Daybreak Boys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Daybreak Boys |
|
|---|---|
| In | New York City, New York |
| Years active | Mid-19th century |
| Membership | ? |
| Criminal activities | Street fighting, knife fighting, assault, murder, piracy, robbery |
The Daybreak Boys was a group of young people in New York City who were known as a street gang during the mid-1800s. They were active in the city, especially near the waterfront.
Contents
What Were the Daybreak Boys?
The Daybreak Boys started around the late 1840s. By 1852, police thought this group of teenagers might have been involved in many serious fights and stealing valuable items. Newspapers at the time even reported that some members might have been as young as 12 years old.
Who Led the Gang?
The gang had several leaders, including Nicholas Saul, Bill Howlett, Patsy the Barber, Slobbery Jim, "Cowlegged" Sam McCarthy, and Sow Madden. They were known for causing trouble and damaging property along the New York waterfront, sometimes without any clear reason.
How Did the Gang End?
The actions of the Daybreak Boys eventually led the police to take strong action against them. In 1858, New York police officers like Blair, Spratt, and Gilbert worked to stop the gang. Many gang members were caught or left the group. By the end of 1859, the Daybreak Boys had lost most of their members and eventually broke up. Some of their former members later became involved in other criminal activities in the following years.
Daybreak Boys in Books
The Daybreak Boys, especially leaders "Nick Saul and Billie Howlett," are featured in a book called Andersonville (1955). This novel was written by MacKinlay Kantor and won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize. The book describes some of the events involving Saul and Howlett.
See also
- B'hoy and g'hal
- Bowery Boys
- Dead Rabbits
- Plug Uglies
- Gangs of New York
- Sadie Farrell
