Monk Eastman

Monk Eastman
Monk Eastman, circa 1910–1920
Born	Edward Eastman 1875 Manhattan, New York City, New York
Died	December 26, 1920(1920-12-26) (aged 44–45) Manhattan, New York City, New York
Cause of death	Gunshot
Other names	Joseph Morris {August 1903} William Delany {December 1903} and {October 1917 enlistment in US Army}; John Marvin {February 1914}
Occupation	thug; soldier; dockworker
Criminal charge	1901 reported wounded in gang fight December 1902 arrested on assault charge {acquitted} August 1903 arrested after gunfight with rival gang-charged with assault but not held 1903 arrested under own name in Freehold N.J on charge of beating up coachman James McMahon {discharged} December 1903 arrested after Michael Donavon killed after gang fight-discharged; arrested twice as "suspicious person" but not held April 1904 arrested for assault-sent to Sing Sing for 10 years May 1912 arrested for manufacturing and using opium-sent to Sing Sing prison for eight months February 1914-arrested as "John Marvin" in Buffalo New York on charge of Bulgary {discharged} November 1915-arrested in Riverdale New York on charge of stealing silver in Albany New York-sent to Dannemora for two years and eleven months-released October 1917
Criminal penalty	Sing Sing and Dennemora
Criminal status	served sentence-deceased
Conviction(s)	1904; 1912; 1915

Edward "Monk" Eastman (1875 – December 26, 1920) was a New York City gangster who founded and led the Eastman Gang, which became one of the most powerful street gangs in New York City. His aliases included Joseph "Joe" Morris, Joe Marvin, William "Bill" Delaney, and Edward "Eddie" Delaney. Eastman is considered to be one of the last of the 19th-century New York gangsters who preceded the rise of Arnold Rothstein and more sophisticated, organized criminal enterprises such as Cosa Nostra.

Monk Eastman's background is a subject of debate. City records show, as documented by crime authors such as Patrick Downey, Ron Arons, and Rose Keefe, that Monk was born Edward Eastman in 1875 in the rowdy Corlear's Hook section of lower Manhattan to Samuel Eastman, a Civil War veteran and wallpaper-hanger, and his wife Mary Parks. By the time Monk was five, his father had abandoned the family. Mary moved with her children to her father George Parks' home on the Upper East Side.

According to the 1880 United States Census, 5-year-old Edward Eastman was living on East Seventy-Fifth St., in Manhattan. He and his family lived with his grandfather George Parks, age 68, who then worked in a dry goods store. George was born in New York, as were both his parents. In addition to Edward, the Eastman family included Mary Eastman, age 35; and daughters Lizzie, age 10; Ida, age 8; and Francine age 3. Everyone was born in Manhattan, with the exception of Lizzie, who was born in California. Both George Parks and his daughter Mary Eastman were recorded as having been divorced.

In the 1870 U.S. census, Mary Eastman was living on Cannon St. in the Lower East Side of Manhattan with Samuel Eastman, age 40, born in New York and working as a paper hanger. Living with them were their children Lizzie and Willie, age 3, born in New York. Willie likely died young, as he was not listed with the family in 1880. In the 1860 census, Samuel Eastman was living in Manhattan in the household of Thomas McSpedon, from a prominent old NYC family. Thomas' firm McSpedon & Baker, Pine Street, NYC, was the official NYC printers. McSpedon served as an Alderman in NYC and Fire Marshall for NYC during the mid 19th century. Eastman worked as a paper hanger.

In the 1900 census, Mary Eastman lived in Queens on Curtis Ave. with her daughters Elizabeth and Francine and their families. Edward Eastman was not listed in any additional censuses after 1880 (the 1890 records were lost in a fire at the National Archives.)