It seems that I can't get away from crime and punishment, York County style.
I was checking the files at York County Heritage Trust today to see if I could find out what was carved on the tablet above the door of 1853 York County Prison, which I wrote about in my recent post. I didn't find that information yet, but I did find a copy of the item below from the September 7, 1764 Maryland Gazette.
"Broke out of York Jail in York County, the following five Persons, viz. Matthew Forsythe, a thick well-set Fellow, ages about 23 Years, has red Hair, and is much freckled. Had on a white Broad-Cloth Coat, Cotton Velvet Jacket, white Stockings, and old Shoes. He is a very resolute Fellow. John Maln, an Englishman, 5 feet 10 Inches high, of a swarthy Complexion, wears a Blanket Coat, short under Jacket, and dark brown Hair. He was confined for Felony, for which he received his Punishment. William Philips, a short thick well set Fellow, very remarkable for thick Legs, and is a Shewman. Had on a short strip'd red Jacket, and speaks much on the Welch Dialect. Charles (a Negro) committed on Suspicion of Felony, very remarkable, having lost his right Arm, and is a supple Fellow. William (a Mulatto) the Property of one Snively in Concocheague, a thick well-set Fellow, wears a brown Homespun Coat, coarse Trowsers, strong Shoes, and brown Yarn Stockings, but no Buckles.
Whoever secures the said Matthew Forsythe, shall receive Ten Pounds Reward, and Forty Shillings for any or either of the Rest, or Eight Pounds for the Whole, paid by
Robert M'Pherson, Sheriff."
Makes you wonder why Forsythe rated the highest reward.
Click the links below for more on the York County Jail.
And more on York County crime:
More policemen needed in York.
Weapons taken off York streets.
Crooks chased by cops on trolley.
Juvenile jewel thief arrested.
York doctors and lawyers fall for scam.
Thieves steel court house spouting.
Arson the cause of major York fire.
Red Lion and Dallastown safes cracked.
York Mayor sticks up for assulted wife.
York Haven finds not all Slavs troublemakers.
Red Lion crooks chased by trolley car.
Despite the vandalism back in 1854, the marble tablet over the door survived, and when the old castle facade was torn down in 1906 and replaced with the newer portion of the prison, the tablet was moved inside, between the newer front section and the original older cell block. Unfortunately, there is no clever inscription like "enter to reform, leave to serve". The inscription simply says:
York County Prison
Erected 1853-54
Edward Havilland
Architect
Jacob Gottwalt
Builder
David Leber
Philip Sheffer
George Dick
F.C. Herbert
County Commissioners
John W. Hetrick
Clerk of Courts
Interestingly, the architect's father, John Haviland, designed the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, and Edward designed very similar prisons in several other Pennsylvania counties. He left a very detailed description of the inside design of the prison in his writings.
The marble tablet from the 1853 prison is now mounted in the lobby of the administrative building of the new York County Prison on Concord Rd in East York.