He alleged that he was "Billy the Kid" and spent the last days of his life trying to prove it. He even asked the Governor of New Mexico for a pardon (which the Governor did not hear).
The correct name for Ollie Henry Roberts is Oliver Pleasant Roberts. Ollie claimed to be Billy the Kid. Ollie was also known as "Brushy Bill" and "Ollie N. Roberts". His original tombstone read "Ollie L. Roberts".
The WWI Draft Registration Card was signed by Oliver Pleasant Roberts, who gave his date of birth as 26 Aug 1878. Since his next older sister, Mary Cordelia Roberts Adams was born 17 April 1878, the correct birth date of Oliver P. Roberts is 26 August 1879 as confirmed by the 1900 census of Hopkins County, Texas, when he was still a resident in the household of his parents.
O. P. Roberts married 1st, Anna Lee, 11 July 1909, Van Zandt County, TX; divorced 10 Nov 1910, Van Zandt Co, TX.
O. P. Roberts married 2nd, Mollie Brown, 12 Aug 1912, Van Zandt Co, TX. She died 20 Feb 1919, Little River Co, AR; buried in Pauley Cemetery, Cerrogordo, Little River Co, AR
O. P. Roberts married 3rd, Luticia Ballard Isaac (widow), 26 Jan 1929, Van Zandt Co, TX. She died 22 Jun 1944 in Grand Saline, Van Zandt Co, TX; buried in Starr Cemetery, Canton, TX.
O. P. Roberts married 4th, Malinda Elizabeth "Lizzie" Murrell Allison (widow), 14 Jan 1945, Hamilton Co, TX. She died 10 June 1958 in Temple, Bell County, Texas. (TX D/C 31059; Find A Grave Memorial #195433529 ) and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Hamilton Co, TX.
∼
Oliver Pleasant Roberts would later be known as Brushy Bill Roberts, who said his birth name was William Henry Roberts. Brushy Bill claimed he was Billy the Kid, who was shot and killed by Pat Garrett in 1881.∼Prospector, also known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, attracted attention by claiming to be western outlaw William H. Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid. Roberts' claim was rejected by Governor Thomas Mabry in 1950. Brushy Bill's story is promoted by the "Billy the Kid Museum" in his hometown of Hico in Hamilton County, Texas.Brushy Bill Roberts also known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, was an American man who attracted attention in the late 1940s and the 1950s by claiming to be Western outlaw William H. Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid.
Brushy Bill Roberts, real name William Henry Roberts, first came to the attention of a paralegal, William V. Morrison, in 1948 whilst he was helping to settle an estate. He had heard rumours that Roberts knew the true fate of Billy the Kid and wanted to investigate more. Little did he know exactly what he'd find. After some interviews, Roberts admitted he was Billy the Kid and that he was sick of hiding his identity. Morrison was initially unsure as to the truth of the claims, but quickly began to believe them, particularly as some of the activities of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War in which he was involved, were too in depth not to be true. Despite these findings, when the story was released to the press, experts on the American outlaw were utterly unconvinced and instead they continued to believe that it was Billy the Kid who had been shot by Pat Garrett in the early hours of 14 July 1881.
I have purposefully not gone into the full ins and outs of the case for Brushy Bill Roberts either being or not being Billy the Kid, in the hopes that you will investigate it and make up your own mind. I would suggest that as it's a fascinating topic. However, for me, there is one strange coincidence in the timing of Roberts coming forward as Billy the Kid. Roberts and his wife decided to retire to Texas after moving around between many different southern states because of the low cost of living there. Roberts was on a small state pension and this had to be supplemented by his elderly wife taking on laundry to bring in a relatively small income. He also died of a heart attack in December 1950 after his attempt of a pardon was unsuccessful.
Whatever your own beliefs on the matter, it's true that the outlaw does have continuing appeal and fascination. In terms of Brushy Bill, as has been said, if he wasn't Billy the Kid, then who was he and how did he know so much about the outlaw and the Lincoln County War? It is possible that even if he wasn't Billy, Roberts would have known him well and had himself participated in the Lincoln County War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushy_Bill_Roberts
The correct name for Ollie Henry Roberts is Oliver Pleasant Roberts. Ollie claimed to be Billy the Kid. Ollie was also known as "Brushy Bill" and "Ollie N. Roberts". His original tombstone read "Ollie L. Roberts".
The WWI Draft Registration Card was signed by Oliver Pleasant Roberts, who gave his date of birth as 26 Aug 1878. Since his next older sister, Mary Cordelia Roberts Adams was born 17 April 1878, the correct birth date of Oliver P. Roberts is 26 August 1879 as confirmed by the 1900 census of Hopkins County, Texas, when he was still a resident in the household of his parents.
O. P. Roberts married 1st, Anna Lee, 11 July 1909, Van Zandt County, TX; divorced 10 Nov 1910, Van Zandt Co, TX.
O. P. Roberts married 2nd, Mollie Brown, 12 Aug 1912, Van Zandt Co, TX. She died 20 Feb 1919, Little River Co, AR; buried in Pauley Cemetery, Cerrogordo, Little River Co, AR
O. P. Roberts married 3rd, Luticia Ballard Isaac (widow), 26 Jan 1929, Van Zandt Co, TX. She died 22 Jun 1944 in Grand Saline, Van Zandt Co, TX; buried in Starr Cemetery, Canton, TX.
O. P. Roberts married 4th, Malinda Elizabeth "Lizzie" Murrell Allison (widow), 14 Jan 1945, Hamilton Co, TX. She died 10 June 1958 in Temple, Bell County, Texas. (TX D/C 31059; Find A Grave Memorial #195433529 ) and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Hamilton Co, TX.
∼
Oliver Pleasant Roberts would later be known as Brushy Bill Roberts, who said his birth name was William Henry Roberts. Brushy Bill claimed he was Billy the Kid, who was shot and killed by Pat Garrett in 1881.∼Prospector, also known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, attracted attention by claiming to be western outlaw William H. Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid. Roberts' claim was rejected by Governor Thomas Mabry in 1950. Brushy Bill's story is promoted by the "Billy the Kid Museum" in his hometown of Hico in Hamilton County, Texas.Brushy Bill Roberts also known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, was an American man who attracted attention in the late 1940s and the 1950s by claiming to be Western outlaw William H. Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid.
Brushy Bill Roberts, real name William Henry Roberts, first came to the attention of a paralegal, William V. Morrison, in 1948 whilst he was helping to settle an estate. He had heard rumours that Roberts knew the true fate of Billy the Kid and wanted to investigate more. Little did he know exactly what he'd find. After some interviews, Roberts admitted he was Billy the Kid and that he was sick of hiding his identity. Morrison was initially unsure as to the truth of the claims, but quickly began to believe them, particularly as some of the activities of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War in which he was involved, were too in depth not to be true. Despite these findings, when the story was released to the press, experts on the American outlaw were utterly unconvinced and instead they continued to believe that it was Billy the Kid who had been shot by Pat Garrett in the early hours of 14 July 1881.
I have purposefully not gone into the full ins and outs of the case for Brushy Bill Roberts either being or not being Billy the Kid, in the hopes that you will investigate it and make up your own mind. I would suggest that as it's a fascinating topic. However, for me, there is one strange coincidence in the timing of Roberts coming forward as Billy the Kid. Roberts and his wife decided to retire to Texas after moving around between many different southern states because of the low cost of living there. Roberts was on a small state pension and this had to be supplemented by his elderly wife taking on laundry to bring in a relatively small income. He also died of a heart attack in December 1950 after his attempt of a pardon was unsuccessful.
Whatever your own beliefs on the matter, it's true that the outlaw does have continuing appeal and fascination. In terms of Brushy Bill, as has been said, if he wasn't Billy the Kid, then who was he and how did he know so much about the outlaw and the Lincoln County War? It is possible that even if he wasn't Billy, Roberts would have known him well and had himself participated in the Lincoln County War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushy_Bill_Roberts
He alleged that he was "Billy the Kid" and spent the last days of his life trying to prove it. He even asked the Governor of New Mexico for a pardon (which the Governor did not hear).
The correct name for Ollie Henry Roberts is Oliver Pleasant Roberts. Ollie claimed to be Billy the Kid. Ollie was also known as "Brushy Bill" and "Ollie N. Roberts". His original tombstone read "Ollie L. Roberts".
The WWI Draft Registration Card was signed by Oliver Pleasant Roberts, who gave his date of birth as 26 Aug 1878. Since his next older sister, Mary Cordelia Roberts Adams was born 17 April 1878, the correct birth date of Oliver P. Roberts is 26 August 1879 as confirmed by the 1900 census of Hopkins County, Texas, when he was still a resident in the household of his parents.
O. P. Roberts married 1st, Anna Lee, 11 July 1909, Van Zandt County, TX; divorced 10 Nov 1910, Van Zandt Co, TX.
O. P. Roberts married 2nd, Mollie Brown, 12 Aug 1912, Van Zandt Co, TX. She died 20 Feb 1919, Little River Co, AR; buried in Pauley Cemetery, Cerrogordo, Little River Co, AR
O. P. Roberts married 3rd, Luticia Ballard Isaac (widow), 26 Jan 1929, Van Zandt Co, TX. She died 22 Jun 1944 in Grand Saline, Van Zandt Co, TX; buried in Starr Cemetery, Canton, TX.
O. P. Roberts married 4th, Malinda Elizabeth "Lizzie" Murrell Allison (widow), 14 Jan 1945, Hamilton Co, TX. She died 10 June 1958 in Temple, Bell County, Texas. (TX D/C 31059; Find A Grave Memorial #195433529 ) and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Hamilton Co, TX.
∼
Oliver Pleasant Roberts would later be known as Brushy Bill Roberts, who said his birth name was William Henry Roberts. Brushy Bill claimed he was Billy the Kid, who was shot and killed by Pat Garrett in 1881.∼Prospector, also known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, attracted attention by claiming to be western outlaw William H. Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid. Roberts' claim was rejected by Governor Thomas Mabry in 1950. Brushy Bill's story is promoted by the "Billy the Kid Museum" in his hometown of Hico in Hamilton County, Texas.Brushy Bill Roberts also known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, was an American man who attracted attention in the late 1940s and the 1950s by claiming to be Western outlaw William H. Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid.
Brushy Bill Roberts, real name William Henry Roberts, first came to the attention of a paralegal, William V. Morrison, in 1948 whilst he was helping to settle an estate. He had heard rumours that Roberts knew the true fate of Billy the Kid and wanted to investigate more. Little did he know exactly what he'd find. After some interviews, Roberts admitted he was Billy the Kid and that he was sick of hiding his identity. Morrison was initially unsure as to the truth of the claims, but quickly began to believe them, particularly as some of the activities of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War in which he was involved, were too in depth not to be true. Despite these findings, when the story was released to the press, experts on the American outlaw were utterly unconvinced and instead they continued to believe that it was Billy the Kid who had been shot by Pat Garrett in the early hours of 14 July 1881.
I have purposefully not gone into the full ins and outs of the case for Brushy Bill Roberts either being or not being Billy the Kid, in the hopes that you will investigate it and make up your own mind. I would suggest that as it's a fascinating topic. However, for me, there is one strange coincidence in the timing of Roberts coming forward as Billy the Kid. Roberts and his wife decided to retire to Texas after moving around between many different southern states because of the low cost of living there. Roberts was on a small state pension and this had to be supplemented by his elderly wife taking on laundry to bring in a relatively small income. He also died of a heart attack in December 1950 after his attempt of a pardon was unsuccessful.
Whatever your own beliefs on the matter, it's true that the outlaw does have continuing appeal and fascination. In terms of Brushy Bill, as has been said, if he wasn't Billy the Kid, then who was he and how did he know so much about the outlaw and the Lincoln County War? It is possible that even if he wasn't Billy, Roberts would have known him well and had himself participated in the Lincoln County War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushy_Bill_Roberts
The correct name for Ollie Henry Roberts is Oliver Pleasant Roberts. Ollie claimed to be Billy the Kid. Ollie was also known as "Brushy Bill" and "Ollie N. Roberts". His original tombstone read "Ollie L. Roberts".
The WWI Draft Registration Card was signed by Oliver Pleasant Roberts, who gave his date of birth as 26 Aug 1878. Since his next older sister, Mary Cordelia Roberts Adams was born 17 April 1878, the correct birth date of Oliver P. Roberts is 26 August 1879 as confirmed by the 1900 census of Hopkins County, Texas, when he was still a resident in the household of his parents.
O. P. Roberts married 1st, Anna Lee, 11 July 1909, Van Zandt County, TX; divorced 10 Nov 1910, Van Zandt Co, TX.
O. P. Roberts married 2nd, Mollie Brown, 12 Aug 1912, Van Zandt Co, TX. She died 20 Feb 1919, Little River Co, AR; buried in Pauley Cemetery, Cerrogordo, Little River Co, AR
O. P. Roberts married 3rd, Luticia Ballard Isaac (widow), 26 Jan 1929, Van Zandt Co, TX. She died 22 Jun 1944 in Grand Saline, Van Zandt Co, TX; buried in Starr Cemetery, Canton, TX.
O. P. Roberts married 4th, Malinda Elizabeth "Lizzie" Murrell Allison (widow), 14 Jan 1945, Hamilton Co, TX. She died 10 June 1958 in Temple, Bell County, Texas. (TX D/C 31059; Find A Grave Memorial #195433529 ) and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Hamilton Co, TX.
∼
Oliver Pleasant Roberts would later be known as Brushy Bill Roberts, who said his birth name was William Henry Roberts. Brushy Bill claimed he was Billy the Kid, who was shot and killed by Pat Garrett in 1881.∼Prospector, also known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, attracted attention by claiming to be western outlaw William H. Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid. Roberts' claim was rejected by Governor Thomas Mabry in 1950. Brushy Bill's story is promoted by the "Billy the Kid Museum" in his hometown of Hico in Hamilton County, Texas.Brushy Bill Roberts also known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, was an American man who attracted attention in the late 1940s and the 1950s by claiming to be Western outlaw William H. Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid.
Brushy Bill Roberts, real name William Henry Roberts, first came to the attention of a paralegal, William V. Morrison, in 1948 whilst he was helping to settle an estate. He had heard rumours that Roberts knew the true fate of Billy the Kid and wanted to investigate more. Little did he know exactly what he'd find. After some interviews, Roberts admitted he was Billy the Kid and that he was sick of hiding his identity. Morrison was initially unsure as to the truth of the claims, but quickly began to believe them, particularly as some of the activities of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War in which he was involved, were too in depth not to be true. Despite these findings, when the story was released to the press, experts on the American outlaw were utterly unconvinced and instead they continued to believe that it was Billy the Kid who had been shot by Pat Garrett in the early hours of 14 July 1881.
I have purposefully not gone into the full ins and outs of the case for Brushy Bill Roberts either being or not being Billy the Kid, in the hopes that you will investigate it and make up your own mind. I would suggest that as it's a fascinating topic. However, for me, there is one strange coincidence in the timing of Roberts coming forward as Billy the Kid. Roberts and his wife decided to retire to Texas after moving around between many different southern states because of the low cost of living there. Roberts was on a small state pension and this had to be supplemented by his elderly wife taking on laundry to bring in a relatively small income. He also died of a heart attack in December 1950 after his attempt of a pardon was unsuccessful.
Whatever your own beliefs on the matter, it's true that the outlaw does have continuing appeal and fascination. In terms of Brushy Bill, as has been said, if he wasn't Billy the Kid, then who was he and how did he know so much about the outlaw and the Lincoln County War? It is possible that even if he wasn't Billy, Roberts would have known him well and had himself participated in the Lincoln County War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushy_Bill_Roberts
Inscription
William Henry Roberts
Aka "Billy the kid"
Born 31 December 1859
Died 27 December 1950
Gravesite Details
The grave has the info with a long pillar on both sides saying billy the kid
