Catherine McCarty was the mother of one of the most notorious outlaws in American history, Billy the Kid. But who was she, and how did her death affect the fate of her son? In this article, we will explore the life and death of Catherine McCarty, and how her loss influenced Billy the Kid’s path to infamy.
Contents
Catherine McCarty’s Early Life and Immigration
Catherine McCarty was born around 1829 in Ireland, during a time of famine and oppression. She was one of the millions of Irish immigrants who left their homeland in search of a better life in America. She arrived in New York City in 1846, when she was about 17 years old, and worked as a servant for wealthy families. According to HistoryNet, she later moved to Utica, New York, where she worked for the John Munn family.
Catherine McCarty’s Marriage and Children
Catherine McCarty’s marital status and the identity of her children’s father are shrouded in mystery. Some sources suggest that she married a man named Michael McCarty, who died or abandoned her before she moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, in the late 1850s. There, she gave birth to her first son, William Henry McCarty, who would later become known as Billy the Kid, around 1861. According to PBS, she also had another son, Joseph McCarty, who was born around 1863.
In 1871, Catherine McCarty moved with her sons to Wichita, Kansas, where she met and married William Antrim, a miner and carpenter, in 1873. The family then relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and then to Silver City, New Mexico, where they hoped to find better opportunities and a healthier climate.
Catherine McCarty’s Illness and Death
Unfortunately, Catherine McCarty’s health deteriorated as she suffered from tuberculosis, a deadly disease at the time. She was confined to bed for months, and died on September 16, 1874, at the age of 45. She was buried in the Memory Lane Cemetery in Silver City, where her grave can still be visited today. According to Wikipedia, her death left her sons orphaned, as William Antrim showed little interest in raising them. Billy, who was only 15 years old, moved to a boardinghouse and soon got into trouble with the law. He escaped from jail and fled to Arizona, where he began his life as an outlaw and a gunfighter.
Catherine McCarty’s Legacy and Influence on Billy the Kid
Catherine McCarty was a strong and resilient woman who faced many hardships and challenges in her life. She tried to provide a good home and education for her sons, and instilled in them a love of music and dancing. She was also a devout Catholic, who baptized her sons and took them to church. She was the only person who ever loved Billy unconditionally, and he was deeply attached to her. Her death was a turning point in his life, as he lost his only source of stability and guidance. He became rebellious and restless, and sought adventure and excitement in the lawless frontier. He also developed a sympathy for the oppressed and the downtrodden, as he identified with his mother’s struggles. He joined a group of cattle rustlers, who became involved in the Lincoln County War, a violent conflict between rival factions in New Mexico. He became a leader of the Regulators, a vigilante group that fought against the corrupt and powerful Murphy-Dolan faction. He also became a target of the law, and was hunted down by Sheriff Pat Garrett, who eventually killed him in 1881, when he was only 21 years old.
Catherine McCarty’s death was a tragedy that marked the end of Billy the Kid’s innocence and the beginning of his legend. He became one of the most famous and controversial figures of the Old West, whose life and image have been immortalized in countless books, movies, and songs. He is remembered as both a hero and a villain, a victim and a rebel, a friend and a foe. He is also remembered as the son of Catherine McCarty, who gave him life and love, and whose loss shaped his destiny.
