Daily Needs

Daily Needs. . , Everyday needs such as eating, bathing, and going to the bathroom were much more difficult in prison. This foundation is thought to be a latrine for the prison guards and officials. As for the prisoners, one of the overseer's reports states that a single prisoner was tasked with the job of removing the "excrementitious matter" from the site, probably by carrying a slop bucket. The guards complained of the struggle to keep prisoners clean, many of whom arrived dirty and "appear[ed] to love filth." There were probably good reasons that some prisoners arrived filthy, depending on where they were arriving from and how they were treated during transport to New-Gate. Records indicate that the inmates' clothes were washed once a week in strong lye to kill vermin. , "The prison keeper shall from time to time order one of the prisoners to perform the office of cullyman to bring to the prisoners into the work house, proper vessels as there may be occasion to receive the excrementitious matter." , New-Gate Prison Overseers Report, 1811 , While serving time at New-Gate, prisoners were primarily fed beef, pork, bread, potatoes, beans, peas, and cider. They were often forced to eat their food at their workstations during the day, and probably had to cook the food themselves. Prison officials complained that fresh food was expensive and difficult to get at New-Gate because of its rural location. , "I found the attendants of the prison delivering pickled pork for the dinner of the prisoners. Pieces were given separately to the parties at the forge. They were thrown upon the floor, and left to be washed and boiled in the water used for cooling the iron wrought at the forges." , Edward Augustus Kendall, Travels Through the Northern Parts of the United States, 1807-1809, 1809 , , ( photo captions ) , , Image of the speculated location of the latrine, featured in the right of the image. Photograph taken before 1904. , , Image of the speculated location of the latrine, featured in the right of the image. Photograph taken after the 1904 fire that destroyed the four-story cell block.