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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;johnmilton, post: 3695259, member: 101855&quot;]Actually, I gave you sanitized version the whole story is even worse.</p><p><br /></p><p>Patty Cannon (Her real name may have been Lucretia Patricia Hanley.) was the co-leader of the Johnson – Cannon Gang that operated in Delaware and Maryland. The gang engaged on the capture and sale of free African Americans, runaway slaves and slaves that the gang took from legal slave traders. The slave traded were killed and buried on Cannon’s farm.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Cannon kept the slaves and freeman chained in secret rooms of her house, attic and basement, until the gang was ready to ship them south. The victims were taken in covered wagons to Cannon’s Ferry, now Woodland Ferry. They were on ships that took them down to Nanticoke River to the Chesapeake Bay. From there they were taken on different ships to Georgia where they were sold into slavery. Some were taken overland to Alabama and Mississippi.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>This activity continued for many years in the early 19th century. Many people knew of the operation, but nothing was done. Part of problem stemmed from the fact that slavery was legal widely accepted in southern Delaware. People were also concerned about the violent reputation the gang had and what they might do people who reported them.</p><p><br /></p><p>It was said the Cannon moved from one state to another. When she heard that the Delaware authorities were on the way, she slipped over into Maryland and vice versa.</p><p><br /></p><p>Joe Johnson, who ran the Maryland end of the gang out of his tavern was indicted in 1822 and convicted. He was sentenced to time in a pillory and given 39 lashes, but Cannon was not tried.</p><p><br /></p><p>The story finally broke in 1829 when a tenet farmer plowed up the remains four young slaves on the Cannon property.&nbsp; Cannon was arrested for four murders. She confessed to two dozen more. Before she could be tried, she died in the Georgetown, Delaware jail. She was estimated to be between 60 and 70 years old.</p><p><br /></p><p>This story circulated in Sussex County, Delaware where I grew up. There are pictures of the Patty Cannon House, which was torn down in the late 1940s. Believe it or not there is a housing development, located on the Delaware side of Nanticoke River, that is named Patty Cannon Estates.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sometimes you just have to shake your head. I don’t think that the Mint will making a Patty Cannon coin any time soon.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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