Norfolk County Jail (1795)

The Norfolk County Jail was a wooden jail located on Highland Street in Dedham, Massachusetts.[1] Following the creation of Norfolk County in 1792, Timothy Gay deeded land to the county for the creation of the jail in October 1794.[2] Construction began that year but it was not complete until 1795.[2][3] The donated land, next to Gay's tavern on Highland Street, was on the corner of Court Street next to the present day St. Paul's Church.[2][4]

It received its first prisoner in February 1795.[1] It housed Jason Fairbanks after his murder conviction, but he escaped.[5] Timothy Gay, Jr. was the jail keeper and was indicted, but acquitted.[5]

It was replaced by a new Norfolk County Jail in 1817.[6][7]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b Parr 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Hanson 1976, p. 166.
  3. ^ Hurd 1884, p. 6.
  4. ^ "Dedham Museum & Archive Speaker Series". The Dedham Times. Vol. 32, no. 15. April 12, 2024. p. 15.
  5. ^ a b Hanson 1976, p. 188.
  6. ^ Dedham Historical Society 2001, p. 11.
  7. ^ The Associated Press (September 13, 1999). "Former Dedham jail being converted into upscale condominiums". South Coast Today. Retrieved August 15, 2019.

Works cited

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