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.
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, 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.