Old Jail in Edenton North Carolina

The fifth Chowan County Jail for Edenton North Carolina was constructed in 1835 by Ebenezer Paine, from the same plans used to in 1773 courthouse drawn earlier by John Hawk. The building is 36”x21’ two story brick structure with English Bond pattern, it has front and back walls that are 29 inches thick on the bottom story and 24 inches thick on the second story, the end wall are 18 inches the same for both first and second story, In 1905 the addition of steel cells to separate the inmates, the interior of the jail has remained the same since the addition in 1905. Prior to that time there was only one large room with hay in the corner for prisoners to use for a bed. Men were housed in the lower floor and a staircase was on the outside of the entrance that allowed women to eventually have housing in the second story, this permitted women to bring their children with them to jail for care.

Through the years the jail has housed many interesting guests including Captain Robert Quinn, British Frigate Captain, entered the Bay of the Albemarle Sound in 1781 during the revolution on a schooner ship and began confiscating boat or destroying property until citizens rallied together taking into custody the schooner and the Row Galley as well as Captain Quinn returning boats to their owner and placing Captain Quinn in the Edenton Jail.

A more historic event involved the August 1831 “Revolt of Nat Turner”, the incident that took place in Southampton County Virginia, taking the lives of white slave owners and their family’s caused terror in Chowan County who feared the same could happen within their town. This fear lead to the jailing of 21 Blacks in suspicion of “Conspiracy to rebel and make insurrection”, of these 21 men jailed 8 were indicted, one mans, Godfrey went to jail and later found innocent with a jury trial. The judge declaring, “if he is innocent, all are innocent.” All the inmates were release and charges dismissed against them.

The Inmates at the time 1825 jail was in operation were cared for by Jail Keeper whose house was built between the jail and the courthouse for a cost of $2,050, the “Jail Keeper” and his wife were required to have certificates as qualified and trained Keepers, this was necessary because the jailer could be called for Deputy Sheriff duties and his wife would resume his responsibility as jailer. The was paid $0.30 cent for each inmate while in jail and another $0.30 when released from jail. The food was provided by the jailer wife on an allotment of $3.00 per day for each inmate.

In 1975 the oldest jail in North Carolina was closed after 150 year in service and remained vacant for 40 years until Edenton Historical Commissions took responsibility for the building, additional support included County Commissioners, Tourism Development Authority, Edenton Historical Commission and a gift donated in the memory of Sheriff Earl Goodwin from the grandson Earl and Margaret Chesson Fund.

Sources

Ehcnc.org/places-of-interest/museum-trail/museum-trail-chowan-county – jail

http://visit Edenton.com/sites

https://www.historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/historic-edenton

www.edentonpilgrimage.org