The Mohocks were allegedly a gang of violent, well-born criminals that terrorized London during the early 18th century, attacking men and women alike, and taking their name from the Mohawks.[1] Their activities, which were perhaps sensationalized, were said to include murder. The matter ended in 1712 when a bounty of £100 was issued by the royal court for their capture.
According to Lady Wentworth, "They put an old woman into a hogshead, and rolled her down a hill; they cut off some noses, others' hands, and several barbarous tricks, without any provocation. They are said to be young gentlemen; they never take any money from any." (Wentworth Papers, 277)
Historians have found little evidence of any organized gang,[2][3] though in spring 1712 there was a flurry of print accounts of the Mohocks, their lawlessness, impunity and luridly violent acts. In response there was also some derision from satirists at what they perceived to be sensationalism by the Grub Street press.[2][3]John Gay's first drama, The Mohocks, was written that year but was not performed for political reasons.[4] It was, however, published as a pseudonymous pamphlet.[5]
In 18th century London, the name Mohawks was subsequently applied to other upper-class drunken rowdies and bravos. William Hickey recalled "In the winter of 1771, a set of wild young men made their appearance, who, from the profligacy of their manners and their outrageous conduct in the theatres, taverns, and coffee houses in the vicinity of Covent Garden, created general indignation and alarm.... They were distinguished under the title of Mohawks."[6] Hickey identified their boss as Rhoan Hamilton, "a man of fortune" and later an Irish rebel, and Messrs Hayter, son of a bank director, Osborne, an American, and "Capt." Frederick.
Various other gangs of street bullies are alleged to have terrorized London at different periods, beginning during the 1590s with the Damned Crew and continuing after the Restoration with the Muns, the Tityré Tūs, the Hectors, the Scourers, the Nickers, and the Hawkubites.
Further readingedit
Meshon Cantrill, "Who has not trembled at the Mohocks' name?" Narratives of Control and Resistance in the Press in Early Eighteenth-Century London University of Saskatchewan 2011, (Thesis)
^A visit to England by certain Native American chiefs in 1710, 'the Four Kings of Canada', apparently resulted in street gangs giving themselves names reminiscent of American tribes, such as 'Mohocks' (Mohawks).
^ abStatt, Daniel (1995). "The Case of the Mohocks: Rake Violence in Augustan London". Social History. 20 (2): 179–199. doi:10.1080/03071029508567934.
^ abGuthrie, Neil (1996). "'No Truth or Very Little in the Whole Story'? A Reassessment of the Mohock Scare of 1712". Eighteenth-Century Life (20): 33–56.
^Calhoun Winton, “The Mohocks”, ch.2 of John Gay and the London Theatre, University of Kentucky 2015, pp.11-25
^Quenell, Peter, ed. The Prodigal Rake: Memoirs of William Hickey (1986) pp 158ff.
April 13, 2024
mohocks, were, allegedly, gang, violent, well, born, criminals, that, terrorized, london, during, early, 18th, century, attacking, women, alike, taking, their, name, from, mohawks, their, activities, which, were, perhaps, sensationalized, were, said, include, . The Mohocks were allegedly a gang of violent well born criminals that terrorized London during the early 18th century attacking men and women alike and taking their name from the Mohawks 1 Their activities which were perhaps sensationalized were said to include murder The matter ended in 1712 when a bounty of 100 was issued by the royal court for their capture According to Lady Wentworth They put an old woman into a hogshead and rolled her down a hill they cut off some noses others hands and several barbarous tricks without any provocation They are said to be young gentlemen they never take any money from any Wentworth Papers 277 Historians have found little evidence of any organized gang 2 3 though in spring 1712 there was a flurry of print accounts of the Mohocks their lawlessness impunity and luridly violent acts In response there was also some derision from satirists at what they perceived to be sensationalism by the Grub Street press 2 3 John Gay s first drama The Mohocks was written that year but was not performed for political reasons 4 It was however published as a pseudonymous pamphlet 5 In 18th century London the name Mohawks was subsequently applied to other upper class drunken rowdies and bravos William Hickey recalled In the winter of 1771 a set of wild young men made their appearance who from the profligacy of their manners and their outrageous conduct in the theatres taverns and coffee houses in the vicinity of Covent Garden created general indignation and alarm They were distinguished under the title of Mohawks 6 Hickey identified their boss as Rhoan Hamilton a man of fortune and later an Irish rebel and Messrs Hayter son of a bank director Osborne an American and Capt Frederick Various other gangs of street bullies are alleged to have terrorized London at different periods beginning during the 1590s with the Damned Crew and continuing after the Restoration with the Muns the Tityre Tus the Hectors the Scourers the Nickers and the Hawkubites Further reading editMeshon Cantrill Who has not trembled at the Mohocks name Narratives of Control and Resistance in the Press in Early Eighteenth Century London University of Saskatchewan 2011 Thesis References editJonathan Swift Journal to Stella 1712 March 9 A visit to England by certain Native American chiefs in 1710 the Four Kings of Canada apparently resulted in street gangs giving themselves names reminiscent of American tribes such as Mohocks Mohawks a b Statt Daniel 1995 The Case of the Mohocks Rake Violence in Augustan London Social History 20 2 179 199 doi 10 1080 03071029508567934 a b Guthrie Neil 1996 No Truth or Very Little in the Whole Story A Reassessment of the Mohock Scare of 1712 Eighteenth Century Life 20 33 56 Calhoun Winton The Mohocks ch 2 of John Gay and the London Theatre University of Kentucky 2015 pp 11 25 The Mohocks a tragic comical farce London 1712 Quenell Peter ed The Prodigal Rake Memoirs of William Hickey 1986 pp 158ff Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mohocks amp oldid 1185235491, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
