New York, U.S., Prisoners Received at Newgate State Prison, 1797-1810

Newgate Prison was New York’s first state penitentiary, opening in 1797 on the Hudson River. Envisioned as a model prison for reforming those charged with serious crimes other than murder and arson (which were capital offenses), it soon became overcrowded, at some points housing almost double its intended capacity of 446 prisoners. The communal nature of the prison allowed for constant interaction between inmates and made it prone to violent riots.

Prisoners were sentenced for their crimes in the courthouse in the city and then sent “up the river” to the prison, which was situated in what is now Greenwich Village. There they were put to work on the prison’s food production and maintenance efforts or in the workshop, where they made shoes or boots at first and later expanded to other products, such as barrels, brushes, and textiles.

Women were incarcerated in Newgate separately but were a minority. They were put to work in textiles, sewing, and the laundry.

The prison closed in 1828, and the remaining prisoners were removed to Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York, further up the Hudson. This collection includes the records of Newgate Prison from its opening in 1797 to 1810. Details you can find in these records include:

• prisoner’s name
• birthplace
• crime and county where convicted
• sentence and date of sentence

Earlier records (before 1803) also include residence, occupation, and a physical description. There are also statistical summaries at the end of each year that tally the types of crimes committed by inmates. Beginning with 1803, there are additional details about repeat offenders, including information about previous offenses.