Eastern Pennsylvania State Penitentiary

https://www.easternstate.org/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_State_Penitentiary

The link above states that Eastern Pennsylvania State Penitentiary was once the most expensive and famous prison in the world.   Al Capone and a few other notorious criminals spent some time there.  Check out the excellent virtual tour of the prison on their site.

According to smithsonianmag, the penitentiary opened in 1829 and was a "technological marvel" with central heat, flush-able toilets and shower baths in each cell.

I am going to quote directly from the Smithsonian site about the first prisoner, Charles Williams:

"Charles Williams, a farmer sentenced to two years for theft, would be inmate number one. On October 23, 1829, Williams was escorted into the new prison with an eyeless hood placed over his head. This was done to secure his anonymity and eventual integration into society upon release, as no one would recognize his face from the prison. But it also served another purpose: to ensure that there would be no chance at escape, as Williams would never see the prison beyond his private cell. Communication with guards was done through a small feeding hole. The inmates lived in complete isolation, with a Bible their only possession, and chores like shoe-making and weaving to occupy their time."  (Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/eastern-state-penitentiary-a-prison-with-a-past-14274660/)

Supposedly Charles Dickens visited the prison in 1842 (smithsonianmag.com) and wasn't impressed with the solitary confinement.  In 1913, due to population growth and a change of philosophy, prisoners started sharing cells and more group activities were permitted.

James Stark Hay's (my gg-grandfather) experience there was more than likely like Charles Williams-meaning he spent a year in solitary confinement for theft (larceny.)

Source: https://www.easternstate.org

James Stark Hay, Part 1

James Stark Hay was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to Samuel Hay and Julia Mock (I am attempting to confirm this with better documentation than I currently have.)  He was born February 22, 1850 in Wilksbarrel, Luzerne Co, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Hay died around 1850, so James would not have known his father.  James's mother Julia never remarried after the death of her husband (as far as I can tell) and she died prior 1870 (see below.)

The 1860 census states that James was 12 years old.  This would be incorrect if he was born in 1850.  I believe the information is incorrect, since the ages of others in this family are also incorrect when compared to the 1850 census.

According to Pennsylvania, Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829-1971 (ancestry), on September 7, 1867 James was convicted of Larceny and sent to Pennsylvania's Eastern State prison for a year.   James' parents were both deceased by the time he was sent to prison.

Pennsylvania, Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829-1971

The record states that James was "occasionally intemperate."  I imagine prison life in 1867 was tough and his "intemperate" behavior was not unusual.  See my post on Eastern Pennsylvania State Prison.