Here is a list of frequently asked questions concerning Billy the Kid.
For more quick
information on Billy the Kid, my other web pages
Fact vs. Myth ,
Did you know...? and
Miscellaneous may also interest you.
1)
Who were Billy the Kid’s parents? What was his real last name - Bonney or McCarty? What was his birth date?
13)
What’s the Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang Organization and how
can I become a member?
Answer: The true answers concerning Billy the Kid’s
birth and lineage has yet to be known; historians, biographers and
genealogist have been pulling their hair out trying to figure it out for
years. Researchers have traveled the globe (England, Ireland, Scotland, and
throughout the states), they have researched birth and death records,
marriage certificates, baptismal records, hospital records, passenger
arrival list, census records, and more, but yet no document has surfaced to
shed some light on who Billy the Kid's parents were, and where and what day
he was born. All we know is he had a mother named Catherine (maiden name
unknown) and a younger brother named Joseph (middle and last name unknown),
and absolutely nothing is known of his biological father. It’s not known
whether both boys were fathered by the same man, nor is it known whether
Catherine was married to their father (or fathers) and bore her children out
of wedlock. So in that case it’s not
known whether McCarty or Bonney is her married name, or maybe both were. All
we know is she first turns up in the pages of history as a single woman
named Catherine McCarty, with two sons. As for Billy the
Kid’s birth date, it’s estimated he was born anywhere around 1860-62,
possibly in New York, Indiana, or maybe even Ireland or England.
We simply don’t know. The life of Billy the Kid before the year 1870 is an
utmost mystery. -Menu
Question:
How did William H. Bonney get the title of "Billy the Kid?" Answer: Well, since experience historians and genealogist can’t pinpoint Billy the Kid’s exact linage and roots and who his parents really were, his real birth name and birth date and etc, I doubt that you’ll be able to. As I just stated above, Billy the Kid’s family tree is an utter mystery and if you are going to tackle the matter I sincerely wish you luck. The names McCarty, Bonney, and Antrim are common Irish ands Scottish names and which is why countless people are coming forward and saying they are related to the famous outlaw, but it takes more than just having the same last name or because family rumors say you have ties to Billy the Kid. Unless you can prove a direct line and relation to Billy the Kid by official documents or hard evidence that is linked to what is already historical fact, historians and researchers aren’t going to bother with your claim. For instance, it’s a historical fact that Billy the Kid was in Lincoln County, NM in April of 1878 and there is hard evidence to back this up, so if your claim has him in Michigan at that time and having a fling with your great-grandmother I highly doubt historians will be convinced and willing to re-write history based on your claim. I don’t mean to tweak the nose of those who truly believe they are related to Billy the Kid, but the truth of the matter is if you can’t prove it with solid evidence your claim isn’t worth anything. -Menu
Answer: My advice would be the Billy the Kid Museum gift shops in New Mexico. See my Links page for a list of museums. You can also find some Billy the Kid memorabilia on Ebay, Zazzle, and Cafepress...there’s always a fair amount of t-shirts, posters, toys, movies, comic books, etc., found there. -Menu
Answer: The rifle is an 1873 Winchester and as for the revolver, it’s hard to tell since it’s hidden out of view in the holster, some researchers think it’s a single action Colt .44. -Menu Answer: Unfortunately, DNA testing cannot be done since Billy the Kid's grave marker was washed away in the Pecos River flood in September of 1904 and the grave was left unmarked for years until a new headstone was placed. So the chances of it being placed in the precise location of Billy the Kid's grave is slim to none. As for Catherine Antrim's grave, that site too is in question since it was moved from its original spot in 1882, and it's not known whether her grave was actually exhumed and relocated to the present day grave site or just the grave marker was replaced. So it would be impossible to do a DNA test (or at least an accurate one) on two unreliable and "iffy" grave sites. So for obvious reasons, to match DNA from the wrong sources can really mess things up and should not be attempted. For more on this, see my web page The Controversy on the Billy the Kid DNA Investigation. -Menu
Answer: Although the movies are the most popular on Billy the Kid and quite entertaining, just like all the rest, they are not historically accurate. The real life Billy the Kid was not like the Kid portrayed by Emilio Estevez in the movies. To really learn the difference between history and these two films, visit my History vs. Young Guns web page. -Menu
Answer: From my own Billy the Kid road trip experience, my favorite place was Historic Lincoln, also know as Old Town Lincoln, about 40 miles northeast of Ruidoso. This historical town not only consists of the original buildings of Billy the Kid’s day, but also has a visitor's center which has a museum and gift shop, and annual events (for instance, on the first weekend of August there’s a Billy the Kid pageant). The surrounding area of Lincoln has a lot of historical sites to see relating to Billy the Kid and one way to see it is on the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway, which will take you on a loop through Billy the Kid country. Also nearby there is White Oaks (which is pretty much a ghost town) and San Patricio, which Billy the Kid frequently visited almost as much or more than Lincoln. Also in the area, there's Ruidoso where the Hubbard Museum is located (the museum is also called the Museum of the Horse, but has a lot on the Old West, Native American and Southwest history). If you like to gamble, you can’t miss the famous Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and the Billy the Kid Casino. If you have an interest in Billy the Kid and the Old West, there’s plenty of stuff to do and see in the beautiful Ruidoso and Lincoln area and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Then of course, there is Fort Sumner (about 84 miles north of Roswell) where Billy the Kid's grave is located. It's a bit of a long drive through the empty plains, but as a Billy the Kid fan you can't visit New Mexico without going to Fort Sumner at least once. Unlike Lincoln, don't expect Fort Sumner to be anything like the village Billy the Kid knew in his day, Old Fort Sumner is long gone and nothing remains of it. The present day Fort Sumner is now a small quiet community which host two museums, the Billy the Kid Museum in town on the main street and the Old Fort Sumner Monument on Billy the Kid Road just east of town where Old Fort Sumner use to be. Don't worry the town is too small to miss either museum. Billy the Kid's grave is located behind the Old Fort Sumner Museum near the Monument on Billy the Kid Road, just follow the sidewalk path from the parking lot and it will lead you right to it. -Menu
Answer: They knew each other and were probably more than just merry acquaintances, but they weren’t “pals” or “gang members.” As for the story that Garrett and Billy the Kid concocted a plan to fake the Kid's death, it's not true. Any friendly relationship they had would've gone bad since Garrett was responsible for the deaths of Billy the Kid's closest friends, Tom Folliard and Charlie Bowdre. So I just can't believe that the revengeful Kid would just let that go. Let's not forget that the Kid killed two of Garrett's deputies, James Bell and Bob Olinger, during his daring escape from Lincoln. So I just can't believe Garrett would let that go either. By the time of July 14, 1881 there was some bad blood between these two. -Menu
Answer: No, it is not. This is
one of the many examples of purported photos of Billy the Kid that were said
to be real by stanch supporters who ended up with egg on their face. It's
said this photo was taken just outside of Las Vegas on December 26, 1880,
when Garrett was bringing the Kid and his gang into town after capturing
them at Stinking Springs. In actuality, this photo is of Pat Garrett (far
left) and was taken in 1907 as an reenactment photo based on the capture of
Billy the Kid for an article in a newspaper. -Menu Answer: Billy the Kid never married, he didn’t get the chance since he was shot down so early in life. The Kid was indeed a lady’s man and “fooled around,” so it’s quite possible he fathered at least one child. Rumors and hearsay have given the names of several young ladies who may or may not be mothers of Billy the Kid’s child or children (if he even had any). The most common of those names are Paulita Maxwell, Celsa Gutierrez, Abrana Garcia and Nasaria Yerby. So with no proof or evidence, other than pure gossip and speculation, it's impossible to know if the Kid truly fathered a child. -Menu
Answer: No, the above photograph is not the
son of Billy the Kid. This photo was falsely identified as being Telesfor
Jaramillo, and not only is that not Telesfor Jaramillo, but Telesfor could
not have been the Kid's son since he was born in 1893 -thirteen years after
Billy the Kid's death. This photo and story of Telesfor being the possible
son of Billy the Kid was first presented in Fred Nolan's book "The West of
Billy the Kid." Of course Mr. Nolan is a very respected Billy the Kid
historian, so it's hard to doubt his finding, but Fred Nolan retracted this
and cleared the misunderstanding:
Answer: The Billy the
Kid Outlaw Gang is a non-profit organization that promotes the history of Billy the Kid
and Pat Garrett. Members will receive an annual newsletter and
issue of the Outlaw Gazette, which is chalked full of articles
written by members including well-known historians such as Fred Nolan, Leon
Metz and Bob Boze Bell. As a member you’ll find out the latest news,
information, and meet other people with the same interest at the annual
get-together. If you would like to learn more visit the
BTKOG
website. -Menu Question: What's the Billy the Kid Historic Preservation Society and how can I become a member? Answer: The goal of the former organization was to preserve and promote Billy the Kid history. Originally, the BTKHPS had formed a coalition to actively oppose the exhumation of Billy the Kid and his mother for the controversial DNA testing. The members consist of people around the globe. Although, short-lived the coalition accomplished what they set out to do and saved the monuments. Unfortunately, today the organization is non-existence. -Menu
Answer: As they say the first impression is always the most critical and if
one is not familiar with Billy the Kid and read Garrett’s book first, their
impression of the Kid would be that of a temperamental homicidal maniac. The
legend of Billy the Kid was born out of Garrett’s book and the legend is
nothing like the real Billy the Kid. The book was written to win public
opinion in Garrett’s favor, so Garrett twisted the truth or just out-and-out
lied to invent a wicked young man, then at the end of the book when Garrett
kills the
terrorist readers would be impressed --the bigger the villain, the bigger the hero,
right? So I would advise a person not to read Garrett’s book or even
Walter Noble Burns The Sage of Billy the Kid, until
they learned the facts first. It’s frustrating enough
trying to learn the facts without trying to root out the myths at the same
time. There is one exception, if you do want to read Garrett's book, read
the edition with commentary footnotes by notable Billy the Kid biographer,
Frederick Nolan. -Menu Question: I want to learn more about Billy the Kid, where should I start? Answer: Well, you've come to the right place, but other than my website, I would recommend reading Frederick Nolan's The West of Billy the Kid and/or Bob Boze Bell's The Illustrated Life and Times of Billy the Kid for starters. I have a list of books I recommend on my Miscellaneous page. If you're not a fan of reading, I have some good documentaries posted on my DailyMotion page. -Menu
Answer: The best book for young people would be The Illustrated Life and Times of Billy the Kid, by Bob Boze Bell. It’s got plenty of pictures and drawings and easy to understand information. As for a movie, Vidal Gore’s Billy the Kid starring Val Kilmer is pretty accurate and not too violent for children. Although Young Guns and Young Guns II are the most popular, keep in mind the movies are rated R and has violence, bad language and some nudity, so it may not be suitable for young children. -Menu
Answer: The war would have happened exactly as it did if Billy the Kid never got involved, but Billy the Kid did have one affect on the Lincoln County War and that is he made it famous and the Lincoln County War made him famous. How is that you ask? If the Lincoln County War didn't happen or Billy the Kid never got involved, we never would've heard of Billy the Kid, because aside from the war, the Kid was an unknown saddle tramp and petty thief. The Kid probably would have eventually settled down as a ranch hand and lived a normal life. On the flip side, if it wasn’t for Billy the Kid, we probably never would have an interest in the Lincoln County War. -Menu
Answer: Billy the Kid never actually took a direct hit from a bullet that
penetrated him, other than the one that killed him in Fort Sumner, but he
was grazed by bullets at least three times. On the day the Regulators assassinated
Sheriff William Brady, the Kid was grazed by a bullet and a good chunk of
flesh was ripped from the side of his hip when Deputy Bill Mathews shot at
him. During the gunfight at Blazer’s Mill, it was said the Kid had his “arm
shaved” by a bullet from Buckshot Roberts. Then there's an account given by
a descendant of Yginio Salazar, that Billy the Kid may have been
grazed in the lower part of his leg (calf) when running out of McSween’s
burning house during the big siege. As far as knife wounds go, there is no
record or recollection by anyone that Billy the Kid was stabbed or cut up.
Other than the above info, history isn’t aware of any other injures or illnesses Billy the Kid
may have had over his life time. -Menu
Answer: We would like to think so, but
as of now, the famous tintype (as seen on the website) is all we have to go
by. There are plenty of purported photographs that exists, but none have
provenance to support the claim, all are highly debatable, and some are
downright preposterous and don't deserve notice. I will say that ever since
the original authentic tintype of Billy the Kid sold for 2.3 million
dollars, more and more alleged photographs have surfaced claiming to be
Billy the Kid. None of the images have been formally accepted by
professional historians, historical organizations, or Billy the Kid experts. Many of these photos are
from scram artists trying to sell photographs or make a name for themselves.
Do not be fooled by this alleged photographs. -Menu
Answer: When the Kid was buried, he had a plain wooden board with the
name "Billy the Kid" crudely carved into it to mark his grave. Unlike the
monument we see today, the Kid was not buried right next to his friends,
Charlie Bowdre and Tom Folliard, but a few yards a way (but Bowdre and
Folliard were indeed buried next to each other). Then in 1904 the Pecos River
flood over took the cemetery and all the markers and even some remains of
the dead were washed away. Another possibility is that the Kid's original
grave marker was stolen or vandalized before the flood. Whatever the case,
the Kid's grave was left unmarked for at least two decades, until finally in 1932
Billy the Kid's friends got some money together and purchased a headstone
with the inscription of William H. Bonney alias Billy the Kid, Tom
Folliard, and Charlie Bowdre, along with the word "Pals." Shortly after,
another much smaller headstone was placed for Billy the Kid in the same
spot, and that one has been stolen twice and fortunately recovered. So in
order to protect the headstones from thieves, an iron cage was placed over
the grave. It's very unlikely that the "Pals" headstone was placed on the
exact location of the Kid's original grave, so it's more like a memorial
monument then the actually last resting place of Billy the Kid, Charlie
Bowdre, and Tom Folliard. Billy the Kid was still buried in that tiny cemetery, so those of
you who visited the grave or will someday, shouldn't be too disappointed
-Billy the Kid's spirit and memory is still there and it doesn't matter if
you're standing "right" over his grave or not. -Menu Answer: The answer is no. For the last several years Billy the Kid supporters had approached Gov. Richardson to give Billy the Kid a posthumous pardon. Why? We need to go back to March of 1879. Gov. Lew Wallace struck a deal with Billy the Kid to testify against murderers on the James Dolan side of the Lincoln County War in exchange for a full pardon. Billy the Kid did exactly as promised and not only did he risk his life, but he went above and beyond in fulfilling his obligations, but the governor backed out on his. After being abandoned by the governor, Billy was left to fend for himself against a bias justice system of Dolan supporters and they were bent on seeing the Kid hang. So Billy the Kid had no choice, but to escape. Over the course of two years, while dodging the law, Billy had written letters to Gov. Wallace reminding him of his promise, but the Kid's letters were ignored. The Kid was getting deeper in trouble thanks to exaggerated accusations by the newspapers that were stacking against him. The Kid was eventually captured, put on trial, found guilty, and sentence to death. On April 28, 1881 the Kid escaped jail, but had to kill two of his guards in the process. Then a few months later, Sheriff Pat Garrett caught up with the Kid and shot him dead in Fort Sumner. So now, back to the 21st century...Gov. Richardson highly consideration pardoning Billy the Kid to fulfill Gov. Wallace's promise, but he was met with opposition by descendents of the victims of Billy the Kid, as well as descendents of Sheriff Pat Garrett and Lew Wallace. In December of 2010, after years of back and forth debating, Gov. Richardson decided NOT to pardon Billy the Kid. Although Richardson believed that Gov. Wallace should've pardon Billy the Kid back in 1879, he felt that the Kid forfeited his pardon when he killed his two deputies during the jailbreak in 1881. Well, I say, if Wallace stuck to his end of the bargain, Billy the Kid never would've killed those two deputies. Wallace's failure to complete his promise not only cost Billy the Kid's life, but that of other men as well (Jim Carlyle, Tom O'Folliard, Charlie Bowdre, James Bell, and Bob Ollinger).
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