The expression comes from the overdue 19th century, in reference to the location of the Sing-Sing Jail on the Hudson River, located roughly 30 miles north of New York Town.
Even supposing its actual foundation isn’t identified, one in all the earliest makes use of of the word “Up the River” comes from the 1864 newsletter of Charles Graham Halpine, titled “The Lifestyles and Adventures, Songs, Services and products, and Speeches of Non-public Miles O’Reilly”.
“Up the River” was once quickly incorporated in a piece of writing of the New York Occasions, revealed on August 21st, 1879.