The Mysterious Fate of Billy The Kid's Father: Untangling the True Story and Show Adaptations

Summary

Billy the Kid season 2 takes creative liberties with his legend, introducing a number of both real-life and fictional father figures and mentors.

Patrick McCarty probably passed away when Billy was around 7 or 8 years old, leaving Catherine to single-handedly raise the boys. This had a profound impact on Billy's life.

In the MGM series, fictional mentors such as Moss and John Tunstall are introduced. They play significant roles in molding Billy's personality and shaping his choices.

The MGM series Billy the Kid briefly explores the mysterious past of his father, Patrick McCarty, while shedding light on the transformation of William H. Bonney from a child of Irish immigrants to one of the most infamous outlaws of the Old West. Despite being orphaned at the age of 15, Billy shared a significant portion of his formative years with his father, particularly during their time in New York City. Eventually, the family ventured westward to Kansas in the aftermath of the Civil War. Throughout his short-lived existence, Billy encountered several surrogate fathers and mentors.

In season 1 of Billy the Kid, the show delves into the challenges faced by Billy, Patrick, his mother Catherine, and his younger brother Joe as they adapted to their new life outside of New York. Conversely, most of season 2 portrays Billy as a reckless loner, devoid of any remaining family after the tragic deaths of his mother and brother due to tuberculosis. It is worth mentioning that the MGM series takes some creative liberties with the legend of Billy the Kid, as historical records indicate that Joe actually outlived Billy. Moreover, Patrick passed away long before Billy embarked on a life of minor crimes, ultimately leading to his infamous acts of murder.

Patrick McCarty Died When Billy Was Around 8 Years Old

In Billy the Kid season 1, it is suggested that Patrick McCarty likely died when Billy was around 7 or 8 years old, placing his death in the late 1860s. The exact circumstances of Patrick's death are unclear due to a lack of recorded evidence, but it is widely believed that he passed away after leaving New York City with his family. Historians have debated whether Billy's father's name was actually William Bonney, which is the origin of his famous alias. Although uncertain, the MGM series provides a plausible portrayal of Patrick McCarty's death during Billy's childhood.

Following Patrick's death, Catherine was left to raise and provide for both Billy and Joe on her own, which proved to be an arduous task. She eventually found support by marrying William Antrim in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1873, and they settled down together in Kansas, where Antrim became Billy and Joe's stepfather. In the MGM series, the young Billy harbors immediate skepticism towards Antrim, viewing him as untrustworthy and deceitful. Billy's intuition would ultimately prove to be accurate. After Catherine succumbed to tuberculosis, Antrim abandoned both boys. This event greatly influenced the course of Billy's life and likely played a crucial role in leading him into a life of crime and violence.

How The Death Of Billy The Kid's Father Is Different From Real Life

One interesting creative choice present in the MGM Billy the Kid series was the insinuation that Patrick McCarty, while traveling with his family across the country, made the decision to end his own life. As illustrated in the first season of Billy the Kid, Patrick McCarty would frequently declare himself "mentally unwell" and would often withdraw completely, struggling to engage in any activities other than lying down in a state of evident hopelessness. The characterization of Patrick McCarty in the MGM series suggests the potential presence of depression or other incapacitating mental health ailments within Billy the Kid's father. Historians hold differing views regarding his father's actual fate, and it is not widely disputed that Patrick died by suicide, as the show implies.

Billy The Kid’s Father Figures & Mentors Explained

Following his falling out with Antrim, which was handled differently in the MGM series, Billy the Kid found himself devoid of a paternal influence or mentor. In season 1 of the show, a character named Moss was introduced. The McCarty family had hired Moss to escort them from New York to the Western frontier. Along the perilous journey, Moss noticed Patrick's vulnerability and took it upon himself to care for Billy. He even imparted the knowledge of firearm handling upon Billy, providing him with a role model and a guide whenever Billy was in need. While there is no historical evidence of Billy the Kid ever encountering an individual named Moss, the character plays a pivotal mentoring role in the television series.

Billy had a remarkable mentor in John Tunstall, an Englishman who was portrayed as much older in the series than he truly was. Billy the Kid truly respected Tunstall for offering him a fresh start in life, considering him to be one of the few influential and wealthy individuals who treated him as an equal. Despite only being approximately 6 years older than Billy the Kid, Tunstall's unwavering generosity and belief in him made him one of the most significant influences in his life. The brutal murder of Tunstall served as the catalyst for the Regulators' fierce retaliation, igniting the infamous Lincoln County War.