Charlton Street Gang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charlton Street Gang |
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The Charlton Street Gang of river pirates raided ship cargo in the mid-late 19th century along the New York City waterfront.
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| In | New York City |
| Years active | mid-late 1860s |
| Territory | New York City, North River, of New York Harbor, Hudson River, from the Harlem River, as far as Poughkeepsie and Albany, New York |
| Ethnicity | Irish-American |
| Membership | ? |
| Criminal activities | theft, river piracy, street fighting, knife fighting, armed robbery, assault, murder, kidnapping |
The Charlton Street Gang was a group of people in New York City who acted like pirates on the rivers during the mid-1800s. They were known for taking things from ships and causing trouble on the city streets.
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Who Were the Charlton Street Gang?
The Charlton Street Gang was one of the first groups of river pirates in New York. They operated in the 1860s, right after the American Civil War. Their main targets were small cargo ships on the North River, which is part of New York Harbor. This area is now known as the Hudson River.
Moving Up the River
At first, the gang stayed near the New York City waterfront. But as the bigger ships and docks in Manhattan became safer, the gang decided to move their operations further upriver.
In 1869, a woman named Sadie the Goat became a leader of the gang. They managed to take a small sailing ship called a sloop. With this ship, they started to go after merchant ships and even homes along the Hudson River. Their territory stretched from the Harlem River all the way to cities like Poughkeepsie and Albany, New York.
A Pirate Flag and Bold Actions
The Charlton Street Gang became very well-known. They even flew a Jolly Roger flag, which is the famous pirate flag with a skull and crossbones. They were known for taking important people and asking for money to let them go.
However, their actions caused a lot of fear. People living along the Hudson Valley decided to form groups to protect themselves. These groups were called vigilantes, meaning they took justice into their own hands. After some difficult conflicts, many members of the Charlton Street Gang were hurt.
The Gang's End
Because of the strong resistance from the local people, the gang decided to go back to the New York waterfront. There, they went back to committing smaller crimes on the streets. By the end of the 1860s, the Charlton Street Gang broke up and was no longer active.
Images for kids
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The New York City waterfront where "Sadie the Goat" Farrell the leader of the Charlton Street Gang harassed shipping in the 1860s.
See also
- Daybreak Boys
- Patsy Conroy
- Sadie Farrell
- George Gastlin (Steamboat Squad)
- Hook Gang
