Isaiah L. Potts

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 L. Potts
Born	Isaiah Luna Potts 1784? Loudoun County, Virginia
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

Potts Hill Gang

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

Early life

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

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.

Notable Potts Hill Gang members

• Dr. King (first name unknown)^[1]
• Nysonger (first name unknown)^[1]
• Billy Potts Sr. (possible gang member)^[1]
• Billy Potts Jr. (possible gang member)^[1]