Mohocks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mohocks were a gang that terrorized London in the early eighteenth century, attacking men and women alike. Named for the Mohawk Indians, they assaulted both men and women, disfiguring their male victims and sexually assaulting their female victims. The matter came to a head in 1712 when a bounty of £100 was issued by the royal court for their capture.
This gang was also known as the "young bloods", which was later shortened to "bloods". This name is possibly the origin of the British sense of the adjective bloody, which was not considered particularly impolite until the 18th century.
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)
The Mohocks were the worst and the last of the gangs of street bullies who terrorized London after the Restoration. The first gang to appear were known as the Muns, who were followed by the Tityré Tūs, the Hectors, the Scourers, the Nickers, and the Hawkubites.
[edit] In fiction
- John Gay (better known for The Beggar's Opera) wrote a play in 1712 titled The Mohocks - though this was printed but never acted in his lifetime.
- The Baroque Cycle mentions a group of nobles with Mohawk hairstyles, who act as irregular cavalry for the Whig party in the struggle to determine whether James II or George I will succeed to the British throne.
- The British television series The Avengers includes a revival of the Mohock gang, complete with faux old-English accents.
- In the Discworld novel Jingo, Captain Carrot is first seen refereeing a match between two youth gangs of Ankh-Morpork, the Scats and the Mohocks.
