Every year on my birthday, I look disappointedly at the “Today’s Birthdays” section in the “Today in History” feature in the Albuquerque Journal. Virtually no one on my birthday is memorable. The only vaguely famous person who showed up on that list (until he died a few years ago) was actor John Ritter, who was born on my birthday a year after my birth and was the son of singing cowboy star Tex Ritter.
The only other interesting thing that happened on my birthday was the signing of the U.S. Constitution, which of course has been getting a lot of attention these days.
But now there is proof that I share my birthday with somebody really memorable.
An article in Friday’s Albuquerque Journal says research has proved that infamous outlaw Billy the Kid was born on Sept. 17, 1859, in New York. (And no, I wasn’t born in 1859.)
At the recent “Wild West History Association” gathering in Albuquerque, historian Allen Sanchez confirmed that records confirming his birth and baptism were found inside St. Peter’s Catholic Church in the Big Apple. And in another interesting connection, the first religious community of women, the “Sisters of Charity,” had been formed in that church and had influences in New Mexico. One of the women in that order, Sister Blandina Segale, was said to be personal friends with Billy the Kid. In addition to that, she helped start hospitals in Santa Fe and Albuquerque in the late 1800s.
Segale made reference to “The Kid” in her diary, describing him as having “steel blue eyes” and being “innocent looking.”
Her diary said he once told her that “it would do me great pleasure to be able to do you any favor.”
Just prior to his death at the hands of Dona Ana County lawman Pat Garret in 1881, Sister Segale said she met with him in the Santa Fe County Jail. She said he asked her to give help to another prisoner by the name of Ed Kelly.
Here’s a link to the story if you want more details about Billy the Kid’s birthday and Sister Segale:
I wrote a blog last year about the reconstruction/renovation of the historic old Dowlin Mill in Ruidoso, which was a gathering place in Lincoln County during the infamous Lincoln County War. Historical documents said Billy the Kid was a frequent visitor there, attended dances and was well liked. There was one story about Billy the Kid being temporarily hidden in a flour barrel in the Old Mill to protect him from being found by authorities.
I’ve read many stories and tales about Billy the Kid, and many of them say he was in fact a likable individual. What got him into trouble, I’ve concluded, was his intense loyalty to individuals or causes.
I’ve noticed that characteristic in myself, sometimes losing my cool when someone I care about or a topic that’s important to me gets trampled on. Thankfully, I seem to only spew angry words, rather than spray lead like Billy the Kid did. And I’m trying to do better.
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