An Old Jail…A New Home

An Old Jail…A New Home. Spotsylvania Court House National Historic District. "Was summoned as one to go with the Sheriff to take possession of the old clerk's office. The company met at the Court House, all armed and proceeded to our duty. We arrived at the office; forced the door, went in and took out all that we went for, but no one made any resistance. I left after dinner and the balance of the guard was to take possession of the old jail." -James Pulliam, June 2, 1839 , , In 1781, the Spotsylvania County Jail was along the Po River on present day Lake Anna Parkway, about 2 1/2 miles west of this site. In 1809, the Commissioners of the County ordered a new brick jail be constructed at that site., In June 1838, following the fire that destroyed the frame courthouse, Lewis Rawlings presented a deed to the County, "That in order to procure the seat of justice on land recently purchased from Samuel Alsop, he would convey ten acres to the County as a site for public buildings." In addition to a new courthouse, and in order to save funds, the Court also wanted a new jail built from the materials of the old jail on the Po River., Thomas Hicks, custodian of the old jail and clerk's office for over 30 years, refused to relinquish the buildings or their contents. On June 4, 1839, Lewis Rawlings and an armed company of men forced the jail doors open with crossbars, took the rafters, first set of joists, all of the doors and one floor. Hicks had already taken the stove, blankets, locks and keys. He was nowhere to be found. The County "owed Hicks $52.00 for past services and Sheriff Therit Towles was ordered to hold the money until Hicks surrendered the property." When additional attempts were made to remove County property from the old buildings, Hick impeded and was charged with contempt. For a short time, the jailer became a prisoner. Eventually the entire 1809 structure was moved to this site. The jail consisted of six cells, three upstairs, and three downstairs. Upon completion, Lewis Rawlings became the jailor. The jail located at this site burned in 1853., [Captions:] , The 1809 jail plan was provided by the Commissioners. There were only three windows on the first floor., Lewis Rawlings, the new jailor, submitted a monthly bill for costs. His accounts often told of the fate of those who resided in the jail. This account is from December 1839 - September 1840., The condition of the Jail and treatment of the imprisoned was always a concern as seen from this report in 1844. Fire was also a concern whether accidental or deliberate., Gabriel Long was a Commissioner, County Surveyor. and Planter. The Court approved his recommendations and reimbursed him. An excerpt from one of his survey maps (1832) is in the background for this panel.