Isaiah L. Potts | |
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Born |
Isaiah Luna Potts 1784? Loudoun County, Virginia |
Died | after 1843 (aged 59+) |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Isaiah Luna Potts, William Potts, Billy Potts, Billy Potts, Sr. |
Occupation | tavern keeper, justice of the peace, road supervisor, salt maker, criminal gang leader, highwayman |
Spouse(s) | Polly Blue |
Parent(s) | David Potts and Elizabeth Luna Looney |
Relatives |
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Founded by | Isaiah L. Potts, alias Billy Potts, Sr. |
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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 L. Potts, born Isaiah Luna Potts (1784?– after 1843), in Loudoun County, Virginia and lived in Union County, Kentucky and Potts Hill, Hardin County, Illinois. In history 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, ran a gang of highwaymen and murderers, known as the "Potts' Hill Gang", out his tavern inn, 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.