Isaiah L. Potts
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2020) |
Isaiah L. Potts | |
|---|---|
| Born | Isaiah Luna Potts 1784? |
| Died | after 1843 (aged 59+) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Isaiah Luna Potts, William Potts, Billy Potts, Billy Potts Sr. |
| Occupation(s) | tavern keeper, justice of the peace, road supervisor, salt maker, criminal gang leader, highwayman |
| Spouse | Polly Blue |
| Parent(s) | David Potts and Elizabeth Luna Looney |
| Founded by | Dr. King, Nysonger, and possibly Isaiah L. Potts, alias Billy Potts Sr. |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Potts Tavern, near Potts Hill, Pope County, Illinois, now an abandoned house, west of, present-day Illinois Route 1 (state highway) in Hardin County, Illinois |
| Years active | 1820s-1830s |
| Territory | Illinois, Ohio River |
| Ethnicity | European-American |
| Membership (est.) | ? |
| Criminal activities | river piracy, slave stealing, horse and cattle theft, highway robbery, counterfeiting, murder |
Isaiah Luna Potts (1784?-after 1843) was infamous in legend and lore for having run a 19th-century Illinois tavern known as "Potts Inn" where numerous crimes including robbery and murder were committed.
Early life
[edit]Isaiah Luna Potts was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, and lived in Union County, Kentucky and Potts Hill, in Hardin County, Illinois, which was formerly a part of Pope County, Illinois.
In legend and folklore
[edit]In legend and folklore, he was known by many names and aliases including "Billy Potts, Sr." Potts was an Illinois tavern keeper and salt maker who, allegedly, co-led a gang of highwaymen and murderers, known as the "Potts Hill Gang", out of his tavern. They preyed along the frontier crossroad highways, and the Ford's Ferry Road, near Cave-In-Rock. Isaiah Potts was also alleged to be the criminal partner of James Ford, a pillar of the local community, and secretly, the criminal leader of the Ford's Ferry Gang.
Notable Potts Hill Gang members
[edit]- Dr. King (first name unknown)[1]
- Nysonger (first name unknown)[1]
- Billy Potts Sr. (possible gang member)[1]
- Billy Potts Jr. (possible gang member)[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Musgrave, Jon (2018). "Rogue's Gallery - Hardin County in IllinoisGenWeb". Lincoln, NE: The Illinois Gen Web Project.
- Allen, John W. It Happened in Southern Illinois. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2010.
- Allen, John W. Legends and Lore of Southern Illinois. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2010.
- Botkin, B.A. A Treasury of Mississippi River Folklore. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1955.
- Carr, William R. Isaiah L. Potts (Billy Potts, Sr.) and Polly Blue of Potts Hill (Potts Inn)
- Lewicki, James, ed. The Life Treasury of American Folklore. New York: Time, Incorporated, 1961.
- Musgrave, Jon. Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw: The Real Story of the Old Slave House and America's Reverse Underground R.R.. www.illinoishistory.com, 2005.
- Musgrave, Jon. The Legend of Billy Potts and Potts' Tavern
- Musgrave, Jon. Potts Hill Gang, Sturdivant Gang, and Ford's Ferry Gang Rogue's Gallery, Hardin County in IllinoisGenWeb. Springfield, IL: The Illinois Gen Web Project, 2018.
- Rothert, Otto A. The Outlaws of Cave-In-Rock. 1924 (1996).
- Sniveley Jr., W. D. and Louanna Furbee. Satan's Ferryman: A True Tale of the Old Frontier. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1968.
- Warren, William Penn. Poem, "Ballad of Billie Potts."
- Wellman, Paul I. Spawn of evil: the invisible empire of soulless men which for a generation held the Nation in a spell of terror. Doubleday, 1964.
- Federal Writers' Project. The WPA Guide to Illinois: The Prairie State. San Antonio, TX: Trinity University Press, (1930-1940) 2013.
- History of Union County, Kentucky. Buffalo, NY: Courier Company, Printers, 1886 (1967).