Albert Hicks , also known as William Johnson, John Hicks, and Pirate Hicks, was the last person in the United States, executed for Piracy, though in 1862, Nathaniel Gordon was executed under the Piracy Act for Slavery. The photo's on the right is the only known photo's in existance of that day in 1860, referring to Albert Hicks, there are no other photo's that can be found of him or that day. He was described as a tall, muscular man, strong-built, a slight stoop in his shoulders, long arms, large hands, hardened by work. His complexion was darkened by the sun, he had high cheek bones, and a crop of straight, black hair. His eyes were black and small, and he had a vengeful, sly facial expression. Albert Hicks had several brothers at the time, residing in or around Killingly, Conneticut, some were wealthy farmers. One brother, Simon Hicks, was the murderer of Mr. Crossman at Chepatchet, Rhode Island, several years earlier, he was sentenced to prison and escaped, and hadn't been heard from since. Hicks parents were dead, and he had a wife and 10 year old child living in Providence, Rhode Island, at the time. Albert Hicks confessed to murdering Skipper Captain George H. Burr and two other crew members, Smith and Oliver Watts. He threw their bodies overboard from the Oyster Sloop A.E. Johnson. He then collided with the Schooner, J.R. Mather. He then took all their money they had on board, about $500.00 worth, and abandoned ship in a Yawl, landing at Staten Island, New York. Albert Hicks was captured and convicted of his crimes, he made a long, detailed confession, casually. Part of his statement, he said, "I should think we were 50 miles at Sea at the time, so that it was improbable that any of the bodies will ever be found. While I was on board the sloop, the devil was always by my side and sustained me...but while I have been locked up here, he has deserted me, and I feel bad."He also claimed to have killed 97 others in California Gold Mining Camps, as well as committing other acts of Piracy in South America. He was found to be in possession of Captain Burr's watch, a coat of Oliver Watts, and several bags of money. His reason for his actions: The Devil had possession of him. He was executed by hanging on Bedloe Island, now known as Liberty Island, where Fort Wood once stood, where all Federal Prisoners were sent and/or executed. He was 32 at the time of death. Where the gallows once stood, became the base of the Statue of Liberty in 1877, 17 years later. His last request was to see the steamship, Great Eastern, which was docked at the New York Harbor at the time. Ten thousand people came to view his hanging, some watched from boats surrounding the tiny Island. A Ballad was written about Albert Hicks, by Sherman Backus, titled Hicks the Pirate in March of 1860, the same month he died. P.T. Barnum featured a wax image of Pirate Hicks in a silk pirate costume, in his Museum, which he charged admission to view. He also was a featured character on an episode of the Twilight Zone, in 1963, titled, "The New Exhibit." Soon after his burial in an undisclosed location, grave robbers stole his body. There were soon rumors circulating he had survived. But his body actually was sold to Medical Science.∼Last person executed for piracy in New York. Hanged on Bedloe's Island (Liberty Island). Originally buried in Calvary Cemetery in Queens, the body was apparently stolen by Columbia University medical students.
Albert Hicks , also known as William Johnson, John Hicks, and Pirate Hicks, was the last person in the United States, executed for Piracy, though in 1862, Nathaniel Gordon was executed under the Piracy Act for Slavery. The photo's on the right is the only known photo's in existance of that day in 1860, referring to Albert Hicks, there are no other photo's that can be found of him or that day. He was described as a tall, muscular man, strong-built, a slight stoop in his shoulders, long arms, large hands, hardened by work. His complexion was darkened by the sun, he had high cheek bones, and a crop of straight, black hair. His eyes were black and small, and he had a vengeful, sly facial expression. Albert Hicks had several brothers at the time, residing in or around Killingly, Conneticut, some were wealthy farmers. One brother, Simon Hicks, was the murderer of Mr. Crossman at Chepatchet, Rhode Island, several years earlier, he was sentenced to prison and escaped, and hadn't been heard from since. Hicks parents were dead, and he had a wife and 10 year old child living in Providence, Rhode Island, at the time. Albert Hicks confessed to murdering Skipper Captain George H. Burr and two other crew members, Smith and Oliver Watts. He threw their bodies overboard from the Oyster Sloop A.E. Johnson. He then collided with the Schooner, J.R. Mather. He then took all their money they had on board, about $500.00 worth, and abandoned ship in a Yawl, landing at Staten Island, New York. Albert Hicks was captured and convicted of his crimes, he made a long, detailed confession, casually. Part of his statement, he said, "I should think we were 50 miles at Sea at the time, so that it was improbable that any of the bodies will ever be found. While I was on board the sloop, the devil was always by my side and sustained me...but while I have been locked up here, he has deserted me, and I feel bad."He also claimed to have killed 97 others in California Gold Mining Camps, as well as committing other acts of Piracy in South America. He was found to be in possession of Captain Burr's watch, a coat of Oliver Watts, and several bags of money. His reason for his actions: The Devil had possession of him. He was executed by hanging on Bedloe Island, now known as Liberty Island, where Fort Wood once stood, where all Federal Prisoners were sent and/or executed. He was 32 at the time of death. Where the gallows once stood, became the base of the Statue of Liberty in 1877, 17 years later. His last request was to see the steamship, Great Eastern, which was docked at the New York Harbor at the time. Ten thousand people came to view his hanging, some watched from boats surrounding the tiny Island. A Ballad was written about Albert Hicks, by Sherman Backus, titled Hicks the Pirate in March of 1860, the same month he died. P.T. Barnum featured a wax image of Pirate Hicks in a silk pirate costume, in his Museum, which he charged admission to view. He also was a featured character on an episode of the Twilight Zone, in 1963, titled, "The New Exhibit." Soon after his burial in an undisclosed location, grave robbers stole his body. There were soon rumors circulating he had survived. But his body actually was sold to Medical Science.∼Last person executed for piracy in New York. Hanged on Bedloe's Island (Liberty Island). Originally buried in Calvary Cemetery in Queens, the body was apparently stolen by Columbia University medical students.
