This is a list of identities referenced in Herbert Asbury's 1928 book The Gangs of New York including underworld figures, gang members, crime fighters and others of the Old New York era from the mid- to late 19th and early 20th century. Some were also portrayed in Martin Scorsese's 2002 film Gangs of New York.
Gang members
Batavia Street Gang
Name Portrait Life CommentsDuck Reardon fl. 1895Gang leader and "dandy" whose involvement in the theft of Herman Segal's jewelry store resulted in the arrests of himself and several members of the gang.Moss, Frank. The American Metropolis from Knickerbocker Days to the Present Time. London: The Authors' Syndicate, 1897.Mike Walsh fl. 1895He and Duck Reardon led several members in the robbery of Herman Segal's jewelry store, supposedly to raise money for members to attend a fancy dress ball at New Irving Hall, and was arrested days later with Reardon and other participants of the robbery.
Baxter Street Dudes
Name Portrait Life CommentsBaby-Faced Willie fl. 1870Founder and leader of the gang during the 1870s.Harlow, Alvin F. Old Bowery Days: The Chronicles of a Famous Street. New York and London: D. Appleton & Company, 1931.
Bowe Brothers
Name Portrait Life CommentsBill Bowe Member of the Bowe crime family led by his brother Martin Bowe.Jack Bowe Member of the Bowe crime family led by his brother Martin Bowe.James Bowe Member of the Bowe crime family led by his brother Martin Bowe.Martin Bowe Saloon keeper and head of the criminal family which operated out of his Catherine Slip saloon known as the Glass House.Jack MadillBartender and criminal associate. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife after she refused to help him rob a drunken sailor.
Bowery Boys
Name Portrait Life CommentsChuck Connors 1852–1913Political organizer for Tammany Hall and founder of the Chuck Conners Association. One of the more colorful political figures in his day, he was also the longtime ward boss of Chinatown up until the turn of the 20th century.Mose the Fireboy d. 1849?Pseudonym of the supposed leader of the Bowery Boys during the 1840s who was well known for battling members of the Dead Rabbits and other gangs. He was later the subject of a play written by Chanfrau entitled Mose, the Bowery B'hoy and performed at the old Olympic Theater in 1849.Charley LozierAssociate of the Bowery Boys and brother-in-law of Bill Poole.William Poole 1821–1855Popular sportsman known as "Bill The Butcher", he was one of the most recognized members of the Bowery Boys during the 1840s and 50s. His murder at the hands of Lew Baker resulted in one of the most publicized trials in the city's history.English, T. J. Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. William Varley, a.k.a. Reddy The Blacksmith 1835-1876One of the few career criminals of the street gang, he was one of the city's most notorious underworld figures during the mid-to late 19th century.Syksey Lieutenant and longtime companion of Mose the Fireboy. He is supposed to have coined the phrase "hold de butt" which refers to a "dead cigar".Tom McCann Politician and pugilist who was said to have fought heavyweight champion John Morrissey for the right to court Duane Street madam Kate Ridgely.
Car Barn Gang Name Portrait Life CommentsBill Lingley d. 1913LINGLUI, WILLIAM (Lingley)Founder and co-leader of the Car Barn Gang with Freddie Muchfeldt. The two were eventually convicted and executed for murder in 1911.Francis Muchfeldtd. 1914MULCHFELDT, FRANCISCo-leader of the Car Barn Gang known as "The Kid". He and "Big Bill" Lingley were convicted of murder and executed in 1911.
Charlton Street Gang
Name Portrait Life CommentsSadie the Goat fl. 1869Former Fourth Ward street mugger and one-time leader of the Charlton Street Gang. During the summer of 1869, she led the group of river pirates to pillage up and down the Hudson River.
Corcoran's Roosters
Name Portrait Life CommentsTommy Corcoran fl. 1900Supposed leader of the criminal organization based in "Corcoran's Roost" founded by his father Jimmy Corcoran.
Daybreak Boys
Name Portrait Life CommentsWilliam Howlett 1834–1853He and Nicholas Saul were the co-leaders of the Daybreak Boys during the early 1850s. They were both hanged for murder when they shot and killed a watchman while robbing the brig William Watson.Sutton, Charles; James B. Mix and Samuel A. Mackeever, ed. The New York Tombs: Its Secrets and Its Mysteries. Being a History of Noted Criminals, with Narratives of Their Crimes. San Francisco: A. Roman & Co., 1874. Nicholas Saul 1833–1853Co-leader of the Daybreak Boys with William Howlett. He and Howlett were convicted and hanged for murder after killing the watchman during the robbery of the brig William Watson.Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2005. Bill Johnson fl. 1850A close associate, but reportedly ineffectual, member of the Daybreak Boys. A participant in the robbery of the brig William Watson with William Howlett and Nicholas Saul, he was so drunk that "he was unable to lend a hand at the oars" and was later arrested with them after a gunfight with police at their Slaughter House Point headquarters. Of the three, Johnson was sentenced to life imprisonment and the others to be hanged.Sow Madden fl. 1850Member of the Daybreak Boys during the 1850s.Sam McCarthyfl. 1850Known as "Cow Legged Sam", he was the last leader of the Daybreak Boys before its breakup by Police Chief George Washington Matsell. He eventually abandoned the Daybreak Boys to join a burglary gang operating in the Five Points.Bill Lowrie fl. 1850Took over the leadership of the Daybreak Boys with Slobbery Jim after Howlett and Saul were hanged. After Slobbery Jim left New York for the murder of Patsy The Barber, he and the gang operated out of his bar, The Rising States, with his girlfriend Molly Maher until his arrest for in a dock robbery and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.Asbury, Herbert. All Around the Town: Murder, Scandal and Riot in Old New York. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1929. Slobbery Jim 1839-?He and Bill Lowrie succeeded Howlett and Saul as leaders of the Daybreak Boys. Slobbery Jim was later forced to flee the city after murdering fellow member Patsy the Barber.Patsy The Barber d. 1859Member of the Daybreak Boys during the 1850s. His murder by Slobbery Jim forced the gang leader to flee the city.Molly Maher fl. 1850Criminal associate of the Daybreak Boys and girlfriend of Bill Lowrie and later Sam McCarthy.Pete Williams fl. 1850Dive keeper whose Slaughter House Point dive bar and gin mill was used as a headquarters for the Daybreak Boys.
Dead Rabbits
Name Portrait Life CommentsKit Burns1831–1870Saloon keeper and owner of the Water Street resort Sportsman's Hall, he and Tommy Hadden served as lieutenants and later became leaders of the Dead Rabbits during the 1850s and 60s.Tommy Hadden Saloon keeper and owner of a Water Street crimp house, located next to Dan Kerrigan's place, and co-led the Dead Rabbits with Kit Burns.John Morrissey 1831–1878One-time pugilist, sportsman and gambler, Morrissey was one of the most visible figures among Tammany Hall supporters who fought against the Know Nothing party during the 1840s and 50s.Hell-Cat Maggie fl. 1840One of the most prominent female fighters allied with the Dead Rabbits during the early 1840s, she was said to have filed her teeth into points and wore long nails of brass while battling rival gangs from the Bowery.Jack The RatBowery character and son-in-law of Dead Rabbits leader Kit Burns who took bets at Sportsman Hall to bite the head off of a mouse for ten cents and decapitate a rat for a quarter.
Dutch Mob
Name Portrait Life CommentsMike Kurtz 1845–1904Leader of the Dutch Mob known as "Sheeny Mike". He and the others were run out of their home territory, located between Houston and Fifth Street, by a "flying squad" under police captain Anthony Allaire in 1877.Little Freddie fl. 1870One of the co-founders of the Dutch Mob. He and other gang members were run out of the district by the NYPD in 1877.Johnny Irving d. 1883The third co-founder of the Dutch Mob and brother of Babe Irving. Johnny Irving was shot and killed by rival gang member Johnny the Mick in Shang Draper's saloon in 1883.Billy Porter 1850–?A longtime member of the Dutch Mob, he was present during the gunfight at Shang Draper's saloon between Johnny Irving and Johnny the Mick. After killing Johnny the Mick, he himself was immediately gunned down by Shang Draper.Gilbert Yost d. 1886A regular criminal associate, he was a well-known burglar and member of the George Leonidas Leslie gang.
Eastman Gang