Yep boy was his son--
on the riddle below -- no trick and was only one possible answer-- which was one person going to St Ives-- all other info is irrelevant as he met them-inferring they were going away from St Ives.
As I was going to St Ives
I met a man with 7 wives
Every wife had 7 sacks
Every sack had 7 cats
Every Cat had 7 kittens
Kittens-cats-sacks and wives
How many were going to St ives.