Little Britches (outlaw) facts for kids

Little Britches (born Jennie Stevenson in 1879; her death date and place are not known) was a young woman from the Old West. She is often linked with another young woman named Cattle Annie. Their adventures were made into a movie in 1981 called Cattle Annie and Little Britches. The film was directed by Lamont Johnson and featured Diane Lane as Little Britches.

Early Life and Family

Jennie Stevens was born in Barton County, located in southwestern Missouri. Her parents, Daniel and Lucy Stevenson, were farmers. She had one known sister named Victoria Estella Stevenson.

The Stevenson family lived in Seneca, Newton County, Missouri, during part of the 1880s. This area was close to the eastern border of Oklahoma, which was then known as Indian Territory. Later, the Stevensons moved to Sinnett in Pawnee County, in the northern part of the Indian Territory. This area was part of the Creek Nation.

Jennie, like her friend Cattle Annie (whose real name was Anna Emmaline McDoulet), enjoyed reading exciting stories about groups like the Bill Doolin gang. These stories were often found in popular books called dime novels, written by authors like Ned Buntline.

Time in Prison

Little Britches was held in the Guthrie jail for two months. This was because she was a witness in a court case. She had seen a shooting while she was working.

In 1895, Little Britches began a two-year prison sentence. She was sent to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham. She was released in October 1896 because she had behaved well. After her release, she went back to live with her parents. What happened to her after that is not fully known. Some stories say she married a third time, had a family, and lived a good life in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Cattle Annie also received a one-year sentence and was sent to Framingham in 1895. She was allowed to leave early due to poor health, but she stayed in Framingham for some time.

Other Uses of the Name "Little Britches"

The name "Little Britches" is used for many businesses across the United States. These include places like day-care centers, children's clinics, clothing stores, and bakeries.

The outlaw Little Britches should not be confused with:

• The book Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers (1991). This is a true story about the childhood of Ralph Moody. It tells about a boy growing up on a ranch near Littleton, Colorado.
• The National Little Britches Rodeo Association. This group is the "oldest, continuing junior rodeo association in the nation." It helps young people who are interested in western riding and rodeo. The National Little Britches Rodeo Finals are held every year in late July at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.