@PurpleCarpets and @sashh to actually join you in the pedants corner (it was me that you were quoting) the word is also spelled "jail".
I can give you examples from newspapers going all the way back to the early 1700s. (I've attached images)
First, from The Gloucester Journal of 14 August 1739, page 1 col 3
On Saturday in the Afternoon was brought to Newgate by a Habeas Corpus from Chester Jail, George Vaughan, (commonly called Lord Vaughan) having return'd from Transportation, also Matthew Martin, and John Broughton, on a strong Suspicion of Coining and Diminishing the Current Coin of this Kingdom; the first is also charg'd by Mr William Child, lately repriev'd, with being concern'd with him in several Highway Robberies, since his Return from Transportation
Second, from the same edition page 2 col 1
John Hanna, (the Boy that was Evidence against Capt Longden, in the Court of Admiralty, for running down the Fishing Vessel &c) who is now in the New Jail for a Robbery on the Highway, has since his Confinement there confess'd that all he swore against his Master, the Captain, was false, and a damnable Device to take away his Life.
Derby Post-Man 5 December 1728 page 2 col 2
On Thursday Night last, a poor Girl going from Wapping to Whitechappel Jail, to give her Father Sixpence, he being a Prisoner there, was assaulted in Whitechappel Fields by a Foot-pad, who, because she had no more, flung her into a Ditch, and beat her barbarously.
The Ipswich Journal 20 November 1725 page 3 col 1
They write from Deal, that on the 10th of this Instant one James How alias Hale, an handsome stout Fellow of about Six Foot high and 40 Years of Age, was committed to the Common Jail of that Town, there being found upon him a Pistol loaded, and a small Iron Crow with a Claw at one End, and a sharp Pike at the other, and thereby suspected to be a Person of ill Designs, and by Papers found about him is supposed to be a Deserter from the first Regiment of Foot Guards.