Butch Cassidy was a Geordie

Our friends at bdaily (see bdaily.info) have been doing some geneology. American outlaw Butch Cassidy had Geordie heritage, according to newly discovered records. The leader of the Hole-in-the-Wall gang carried out countless robberies across Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico and Nevada.

But census records show his roots lie in the North East of England, reports the Daily Telegraph (11th Dec 08). His mother Ann Gillies lived for years in Brandling Village, in Jesmond, Newcastle, before emigrating to start a life in New York.

The English link was discovered by Mike Bell who as a boy became obsessed with the film Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

Mr Bell, 52, who grew up in Newcastle, said: "I've been from Utah to Argentina looking for information on Butch. All the time the house where his mum lived was around the corner."

For those not familiar with life in North East England, a ‘Geordie’ is born on the banks of the River Tyne and must never, ever be confused with the poor souls of Sunderland.

Our Chief Executive, David Ward, wants to make it plain that he’s not a Geordie, even though he was raised in Wallsend, close to the shipyards.

“I’m a Northumbrian, from Morpeth,” says David. Now there’s another story!