Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

A Case of Negligence

Spotsylvania Court House National Historic District

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 18, 2020

1. A Case of Negligence Marker

Inscription.

A Case of Negligence. Spotsylvania Court House National Historic District. , "The county jail is now nearly completed, and ready for the reception of ...boarders...Persons taking quarters will be able to resist all attacks of burglars, and as far as burglars are concerned, may enjoy their slumbers in the peacefulness of all tranquility." , The Virginia Herald, March 8, 1855. , The 1838 jail was never at capacity. The County allowed Strother Clark, a local shoemaker to use the 2nd floor for his shop. As part of the agreement, Clark was required to insure his business for $1,000 through the Hartford Fire Insurance Company. In the space provided, Clark tanned leather hides for production of his products. In February 1853, a fire at the jail was reported at 2 a.m., which quickly consumed the building. It was a total loss. A grand jury was empaneled and came to the conclusion that Clark was negligent. Clark turned over the insurance money to the County and no further action was taken., In 1853, after the jail burned, the county ordered a new jail built to be 40 by 20 feet with three brick thick first floor walls and two-brick thick second floor walls. It contained a total of four cells, each 12 by 17 feet. By 1855, construction was nearly complete for a total cost of $3,000. The funds were paid to the contractor, Joseph Sanford. The jail featured a central passageway and a spiral iron staircase for access to the second floor. By 1864, white wainscot was added to the first floor and second floor lintels and sills., During the War of the Rebellion, the jail also housed Confederate deserters. In 1863, prisoners from the Battle of Chancellorsville were housed in the jail and confined within a stone fence that surrounded the Courthouse grounds., [Captions:] , A view of the rear of the jail (left) taken around 1910. This photo pre-dates modifications which added windows at the rear on the first story., Sgt. Thomas Gordon, 30th Virginia Infantry was severely wounded at Antietam in 1862. He was assigned to the jail for recruitment and watching over deserters in 1863., William Mannsfield (right) on his wedding day with bride Cordelia Powell in 1852. He was Sheriff of Spotsylvania during the War of the Rebellion., The original order for the new jail in 1853 gave explicit instructions for its design and composition.

"The county jail is now nearly completed, and ready for the reception of ...boarders...Persons taking quarters will be able to resist all attacks of burglars, and as far as burglars are concerned, may enjoy their slumbers in the peacefulness of all tranquility."
The Virginia Herald, March 8, 1855.

The 1838 jail was never at capacity. The County allowed Strother Clark, a local shoemaker to use the 2nd floor for his shop. As part of the agreement, Clark was required to insure his business for $1,000 through the Hartford Fire Insurance Company. In the space provided, Clark tanned leather hides for production of his products. In February 1853, a fire at the jail was reported at 2 a.m., which quickly consumed the building. It was a total loss. A grand jury was empaneled and came to the conclusion that Clark was negligent. Clark turned over the insurance money to the County and no further action was taken.

In 1853, after the jail burned, the county ordered a new jail built to be 40 by 20 feet with three brick thick first floor walls and two-brick thick second floor walls. It contained a total of four cells, each

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12 by 17 feet. By 1855, construction was nearly complete for a total cost of $3,000. The funds were paid to the contractor, Joseph Sanford. The jail featured a central passageway and a spiral iron staircase for access to the second floor. By 1864, white wainscot was added to the first floor and second floor lintels and sills.

During the War of the Rebellion, the jail also housed Confederate deserters. In 1863, prisoners from the Battle of Chancellorsville were housed in the jail and confined within a stone fence that surrounded the Courthouse grounds.

[Captions:]
A view of the rear of the jail (left) taken around 1910. This photo pre-dates modifications which added windows at the rear on the first story.

Sgt. Thomas Gordon, 30th Virginia Infantry was severely wounded at Antietam in 1862. He was assigned to the jail for recruitment and watching over deserters in 1863.

William Mannsfield (right) on his wedding day with bride Cordelia Powell in 1852. He was Sheriff of Spotsylvania during the War of the Rebellion.

The original order for the new jail in 1853 gave explicit instructions for its design and composition.

Erected by Spotsylvania

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 18, 2020

2. A Case of Negligence Marker

County Museum, County of Spotsylvania, Virginia.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement • Notable Buildings • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Spotsylvania County Museum series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1853.

Location. 38° 12.051′ N, 77° 35.339′ W. Marker is in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is on Courthouse Road (Route 208) just west of Judicial Center Lane (County Road 631), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8960 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania VA 22553, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in

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what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Modification, Decay & Preservation (here, next to this marker); A Jailor is Jailed (within shouting distance of this marker); A Fateful Ride (within shouting distance of this marker); Turning the Pages of Time (within shouting distance of this marker); Fisticuffs on the Courthouse Lawn and other Political Drama (within shouting distance of this marker); Legend, Lore and Fact (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee’s Headquarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Through Fire and Flames (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Other markers no longer nearby. Spotsylvania Courthouse and Jail (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Spotsylvania County Jail (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); An Old Jail…A New Home (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); A Final Journey (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Amid Shot and Shell (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 528 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.