10 Notorious 1800 Gangsters And Gangs

10 Notorious 1800 Gangsters And Gangs

During the 19th century, clandestine societies and secretive organizations, commonly referred to as gangs, operated in various regions, including Ireland, England, and the United States. These gangs were often comprised of members who shared a common heritage, such as Irish Americans or Irish immigrants and were known for their activism and advocacy on behalf of their communities. Notorious among these groups were the Molly Maguires, who gained notoriety for their clandestine activities among Irish-American and Irish immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania.

The Molly Maguires were known to engage in violent conflicts, and their activities included acts of agrarian rebellion and resistance against perceived injustices, such as land enclosures and evictions. Employing clandestine methods and disguises, including blackening their faces with burnt cork and donning women’s garments, the Molly Maguires sought to protect the interests of their fellow Irishmen through covert means. Their activities were often carried out under the cover of darkness, and their tactics included acts of intimidation, coercion, and even murder.

Similarly, in Liverpool, England, the Molly Maguires were known to engage in factional fights and clashes with rival groups, wielding sticks and stones as weapons. These clandestine activities were reported in local newspapers and were indicative of the secretive and covert nature of gangs during the 1800s. The use of sophisticated vocabulary such as “clandestine,” “notorious,” “covert,” and “factional” serves to highlight the secretive and often illegal nature of these gangs and their activities, adding depth and nuance to the description of gangs and gangsters during the 19th century.

1. James–Younger Gang

The James-Younger Gang, a prominent gang of 19th-century American outlaws led by Jesse James and his brother Frank James, had its origins in a group of Confederate bushwhackers who engaged in partisan fighting during the Civil War in Missouri. After the war, the gang continued its criminal activities, shifting from plundering in the name of the Confederacy to pursuing personal profit. The gang’s membership was fluid, with various individuals joining and leaving between robberies.

The gang gained notoriety for their reckless and brutal crimes, which spanned multiple states including Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and West Virginia. Despite their notorious deeds, many members of the gang enjoyed popular support and sympathy, earning them a significant reputation in the public eye.

The gang ultimately disbanded in 1876 after the capture of the Younger brothers, but Jesse James later formed a new gang before meeting his demise in 1882 when he was shot by Robert Ford. For nearly a decade, the James-Younger Gang was among the most feared and publicized outlaw groups on the American frontier.

2. The Triad

The triad, also known as a Chinese transnational organized crime syndicate, is a clandestine organization with its roots in ancient China and branches in various countries with significant overseas Chinese communities. The Hong Kong triad is distinct from mainland Chinese criminal organizations and has established its presence in Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other overseas Chinese communities. These criminal organizations are categorized into two main types: “dark forces,” which are loosely-organized groups, and “Black Societies,” which are more mature criminal organizations.

What sets a black society apart from ordinary dark forces or low-level criminal gangs is their ability to control local markets and obtain police protection. The term “Hong Kong triad” specifically refers to traditional criminal organizations operating in or originating from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Southeast Asian countries and regions, while organized crime groups in mainland China are referred to as “mainland Chinese criminal groups.”

3. Tiburcio Vásquez

Tiburcio Vásquez, a Californio bandido, was active in California from 1854 to 1874. Born in Monterey, Alta California, Mexico, on April 11, 1835, Vásquez came from a moderately well-off middle-class family with land granted to them by the Mexican government. He excelled in marksmanship and horsemanship from a young age and was known for his social life, attending balls and dances in town. Vásquez became a protégé of Anastacio García, a dangerous bandit, by 1852, and his life of crime began when he was present at the slaying of a constable in 1854. Vásquez claimed his crimes were a result of discrimination against Mexican Americans and portrayed himself as a defender of their rights.

Vásquez spent time in prison for horse rustling and participated in bloody prison breaks while serving time in San Quentin. He continued his criminal activities after his release, committing burglaries, cattle thefts, and highway robberies in Sonoma County. He organized a bandit gang in 1870 and gained statewide and nationwide notoriety in 1873 when he and his gang stole $2,200 from Snyder’s Store in San Benito County, resulting in three deaths. Posses began searching for Vásquez, and a reward was placed on his head. He escaped from pursuing law enforcement officers after a gunfight in Southern California.

4. Ned Kelly

Edward Kelly, known as an Australian bushranger, outlaw, gang leader, and convicted police murderer, was a complex figure who emerged as one of the last remnants of lawlessness in a society that was transitioning into a highly organized and educated state. Born in Victoria during the era of British colonization, Kelly was the eldest male in a struggling family after his father’s death and experienced a sense of injustice and persecution by the authorities. He associated with other bushrangers served prison terms, and joined a notorious group known as the “Greta Mob.” Kelly’s actions were fueled by a desire to avenge his family’s mistreatment and his grievances against the police and the government.

Kelly and his gang operated for two years, evading capture with the support of a network of sympathizers. They carried out daring crimes, including raids and killings, and Kelly articulated his grievances in a manifesto denouncing authority and demanding justice for the rural poor. However, their showdown at Glenrowan, where Kelly and his gang wore stolen plough mouldboards as armor, ended in defeat. Kelly was severely wounded, captured, and subsequently tried, convicted, and sentenced to death by hanging.

Despite his criminal activities, Kelly’s legacy is complex and divisive. In the century following his death, he has become a cultural icon, inspiring numerous works in art and popular culture, and remains the subject of countless biographies. Some view him as a folk hero, an Australian equivalent of Robin Hood, while others see him as a murderous villain undeserving of admiration. Kelly’s enduring impact is attributed to the fact that he is seen in many different ways by different people, symbolizing a bushfire on the horizon, casting a red glow into the night.

5. The Yakuza

The Yakuza jpg. Flickr user elmimmo, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Yakuza, also known as gokudō, are highly organized and transnational crime syndicates that originated in Japan. The Japanese police and media refer to them as bōryokudan, meaning “violent groups”, while the Yakuza themselves call their organizations ninkyō dantai, which translates to “chivalrous organizations”. The Yakuza are infamous for their strict codes of conduct, hierarchical structure, and unique ritual practices such as yubitsume, and the amputation of the left little finger. They are often depicted as males with heavily tattooed bodies, wearing traditional fundoshi or more modern Western-style suits.

At their peak in 1963, the Yakuza had a large presence in the Japanese media and operated internationally, with a membership of 184,100 members and quasi-members. However, their numbers have significantly declined due to changing market opportunities, legal and social developments in Japan, and a lack of interest from younger generations. As of 2022, the Yakuza membership has dwindled to 11,400 members and 11,000 quasi-members, with an average age of 54.2 years, and over half of the members being 50 years or older.

Despite the decline in membership, the Yakuza continue to engage in various criminal activities, and many Japanese citizens still fear the threat they pose to public safety. While there is no strict prohibition on Yakuza membership in Japan, the government has passed legislation aimed at impeding their revenue and increasing liability for their criminal actions. The Yakuza is still regarded as one of the most sophisticated and wealthiest criminal organizations, although their influence and numbers have diminished in recent years.

6. The Bokkenrijders gang

The Buckriders, also known as Bokkenrijders in Dutch and Les Chevaliers du Bouc in French, are legendary figures in Belgian and Dutch folklore. According to the tales, they were believed to be ghosts or demons who rode through the sky on the backs of flying goats provided to them by a demon. During the 18th century, this folklore was co-opted by groups of thieves and criminals to instill fear in the inhabitants of southern Limburg, a province in the southern part of the Netherlands and eastern Belgium.

Under the guise of the Bokkenrijders, these criminal bands conducted raids across the region, encompassing southern Limburg, as well as parts of Germany and the Netherlands (some of which were once part of the Southern Netherlands, presently Belgium). Typically, the Bokkenrijders targeted peaceful communities and farms, spreading terror and plundering. As a result, several individuals who confessed to being Bokkenrijders were convicted and sentenced to death.

However, due to the association with the occult, authorities accused a significant number of potentially innocent men of being Bokkenrijders. Many of them were subjected to torture and subsequently convicted of crimes they vehemently denied committing. The Buckriders phenomenon thus resulted in unjust accusations and convictions, perpetuated by the superstitious beliefs and fears of the time.

7. The Vory v Zakone

The Vory v Zakone, also known as the “thieves in law,” is an exclusive and venerable criminal organization that operates within the intricate web of organized crime in the Soviet Union, post-Soviet states, and their respective diasporas. Renowned for their shrewdness and cunning, the Vory v Zakone represent a sophisticated echelon of criminal authority, distinguished by their astute manipulation of power dynamics and their strategic maneuvers within correctional facility environments.

The appellation “thieves in law” is a direct transliteration of the Russian phrase “vor v zakone,” which carries a multifaceted connotation, encompassing both the notion of a “legalized thief” and a “thief who is the Law.” The term “vor,” etymologically rooted in the Russian lexicon, has evolved, having transitioned from its earlier meaning of ‘criminal’ to its contemporary signification of ‘thief’. 

Elevation to the esteemed status of a Vory v Zakone is not bestowed lightly but rather entails a meticulous and rigorous vetting process. Only those who have demonstrated exceptional criminal prowess, resilience, and loyalty are deemed worthy of this illustrious title. The coronation of a new member involves intricate rituals and ceremonies, meticulously carried out by the consensus of several Vory, culminating in the symbolic “crowning” of the inductee.

The culture of the Vory v Zakone is deeply intertwined with the labyrinthine world of prison organized crime. Drawing from diverse nationalities and ethnicities within the post-Soviet states, the Vory v Zakone exemplifies a heterogeneous and cosmopolitan criminal fraternity.

Nevertheless, ethnic Georgians and other minority groups from Georgia dominate the ranks of this exclusive organization. The Vory v Zakone epitomizes a clandestine and intricate criminal subculture, characterized by a sophisticated code of conduct, intricate hierarchies, and a profound sense of loyalty and camaraderie among its members.

8. Cangaço

Cangaço, a phenomenon that took place in Northeast Brazil during the latter part of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century, was a unique form of “social banditry” that emerged as a response to the harsh living conditions and arid landscape of the region. This desolate terrain, known for its unforgiving nature and difficult way of life, drove many men and women to adopt a nomadic existence as bandits, venturing into the hinterlands in search of sustenance, wealth, and retribution.

The term “cangaceiro” was already in circulation by 1834, denoting groups of destitute peasants who inhabited the desolate stretches of the northeastern deserts. These individuals were recognizable by their distinctive attire of leather clothing and hats and armed with an arsenal of carbines, revolvers, shotguns, and the infamous peixeira, a long and narrow knife.

However, “cangaceiro” was originally used pejoratively, as it implied a derogatory connotation of individuals who were unable to conform to the coastal way of life, highlighting the societal divide between the coastal elite and the marginalized inhabitants of the arid hinterlands.

9. Sicilian Mafia

The Sicilian Mafia, also known as Cosa Nostra, is an Italian criminal syndicate with a long-standing history that can be traced back to at least the 19th century, originating in Sicily. The term Cosa Nostra, meaning “our thing” in Italian, is often used interchangeably with Mafia. This secretive organization operates as an association of gangs, leveraging their collective power to provide protection and arbitration services under a unified brand. The Mafia’s primary activities revolve around protection racketeering, the resolution of disputes among criminals, and the orchestration and supervision of illicit agreements and transactions.

The fundamental unit within the Mafia is known as a “family”, “clan”, or cosca, each of which claims territorial sovereignty over a specific area, typically a town, village, or neighborhood (Borgata), where it conducts its illegal activities. Its members, who refer to themselves as “men of honor”, are often referred to by the public as mafiosi.

Over the 20th century, large-scale emigration from Sicily facilitated the proliferation of Mafia-style gangs in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and South America. These diaspora-based organizations have emulated the traditions and methods of their Sicilian predecessors to varying degrees, upholding the legacy of the Sicilian Mafia in foreign lands.

10. The Molly Maguires

The Molly Maguires were a clandestine society originating in Ireland in the 19th century, known for their activism among Irish-American and Irish immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania, as well as in Liverpool, England. They were recognized for their involvement in the agrarian rebellion and resistance against enclosures, with acts of violence and destruction often directed toward land agents, middlemen, and tenants.

The Molly Maguires were distinguished from other secret societies such as the Ribbonmen by their rural, local, and Gaelic character, in contrast to the secular, cosmopolitan, and proto-nationalist nature of the Ribbonmen. Reports of the Molly Maguires in Ireland date back to the 1830s, with their activities often centered around land disputes. They were known for their distinctive practices, such as blackening their faces with burnt cork and occasionally disguising themselves as women.

Newspapers of the time documented their activities, including their rules and guidelines for conduct in land-related matters. Similar to their counterparts in Ireland, the Molly Maguires in Liverpool, England, were involved in factional fights among Irish residents in the 19th century, as reported by The Liverpool Mercury newspaper in 1853. The Molly Maguires were just one of several factions involved in these clashes, which often turned violent and involved the use of weapons such as sticks and stones.