house of correction, at Norton’s Bridge, is
discontinued, and a new one, on the premises of the jail, is occupied,
and comes under the care of the keeper of the prison. The following
commitments to the house of correction took place: --- in 1828, 114, ---
1829, 136, --- 1830, 74, --- 1831, 117, --- 1832, 165, --- 1833, 98.
Nine-tenths of the individuals thus committed were addicted to
intoxication.

* Colony Records
† Quarterly Court Records
‡ Town of Ipswich Records

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1067/HistoryOfIpswich.htm

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