Patty Cannon

Serial Killer

Patty Cannon: The Infamous Slave Trader and Serial Killer

Introduction

Patty Cannon was a notorious serial killer and leader of a criminal gang that operated in the early 19th century along the Delmarva Peninsula, particularly in Delaware and Maryland. She was infamous for her involvement in kidnapping free African Americans and selling them into slavery, as well as for committing multiple brutal murders.

Background

Patty Cannon, whose birth name is uncertain but is believed to have been Martha or Lucretia Cannon, was active during the early 1800s. She and her gang were involved in human trafficking, particularly targeting free Black individuals, whom they captured and sold to slave traders in the South. Her gang operated out of the Nanticoke River area, using their tavern as a front for their criminal activities. ...

Confirmed Victims: (0)

Patty Cannon MSA SC 5496-051231 - Maryland State Archives