Isaiah L. Potts
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Isaiah L. Potts | |
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| File:Ford's Ferry Road and Potts' Tavern Historical Marker.jpg "Ford's Ferry Road & Potts' Tavern", Illinois state historical marker, that was dedicated in 1985, along Illinois highway, Route 1, a few miles east of the abandoned house site of Isaiah "Billy Potts" Luna Potts, of "Potts Tavern" fame and the long defunct, infamous Ford's Ferry Ohio and Ford's Ferry Road, of Kentucky, outlaw gang leader, James Ford. Note, the deteriorated condition and two bullet holes in the top, of the, now missing, as of 2003, historical marker, which was probably stolen by souvenir hunters, who collect criminal-related memorabilia. | |
| Born | Isaiah Luna Potts 1784? |
| Died | after 1843 (aged 59?) unknown |
| Cause of death | unknown |
| Resting place | unknown |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Isaiah Luna Potts, William Potts, Billy Potts, Sr. |
| Occupation(s) | tavern keeper, justice of the peace, road supervisor, salt maker, criminal gang leader, highwayman |
| Spouse | Polly Blue |
| Children | Isaiah L. Potts and Polly Blue had no children (Billy Potts, Jr. existed, only in folklore) |
| Parent(s) | David Potts and Elizabeth Luna Looney |
| Relatives | David Potts (brother) Jeremiah Potts (brother) Jonathan Potts (brother) John Potts (brother) Catharine Potts (sister) Mary Potts (sister) Margaret Potts (sister) Amy Potts (sister) Rebecca Potts (sister) Joel Potts (half-brother) Jonathan Potts (grandfather) Martha Tines Short (grandmother) Absolam Looney (grandfather) Isaiah L. Potts (nephew) James Blue (father-in-law) Margaret Kearney (mother-in-law) Solomon Blue (brother-in-law) William Blue (brother-in-law) Uriah Blue (brother-in-law) Nancy Blue (sister-in-law) James Blue, Jr. (brother-in-law) John Blue (brother-in-law) Margaret Blue (sister-in-law) |
| 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.
References
- 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
- 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).