Sheriff Pat Garrett

Patrick Floyd Garrett was born in 1850 on June 5.  He died in 1908 on February 29.

The time in between was filled with adventure.  Garrett was a man always finding himself in the middle of important and news worthy events.  In his role as a lawman, Garrett was involved in tumultuous events that catapulted him into a larger than life wild west persona that will never be forgotten.

Whether it is set in the old west, ancient times, modern cities, large multi-cultural civilizations or remote and isolated communities, one of the most popular kinds of story is that of a hero defending what is right and winning against overwhelming odds (or sometimes, giving their life for that principle).  Old West Stories are no different.  Such stories would include David fighting Goliath, Robin Hood taking on the establishment, the Three Musketeers saving the King, Ghandi opposing violence and America gaining its independence.  In terms of Old West Stories, for me, coming up against the most notorious outlaw of the day and winning is such a story.  There has been much said about whether Billy the Kid really was a cold blooded killer or simply a misunderstood victim of circumstance.  Much has also been said about whether Pat Garrett acted properly in the killing of Billy.

I personally think he demonstrated in taking Billy alive on one occasion, that he was the man for the job, a true hero of Old West Stories and worthy of his legend.   Whatever the truth of Billy the Kid’s murderous ways, he wasw a killer and he was wanted for his crimes.  The clamour was immense for the Government to have him stopped.  Pat Garret did the job.

The Old West Lawman Pat Garrett was born in Cusseta, Alabama.  Cusseta had only been gazetted in 1832 following the signing of the Creek Treaty with local Indians.  His father (John Lumpkin Garrett) and his mother (Elizabeth Ann Jarvis) moved to the town and Pat Garrett was the eldest of their seven children.

The family moved away in 1853 and settled on Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.  They ran a plantation near Haynesville in the North of the State near the Arkansas border and Pat spent his there.  He left home in 1869.