Anna Hamill Keenan: The Sister Who Stayed in Ireland
Anna Hamill Keenan
While her brothers Patrick and James crossed the Atlantic to build new lives in Missouri and Montana, Anna Hamill remained on the family farm in Dian. Widowed young with two small daughters, she became head of household and keeper of the family's Irish roots—the sister who stayed behind.
Part I: Birth in Dian
January 1864, Donaghmoyne Parish
Anna Hamill was born on January 11, 1864, in the townland of Dian, Donaghmoyne parish, County Monaghan. Her civil birth registration—one of the earliest surviving Irish civil records for this family—provides the foundational evidence connecting her to the Hamill line.
The birth register entry is remarkably detailed: father James Hamill of Dien, Farmer; mother Anne Hamill formerly Gartlan. The informant was "Biddy Gartlan of Drumcurrin, Aunt to child"—likely Bridget Gartlan, a sister of Anna's mother. This aunt traveled from the neighboring townland to register the birth, suggesting the close-knit nature of the extended family network.
Anna was baptized on January 25, 1864, in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Donaghmoyne. The Latin entry in the parish register reads: "Baptizat Anna Hamill Jacobi Hamill et Annae Gartlan de Dyan"—baptized Anna Hamill [daughter of] James Hamill and Anne Gartlan of Dian. Her sponsor was Edmund Hamill, likely a paternal uncle or cousin.
Child: Anne, Female
Father: James Hamill of Dien, Farmer
Mother: Anne Hamill formerly Gartlan
Informant: "the mark of Biddy Gartlan of Drumcurrin, Aunt to child"
Registered: 1st February 1864, Wm Fleming, Registrar
District: Donaghmoyne, Union of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan
Based on the documentary evidence, Anna was the eldest of the three documented siblings: Anna (1864), Patrick (c. 1862), and James (1873). However, the birth year discrepancy for Patrick suggests he may have been born slightly earlier than Anna—the censuses he completed himself consistently place his birth in 1860-1863. Regardless of exact birth order, Anna was part of the older generation of children who would have clear memories of their parents and the family farm before emigration scattered the siblings across the world.
Part II: Marriage and Early Widowhood
November 1890 — A Brief Union
On November 25, 1890, Anna Hamill married Michael Keenan in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Donaghmoyne. The marriage register provides essential genealogical details: Anna was "full age" (over 21), a spinster from "D-yan" (Dian), daughter of James Hamill, Farmer—noted as deceased. Michael Keenan was also full age, a bachelor and farmer from Annies townland, son of Bernard Keenan (also deceased).
The notation that James Hamill was deceased in November 1890 helps bracket his death date. Combined with his appearance in records through the 1880s, we can conclude that James Hamill Sr. died sometime between the mid-1880s and 1890.
Groom: Michael Keenan, full age, Bachelor, Farmer, residence Annies
Groom's Father: Bernard Keenan (deceased), Farmer
Bride: Anne Hamill, full age, Spinster, residence D-yan (Dian)
Bride's Father: James Hamill (deceased), Farmer
Married at: Roman Catholic Chapel of Donaghmoyne
Officiant: James Meegan P.P.
Witnesses: Terence McKane, Mary Gartlan
The marriage was tragically brief. Michael Keenan died in 1892, leaving Anna a widow at approximately 28 years of age with two infant daughters: Catherine Anne (born 1891) and Mary (born 1893—possibly posthumously or in early 1893). Anna would never remarry.
Michael Keenan (1860–1892) died just two years after marrying Anna, leaving her with two daughters under the age of two. The 1901 census would find Anna, at 32, listed as "Widow" and head of her own household—a remarkable position for a woman in rural Ireland at the turn of the century.
Part III: Head of Household
The Irish Censuses of 1901 and 1911
The 1901 Census of Ireland, taken on the night of March 31, 1901, captures Anna Keenan as head of a small household in County Monaghan. At 32, she is listed as a widow, her occupation "Farmer's wife"—though she was clearly running the farm herself. Her daughters Kate (age 9) and Mary (age 7) were both scholars, attending school.
Most significantly, living with Anna was her brother John Hamill, age 26, listed as "Brother" and working as a farm labourer. This reveals another sibling who stayed in Ireland—John would have been born around 1875, making him the youngest of the known siblings.
Anne Keenan: Head of Family, age 32, Widow, Farmer's wife, Roman Catholic, can read & write, born Co. Monaghan
Kate Keenan: Daughter, age 9, Scholar
Mary Keenan: Daughter, age 7, Scholar
John Hamill: Brother, age 26, Farm Labourer, not married, born Co. Monaghan
Ten years later, the 1911 Census shows the family still together but changed. Anna, now listed as age 40, has become simply "Farmer"—no longer "Farmer's wife." She is officially the one running the operation. Interestingly, the census notes she "cannot read"—a change from 1901 that may reflect the enumerator's interpretation rather than a loss of literacy.
Her daughters Kate (19) and Mary (18) remained at home, both single. And John Hamill was still there—now 33, still single, listed as "Boarder" rather than "Brother" but clearly still part of the household. He too was a farmer in his own right by 1911.
Anne Keenan: Head of Family, age 40, Widow, Farmer, Roman Catholic, cannot read, born Co. Monaghan
Kate Keenan: Daughter, age 19, Single
Mary Keenan: Daughter, age 18, Single, can read & write
John Hamill: Boarder, age 33, Farmer, Single, can read & write, born Co. Monaghan
The presence of John Hamill in both the 1901 and 1911 censuses reveals a fourth sibling in the James Hamill and Anne Gartlan family. Born c. 1875, John was younger than both Patrick (c. 1862) and James (1873). Unlike his brothers who emigrated to America, John stayed in Ireland, living with his widowed sister Anna and helping work the family land.
Part IV: DNA Validation
Connecting Ireland to Montana
The documentary evidence identifies Anna Hamill as the daughter of James Hamill and Anne Gartlan of Dian—the same parents named in the records for James Hamill of Montana. But the proof of siblinghood comes through DNA.
Descendants of Anna's daughter Catherine Anne Keenan Marron share DNA matches with descendants of James Hamill (1873–1951) of Montana. These genetic connections confirm what the documents suggest: Anna was indeed the sister of the man who crossed the Atlantic to work in Montana's copper country.
"Other cousins reside in Missouri and Ireland."
When James Hamill died in a car accident in Montana in 1951, his obituary noted that "other cousins reside in Missouri and Ireland." This remarkable detail confirms that James—or at least his family—maintained awareness of relatives back in Ireland. Anna's descendants were likely among those Irish cousins, the family that stayed behind when the brothers left for America.
Anna's Immediate Family
Part V: Document Verification
The Evidence Chain
Identity confirmed by:
• 1864 Civil Birth Registration: Father James Hamill of Dien, Mother Anne Hamill formerly Gartlan
• 1864 Baptism Record: "Anna Hamill Jacobi Hamill et Annae Gartlan de Dyan"
• 1890 Marriage Record: Anne Hamill, daughter of James Hamill (deceased), Farmer, of Dian
• 1901 Census: Anne Keenan, Widow, with brother John Hamill
• 1911 Census: Anne Keenan, Head of Family, Farmer, Widow
• DNA matches between descendants of Catherine Anne Keenan Marron and James Hamill of Montana
This evidence chain confirms Anna Hamill Keenan as the daughter of James Hamill and Anne Gartlan of Dian, Donaghmoyne—and sister of Patrick J. Hamill of Missouri and James Hamill of Montana.
Timeline
A Life in Donaghmoyne — The Sister Who Stayed
January 11: Born at Dian, Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan. Daughter of James Hamill and Anne Gartlan.
January 25: Baptized at Roman Catholic Chapel of Donaghmoyne. Sponsor: Edmund Hamill.
Brothers Patrick and James emigrate to America—Patrick to St. Louis, James to Montana.
Father James Hamill dies (noted as deceased in Anna's 1890 marriage record).
November 25: Marries Michael Keenan at Donaghmoyne Chapel. Witnesses: Terence McKane, Mary Gartlan.
Daughter Catherine Anne Keenan born.
Husband Michael Keenan dies. Anna becomes a widow at approximately age 28.
Daughter Mary Keenan born (possibly posthumously).
March 31: Census of Ireland: Anne Keenan (32), Widow, Head of Family, with daughters Kate (9) and Mary (7), and brother John Hamill (26).
April 2: Census of Ireland: Anne Keenan (40), Widow, Farmer, Head of Family, with daughters Kate (19) and Mary (18), and brother John Hamill (33) as boarder.
Document Gallery
1864 — Civil Birth Registration
January 11, Dian. Father: James Hamill. Mother: Anne Gartlan.
IRISH RECORD
1864 — Baptism Register
Latin entry: "Anna Hamill Jacobi Hamill et Annae Gartlan de Dyan"
IRISH RECORD
1890 — Marriage Record
November 25, Anne Hamill to Michael Keenan, Donaghmoyne Chapel
MARRIAGE
1901 — Census of Ireland
Anne Keenan, Widow, with daughters Kate & Mary, and brother John Hamill
CENSUS
1911 — Census of Ireland
Anne Keenan, Farmer, Head of Family, with daughters and brother John
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