Site of Easton's First Jail
The building currently known as Salvage Goods, the third oldest building in Easton, has a long sorted history almost as old as Easton is itself. Although the building has been repurposed through the years and additions and some new construction has overtaken the original form; some elements of it's history still exists to this day.
History by Date
1ST EASTON, PA JAIL -located on South 3rd Street (Present day Salvage Goods)
In the 1700's a jail was called a “Goal,” Easton jail would have been known as “The County Goal”
​
William Parsons - surveyor general and founder of Easton PA had built the Goal as a safe place for Native American attacks and to confine prisoners
As an aside, William Parson's second residence still stands on the northeast corner of fourth and ferry st. which many know as the George Taylor house (taken over after his death)
The Goal was built in 1752 for $1066.87
Gutted in 1851 and replaced with 2nd jail built overtop the 1st jail, it was made of Limestone (note: limestone is a conductor) This jail had 23 cells measuring 9x12 Entrance of jail would have been facing S. Sitgreaves
Public whipping post was erected in center square (known as Gallows Hill) roughly around 1785 where it remained until Governor George Wolf signed legislation in 1833 that all executions going forward would be behind jail walls and no longer public. The rest of the executions were performed at the jail which had a hanging tree in the courtyard (now the USPS parking lot adjacent to the jail.) until the jail was closed in 1871.
After 1833, Governor George Wolf Closed - 1871 In 1880s, Commercial building built over top which stands presently
Prisoners: Revolutionary War (April 19th 1775 - Sept. 3 1783) 1777 British POW (at least 40 that are documented although several hundred estimated) with multiple attempts to escape POW camp (one of several continental pow’s in PA) located on corner and of S 3rd St and Pine St Apparently German Hessians were captured but hired as farmers 10 Mennonite Men held for refusing “Test Act” which resulted in double taxation and loss of citizenship Three soldiers executed under the orders of General Sullivan in 1779 for murdering a tavern keeper in Stroudsburg during Sullivan’s March, hangings took place at a point overlooking the town where St Bernard’s Church is currently located 1780, a Quaker named Ralph Morden was hanged at St Bernard’s point on charges of spying for the British and inciting Indian Attacks Pennamite War (1769 - 1784) 1784, 27 Connecticut Settlers captured during dispute over land around Wilkes-Barre Peter Ealers was prison keeper when on Sept 17th, prisoners sieged jail and escaped – – – – – – Mary Nickum found guilty for stealing linens and sentenced to 21 lashings John Judie stole a black mare from John Haupt in 1786 and was publicly whipped 78 lashes in two intervals, branded on the forehead “HT” and both ears cut off Black Man (no name found) no records other than was executed between 1790 - 1800 for killing another slave, owned by a slave owner in Phillipsburg, NJ Charles Getter hung on Getter’s Island (Abel’s Island) in 1833 for murdering his wife (of 10 days) Margaret Lawall, whom he married for getting pregnant but was in love with Mary Hummer Lawrence Tierney murdered wife in Easton Jail-yard by strangulation and convicted, executed 1847 John Dillman (probably executed in new jail) Convicted in Easton PA on Aug 12th (charges were read in prison cell) for the murder of his wife and sentenced to hang October 2nd 1882 and hung February 12th 1883