A Run-In with the Doan Gang

In July 2024, the Discovery Channel broadcasted the story of the Revolutionary War era `Doan Gang` on its show Expedition Unknown. Most of the show focused on the hunt for the gang’s alleged buried treasure. For several years, this band of six (a father, five sons, and a nephew) robbed and pillaged throughout Bucks County. The following is a story of our ancestors’ run-in with this British-sympathizing Doan Gang; it is quite a story! From The Genealogy of the Wilson-Thompson Families, p172-173….

“There are legends of its (The John Thompson House) having been besieged by Indians but these legends probably had their origin in [sic] the raids made upon it by the Tories during the Revolution when the Doan outlaws ransacked the house in search of money collected by John Thompson for the use of the government and the army (Colonial). They found very little money however as the bulk of it was concealed in a cushion on which Mrs. Thompson sat in one of the chairs in the living room; she refused to leave her chair on the ground[s] of bodily infirmities thus saving her husband from the loss considerable cash.”

A footnote from page 173 of the Genealogy states: “Some details of this raid are related by Charles Thompson, a great grandson of this John Thompson, who states that it occurred [sic] when his grandfather Hugh was eighteen years old, which would place it in the year 1782. As related to Charles by his grandfather there was considerable money in the house, including the proceeds of a load of flour taken to Trenton and the team driver, farmer and miller, the name(s) of whom Charles does not recollect were at the house effecting a settlement. Hugh and the other sons were also present and although driven from the lower part of the house defending the stairway do valiantly that the outlaws did not reach the upper floor but decamped with little plunder.”

Some background: British General Howe appointed Moses and Levi Doan as spies in 1776. They assisted in defeating the Colonial troops at the Battle of Brooklyn. General George Washington is reported to have stated that the Doan Gang represents the greatest of threats to the Revolutionary cause. In December 1776, Moses Doan witnessed the Colonial troops preparing for the now infamous Delaware River crossing to attack the British garrison; he then attempted to deliver a message of same to the Hessian commander in Trenton. Fortunately, for our troops Hessian Colonel Rahl refused to see Doan as he was in the middle of a card game!

It is difficult to precisely identify the date of the attempted robbery described above. It is possible that it occurred during and because of John Thompson’s official work on behalf of the Revolution. We know for example that John Thompson was appointed Bucks County Sheriff in 1777 and 1778 by the Commonwealth of PA, that he was Wagon Master for the Colonial troops in 1778, and that he was the county tax collector in 1782 and 1783. Most probably, the Thompsons were targeted for robbery by the Doan gang.

In 1783, the Pennsylvania State Government declared the six Doan family members as `outlaws for robberies, burglaries and felonies.’ The Doan family, from Plumstead Township Bucks County, spied for the British and stole horses and sold them the British army. They seemed to enjoy stealing from Patriot homes. They robbed the Bucks County Treasury in Newtown 1781 of 1307 pounds. Their leader Moses was killed in a shootout; Abraham and Levi were hanged; Joseph and Aaron fled to Canada; Mahlon disappeared.