Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney, did not have any biological brothers. However, he did have a stepbrother named Joe McCarty from his mother’s second marriage to William Antrim.
Billy the Kid, born Henry McCarty, was one of the most notorious outlaws of the American Old West. His early life is shrouded in mystery, and little is known about his family. His mother, Catherine McCarty, had two sons: Henry (Billy the Kid) and Joseph McCarty, who was actually Billy’s half-brother from Catherine’s previous relationship. When Catherine married William Antrim, the boys took on the Antrim surname, and thus Joseph became Billy’s stepbrother.
There is not much historical record about Joe McCarty, and he did not share Billy’s infamy. After their mother’s death in 1874, the brothers were left to fend for themselves, and their paths diverged. While Billy became involved in petty crime and eventually became a well-known outlaw, Joe’s life remained largely out of the spotlight. It is believed that he led a relatively quiet life compared to his stepbrother, and there are no significant historical events or criminal activities attributed to him.
Billy the Kid’s life, on the other hand, was marked by a series of escapades and gunfights. He became a central figure in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico and was reputed to have killed at least eight men before he was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881 at the age of 21. Billy’s legend grew after his death, and he remains a symbol of the Wild West era. Joe McCarty’s fate after Billy’s death is not well documented, and he did not achieve the same legendary status as his more famous stepbrother.