Roach Guards
The topic of Roach Guards is one that has generated great interest over the years, both among experts and the general public. The relevance of Roach Guards in the current context cannot be overlooked, as it impacts various aspects of daily life, from health to politics. This article aims to offer a complete and updated vision of Roach Guards, addressing its implications, its evolution over time and the future perspectives that are envisioned around this topic. Through a detailed and rigorous analysis, we seek to provide the reader with a clear and enriching panorama that allows them to fully understand the importance of Roach Guards today.
 George Catlin painting of the Five Points, Manhattan, New York City in 1827 the slum territory of the "Roach Guards" and the other Irish criminal gangs | |
| Founded by | Ted Roach |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Five Points Manhattan, New York City |
| Years active | 1820s-1860s |
| Territory | Five Points, Manhattan, New York City |
| Ethnicity | Irish and Irish American |
| Membership (est.) | ? |
| Criminal activities | street fighting, knife fighting, assault, murder, robbery |
| Allies | Dead Rabbits, Tammany Hall |
| Rivals | Bowery Boys, Atlantic Guards |
The Roach Guards were an Irish criminal gang in Five Points neighborhood of New York City the early 19th century. The gang was originally formed to protect New York liquor merchants in Five Points and soon began committing robbery and murder. The Roach Guards took their name from their founder and leader Ted Roach.
The Roach Guards began fighting with rivals the Bowery Boys. Some former Roach Guard members were called the Dead Rabbits by the media. The internal feud was especially violent as they fought over the Five Points area. Despite constant fighting, they managed to hold their own in the "slugger battles" against the more organized and disciplined "Bowery Boys". The Roach Guards, however, began to decline during the 1850s, disappearing entirely by the end of the American Civil War in 1865.
References
- ^ Tyler Anbinder, Five Points: the 19th-century New York City neighborhood that invented tap dance, stole elections, and became the world's most notorious slum (2001) pp 285-86.
References
- Asbury, Herbert. The Gangs of New York. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928. ISBN 1-56025-275-8
- Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2001. ISBN 0-8160-4040-0