In the past I had emailed Frederick Nolan (Billy the Kid historian and biographer) a similar question regarding Billy the Kid’s parents. He said he had the service record of Michael McCarty, age 27, from Cook County, Indiana who died from wounds received at Chickamauga on Nov 30, 1863, but he does no appear to have been married. So who Billy the Kid’s father was is still a complete mystery and not too much –if anything- is known about his mother, Catherine. Historians and Genealogists still haven’t found any answers or even put a dent in the research because it always leads to nowhere. Due to that fact, it’s mind boggling when people say they are related to Billy the Kid.  How can they trace their roots to him, when there are no roots to be traced?  

-- Edited by Webmaster at 10:01, 2004-07-27

Since Catherine’s name was “McCarty” she was either married to a McCarty or that was her maiden name. Bill Antrim said she was a widow, so she was married at one time, but is he a reliable source? He was protective of her past. So anyways, for this man to be tied in with Catherine she was either married to him (but records say he wasn’t married) or by coincidence she had a fling with a man that had the same last name as her. Well, both don’t sound possible. If anything I suspect the “McCarty” husband was the father of Joseph, but not Billy. The rumor of Catherine having Billy out of wedlock is the most likely theory and nothing yet has proven otherwise.

As for self-titled descendants…I couldn’t agree more. None of them have yet to give one reasonable piece of evidence to support their claim or how they figured out the mystery of Billy’s roots while professional researchers could not, nor do they care to explain it because they know they can’t. For Billy to have had so many children born out of wedlock, I don’t know how on Earth he had time for anything else.

If that includes Billy's true lines connected to his real mother and father (no "what if" "maybe" "Cuz I said so" theories, but proof) and not just where you think you are connected, I sure would like to see your work posted, as I am sure everyone else would too.

This is exactly what the Webmaster and I are talking about, but hopefully she will post her findings so that we can see for ourselves exactly what she is talking about.

Actually, my Findings are Pretty Recent, and I had thought that the Mother was the Bonney, when it turned out that it was the Father, not the Mother, as I had Originally thought.

Here are My Findings:

My Direct Line:

Gen. 1:Melissa R. Clark M. Daniel L. Bryan

Gen. 2:Donald H. Clark M. Pierina Basile

Gen. 3:Katherine V. Denney M. Hugh E. Clark  (Stone 2nd Marriage)

Gen. 4:Viola Dotson (Hambrick 2nd Marriage)  M. Kirby D. Denney

Gen. 5:Reuben W. Dotson M. Sarah E. Myers (Myers/Murray Rodeo Dynasty is of this Line)

Gen. 6:William L.H. Dotson M. Henrietta Landrum(William Noted Civil War Veteran, Fought for the Nelson Grays, out of Attala Co., Bear Creek, MS., 4th MS. Infantry, Rank of Private)

Gen. 7:Reuben Dodson M. Nancy H. McConnico (This is Billy's Line for the Bonney's but this is Included Closer to the Bottom of the Post to show where the Lines Meet and Split)

Gen. 8:Elisha Dodson M. Rachel Henry(Henry, Lewis, Lee, Jefferson, Washington Line)

Gen. 9:Lazarus Dodson M. Alice Dodson

Gen. 10:George Dodson M. Margaret Dagord

Gen. 11:Thomas Dodson, Jr. M. Elizabeth Rose (Earp, Holliday, Hardin, Starr, James, Clanton, McLaury, and 4 NA Leaders' Line)

Gen. 12:Thomas Dodson, Sr. M. Dorothy M. Durham

Gen. 13:Charles Dodson, Sr. M. Anne Elmore

Gen. 14:Jesse Dodson M. Judith Hagger

Gen. 15: John Dods M. Jane Eagle Plume(are Original Settlers of Old Jamestowne Colony, VA., and are listed on Old Planters' Rolls and on Ship's Roster for the Susan Constant, Jane Daughter of VA. Iroquois Tribal Leader Eagle Plume)

Gen. 16: Chief Eagle Plume (VA. Iroquois)

ALL of this Direct Dods/Dodson/Dotson/Denney/Clark/Bryan Line Traced and Paper Proven)

Billy's Line: This is where My Line and his Meet and Split;

Parents of Nancy H. McConnico:

Gen. 8:Garner McConnico M. Mary Walker

Mary's Parents:

Gen. 9:Thomas Walker, Sr. M. Betty Ellis(This Happens to be also the GGGrandparents to the White House Bush Family)

Hunt Line:

Also my Direct Ancestors off of one Branch of the Dodson Family;

Gen. 10:Edmund Hunt M. Dorcas Oxenbridge

Gen. 9:Elizabeth Hunt M. Thomas Bonney (2nd Marriage for Thomas; Dorcus Sampson)

Gen. 8:John Bonney M. Elizabeth Bishop

Gen. 7:Levi Bonney M. Rhoda Pratt (Of Noted Mormon Pratt Family)

Gen. 6:Patrick Edward Bonney M. Catherine McCarty (2nd Marriage for Catherine; Henry Harrison Antrim) (Brief Marriage to my Dorothy Smoot by Henry)

Gen. 5: Patrick Henry Bonney McCarty M.Abrana S. Garcia

Gen. 4:Jose Patrocinio Garcia McCarty M. Beatrice?

 

 

                          

 

I'm not trying to put you down or anything, Kate, but I really question the theory that Billy was ever married. Wouldn't he be too busy to do something like that?

Any of us could be wrong.

So they were hitched up in Lincoln? I thought that Abrana was in Fort Sumner, or at least that's what I've read. 

Kate, I’m not trying to turn this into an argument, but your records still don’tprove that Billy the Kid is connected to your family tree. How can you draw a line to Billy when his lineage is an utter mystery? Like I said, even professionals can’t trace his family tree. As far as we know the name “Bonney” could’ve been a name Billy picked for himself by random. How can you prove that Patrick Edward Bonney is indeed the father of Billy the Kid? On another note, the surnames of McCarty and Bonney were very common. I counted about 30 of them on Passenger Arrival Lists from 1800-1870s and that was just from one record, there are plenty more. My last name is Brothers, but that doesn’t mean I’m related to Dr. Joyce Brothers. Now if I wanted to I could easily trace my family tree to her, but without actually proof (documents, records, etc.) it wouldn’t be legitimate. I’m afraid that’s the case here. 

You also said Billy and Abrana were married. Now I’ve known Bert Garcia for about 3 ½ years (about the time I started my website) and I’ve read his book “The Hispanic Connection” and we even had heated debates on Lucas Speer’s discussion board, but never ONCE has he claimed that Billy and Abrana were married –not once. So where is this coming from? Why hasn’t Bert said anything before about this or is this your theory? If it’s questionable and mystery as you said, then I wouldn’t declare it as FACT. 

Lastly, implying that you’re related to the Garcia family has raised a huge red flag and I’m not going to get into it any further then that, but I think you know what I mean. 

Anyways, thanks for sharing your info.

-- Edited by Webmaster at 22:49, 2004-07-27

I do not mean to be Long - Winded, but in Defense of Myself and my History, here is what I have to say:

I have been more than Honest and Forthcoming in my Research Work.

I DO NOT know how to Lie About my History, nor do I care to "Make it up."

I add or Delete upon finding more Information that happens to come up as I go along. My Research is by No means Complete at this Point, but it is as good as what I can get it at this time.

I am a Genealogist. All of my 16 Years of Research Points to a Marriage of Billy and Abrana, and Patrocinio is by NO Means a Bastard Child.

I have Personally seen Copies of the 1875 Birth Certificate while I was in New Mexico, and got Photos thereof.

As a Genealogist, I glean Findings from those things which I Personally Research; such as for Example: a Direct Quote from Bert's own Book: "Billy was in Love with Abrana."

In Billy's Legend, it can be Gleaned that Billy and Abrana were In Fact Married, as when you find Billy's Name, Abrana and Patrocinio are Directly found under his Name. To a Genealogist, that Equals a Marriage, even Despite there being NO Record thereof. I have already said I am in Search of other Documents to Provide more Proof.

In the Book "I Buried Billy" by Paco Anaya, this is a Direct Quote from Billy's own Lips, and is found Several Times throughout said Book; "The Garcias are my In Laws." To a Genealogist, this is as Good as a Marriage Certificate.

My Direct Ancestry from Chief Eagle Plume to Myself has been thoroughly Researched, and I have Birth, Marriage, Death, Census, Church, and Baptismal Records to back this up; Including Family Trees, Pictures, Notes, and Source References for ALL my Work. I currently have this Information on CD Rom.

I would be more than happy to send Anyone who Requests it, Copies of ALL of my Work on CD Rom, Including the Link to Billy.

In Fact, I am So Completely Honest about my Work, that I have NO Problem with being Swabbed for DNA, to back up my Paper Research.

All of my Work is Treated as if it is Archival Work from a Museum. All of my Work is put in a HUGE 3 Ring Binder, and Each Generation is given its own Divider, and All Pages are put in Page Protectors. Each Binder is Clearly Marked with the Family or Branch that is being worked on.

One more thing that Allows me to be able to find what other Researchers have spent years trying to find, is that I have a Special Connection to my Loved Ones who have Passed on. They Guide me to the Needed Records. All I have to do is ask for thier Assistance. I am Sensitive Enough to tap into thier Energy.

My Work has been Triple Confirmed:

1.) Billy's Descendants say this:

"You have more than we do." "You have gone farther and more in Depth." "Yes, there is Definitely Something there." "We Accept you as Family."

2.) Prominent Authors and Researchers say this:

"Wow! Your Work is Fascinating!" "You have More than we do." "We wouldn't know where else to look, you seem to have the Connection to look in places we don't." "You have researched far beyond us, you have done your Homework."

3.) Joe Micalizzi Says this:

"You can be the BTKOG Billy the Kid Family Historian." "You are an Authority ahead of other Researchers on Billy."

These are ALL Direct Quotes from Prominent Sources.

I DO NOT do my Work Piecemeal. I do Very Accurate and thorough Research.

I do ALL of my Work Independently, and I Do Not Rely on other Researchers for Genealogical Information.

I find ALL of my Information by my own Research. Certainly, I Occassionally Read what other Researchers have to say, but I already know what is there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate, I would love to see a copy of that 1875 birth certificate. Can you scan me a copy?

Kate,

Now I know you’ve probably spent a lot of time and hard work on your research, but none of your documentation can prove that Billy the Kid is linked to your family tree. You are also basing your research on hearsay and not fact. Now if you have done detailed research, as you have implied, then you would know that it would be impossible for Billy to have sex with Abrana anywhere from 1874 and even the early part of 1875 for Patrocinio to have been born in 1875.  During that time Billy was at his dying mother’s bedside and then a young orphan in Silver City. He didn’t leave Silver City till he ran away on  Sept 25, 1875 and went to Arizona to find his stepfather. He didn’t even leave Arizona until August of 1877, and he arrive in Lincoln for the first time in October of 1877 with Jesse Evans Gang. There is documentation of all of this, so care to explain how Billy and Abrana could know each other before 1875? Was she a waitress at the Exchange Hotel where Billy worked to earn his keep?? Was she at one of the brothels at Fort Grant, Arizona? Of course that’s not so, but neither is that ABSURD claim by the Garcia family in the “Hispanic Connection” book that Billy the Kid was in Fort Sumner in 1872. In 1872 he was with his mother traveling from Indiana to Colorado! Come on now....you have been boasting on what a great researcher you are, can’t you see for yourself, but instead you are using hearsay, gossip, rumors, and delusional ideas that clash with historical facts as gospel. Prove me wrong and convince me how Billy and Abrana could possibly know each other around 1874-1875 in Lincoln and/or in Fort Sumner when he was nowhere near either of those places at that time.

My other question hasn’t been answered yet on where you got that notion that Billy and Abrana were married when even the Garcia family has never claimed that.

In a final word, to continue with what you’re doing I think you do need the assistance of other researchers and genealogist, because you are manipulating your findings to fit your own personal desire to be related to Billy the Kid, whether your findings are accurate or not. 

Sorry to be so candid (it's nothing against you personally), but I'm not going to beat around the bush on this topic to avoid stepping on one's toes.

Questions for Kate:
In a previous post, you said:
"I am a Genealogist. All of my 16 Years of Research Points to a Marriage of Billy and Abrana, and Patrocinio is by NO Means a Bastard Child."
I find this statement a bit confusing. Do you mean that you have spent 16 years researching the marriage of Billy and Abrana? If so, how did you become privy to such info 16 years ago?


You also stated:
"In the Book "I Buried Billy" by Paco Anaya, this is a Direct Quote from Billy's own Lips, and is found Several Times throughout said Book; "The Garcias are my In Laws." To a Genealogist, this is as Good as a Marriage Certificate."

I own this book and only a couple of weeks ago took the time to carefully reread it with the intentions of gaining insights on Billy not mentioned in any other history books. My emphasis is on the word "carefully". I took my time and perused slowly, so as to absorb as much knowledge as I could. Frankly, had I found mention of Billy being quoted as saying "The Garcias are my in-laws," I would've remembered. Well, I don't.
I did, however, find one reference, on page 98, to a Garcia as an in-law. But it was no "direct quote" from Billy. The statement comes from Senor Anaya, and this is what he said:
"The boy made all sorts of promises to Pat, as we heard later through my brother-in-law, Higinio Garcia . . .."
So Kate, could you please point out the exact pages that contain passages in I Buried Billy, by Paco Anaya, in which Billy is quoted as saying that the Garcia's are indeed his in-laws. I'd be fascinated to see these quotes with my own eyes.

Now, hey, hey, were we not all once that particular child? Did the child of Billy (if any existed) not feel the same way? Did you? Did I? Did Billy himself? Answer is pretty obvious, is it not?

 

Not having that dismissive missive, I'm afraid. Political Correctiveness went out the window, in the real world, a long time ago, All I'm saying is, simmer down, It just seems to me that whenever the scent of a wounded critter is in the air, the wolves gather.