While we are on the subject of prison, I thought you may like to see this record of
Quarter Sessions.
2nd April 1838.
County Orders.
House of Correction.
Ordered that an adjourned sessions be held in the month of May next for the purpose of
taking into consideration the presentment this day filed relative to the inadequacy and
insufficiency of the House of Correction in Usk.
Ordered that the salary of the surgeon of the House of Correction be fixed at the sum of
fifty pounds per annum commencing from the period of the last sessions
Ordered that a second turnkey be appointed by the visiting magistrates to the House of
Correction at Usk at a salary of Seventeen Shillings per week.
Ordered that no change be made in the present number of beds in the cells from the want of
sufficient space in the cells themselves
Ordered that convicted prisoners be not permitted to receive visits or letters from their
friends during the first three months of their imprisonment unless under peculiar and
pressing circumstances.
Ordered that an extra allowance not exceeding half a pound of potatoes be given
occasionally by the keeper to those adult prisoners actually working on the tread wheel at
his discretion.
Ordered that silence be enjoined among the prisoners of the House of Correction at Usk by
rule as far as practicable.
Gaol at Monmouth
Ordered that the salary of the surgeon of the Gaol at Monmouth be fixed at the sum of
eighty pounds per annum.
------------------------------------------
Remember this when you are scraping your new potatoes over the sink.
My gggrandfather earned one shilling and six pence per day at this time as an ag. lab.
I have just dug out two more prisoners from Usk.
William Henry Joseph age 12 on discharge of Blewett Street Newport. On April 19 1891.
Attempting to steal goods from a box from the Newport Market Place. One Cal Month hard
labour and five years at a reformatory school.
Henry Evans age 11 of Graham St. Newport, four feet four inches tall, light brown hair,
brown eyes, fresh complexion On March 9th 1872 For stealing a shilling. 21 days hard
labour and 5 years at a reformatory school, Little Mill Usk.
Both had no other offences.
Tony, Ebbw Vale..