Does anyone have information about a vigilante group around the end of last century called The Bhoys. Specifically, where did their name come from.

-- Wendy Lyon (ruadh@pacbell.net), October 10, 1999

Answers

In the "slang and everyday speech" chapter of *The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the 1800s*, b'hoy is defined as "a rowdy young man; reveler; ruffian." The author then cites several references of use in several east coast magazines from 1847, 1852, and 1853. (Nothing about vigilantes in SF.) I've come across the word myself, I believe, in reading the daily newspapers from 1853. I suspect it was a common slang term that a group of vigilantes adopted. Hope this helps.

-- dorothy (leland@dcn.davis.ca.us), October 10, 1999.