DNA Review: Proving the Connection
DNA Review
This episode brings together the documentary evidence and DNA analysis that proves the children scattered across Montana, Missouri, and Ireland all descend from the same parents: James Hamill and Ann Gartlan of Dian, Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan.
The research began with a simple question: Could the James Hamill who died in Anaconda, Montana in 1951 be connected to the Hamills of Donaghmoyne? His 1909 marriage record named his parents as "James Hamill and Ann Gartland"—but how could we prove this referred to the James Hamill documented in the 1861 Griffith's Valuation and buried at Old Broomfield Cemetery?
The answer came through DNA. By identifying and testing descendants of multiple children of James and Ann, we can demonstrate that these family lines share genetic material at levels consistent with the documented relationships. When descendants of James (Montana), Patrick (Missouri), Henry (Missouri), Anna (Ireland), and Bridget (Ireland) all share DNA with each other, the conclusion is inescapable: they share common ancestors.
The DNA Evidence
Of the documented children of James Hamill and Ann Gartlan, descendants of five children have been identified with DNA matches, creating a web of genetic connections that validates the documentary research across three countries.
The Five Connected Branches
DNA-Validated Descendants of James & Ann Gartlan
The son who went to the copper mining country of Anaconda. Married Catherine Gartland 1909. Five children, including Anna Catherine who married John Jack White.
- Tester J.G.S. (great-great-granddaughter)
- Sibling , and daughter B.S.
- First cousin M.W.T.
- 1C1R R.T.
The eldest son, established in St. Louis by 1881. Saloon keeper. Married Catherine Barrett. Eight children documented.
- Tester L.K. (great-granddaughter)
- Tester P.W. (great-grandson)
- Testers D.H. Jr & D.H. III
- Tester S.L.
St. Louis Police Officer. Married Mary McElligott 1894. Three daughters. Died suddenly at age 39.
- Tester M.A.M.H. (great-granddaughter via daughter Margaret)
The daughter who stayed on the family land. Married Patrick Keenan 1890. Widowed young with two daughters.
- Tester C.K. (descendant in Ireland)
Married Thomas Kirley 1900 at Inniskeen. Raised seven children in neighboring Beagh townland.
- Tester A.C. (descendant)
- Tester L.D. (descendant)
Retired coachman. Never married. His 1949 death certificate names parents as James Hamill and Ann Gartland—independent documentary proof from a third Missouri sibling.
No DNA testers (died without issue), but crucial documentary evidence.
The DNA Matrix
Shared Centimorgans Between Descendants
The following matrix shows the shared DNA (in centimorgans) between tested descendants. Names have been anonymized to protect privacy. The parent from whom each tester descends is noted in parentheses. Higher cM values indicate closer relationships.
| Tester (Ancestor) | J.G.S. (James) |
B.S. (James) |
G.R. (James) |
M.W. (James) |
R.T. (James) |
L.K. (Patrick) |
P.W. (Patrick) |
D.H.Jr (Patrick) |
D.H.III (Patrick) |
S.L. (Patrick) |
A.C. (Bridget) |
M.A.M.H. (Henry) |
C.K. (Anna) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.G.S. (James) | — | 3435 | 2620 | 444 | 244 | 203 | 92 | 36 | 23 | 43 | 38 | 175 | 67 |
| B.S. (James) | 3435 | — | 1627 | 195 | 106 | 98 | 21 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 39 | 59 | 53 |
| G.R. (James) | 2620 | 1627 | — | 711 | 318 | 228 | 178 | 39 | 0 | 31 | 36 | 138 | 59 |
| M.W. (James) | 444 | 195 | 711 | — | 3463 | 189 | 216 | 44 | 0 | 108 | 0 | 143 | 0 |
| R.T. (James) | 244 | 106 | 318 | 3463 | — | 130 | 175 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 96 | 0 |
| L.K. (Patrick) | 203 | 98 | 228 | 189 | 130 | — | 2517 | 855 | 482 | 317 | 94 | 258 | 175 |
| P.W. (Patrick) | 92 | 21 | 178 | 216 | 175 | 2517 | — | 1085 | 501 | 421 | 121 | 312 | 146 |
| D.H.Jr (Patrick) | 36 | 0 | 39 | 44 | 0 | 855 | 1085 | — | 3457 | 408 | 35 | 171 | 159 |
| D.H.III (Patrick) | 23 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 482 | 501 | 3457 | — | 271 | 0 | 49 | 107 |
| S.L. (Patrick) | 43 | 0 | 31 | 108 | 29 | 317 | 421 | 408 | 271 | — | 47 | 42 | — |
| A.C. (Bridget) | 38 | 39 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 121 | 35 | 0 | 47 | — | 198 | 38 |
| M.A.M.H. (Henry) | 175 | 59 | 138 | 143 | 96 | 258 | 312 | 171 | 49 | 42 | 198 | — | 316 |
| C.K. (Anna) | 67 | 53 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 175 | 146 | 159 | 107 | — | 38 | 316 | — |
Reading the Matrix: The highest values (2000+ cM) appear between close relatives—siblings, parent-child. The medium values (100–500 cM) between descendants of different children confirm the family relationship at the expected generational distance. Even lower values (20–99 cM) between more distant cousins support the connection.
Notice that descendants of James (Montana) share DNA with descendants of Patrick (Missouri), Henry (Missouri), Bridget (Ireland), and Anna (Ireland). This cross-branch matching is the genetic signature of shared ancestors—James Hamill and Ann Gartlan of Dian.
The Evidence Chain
Documentary + DNA = Proof
Proving James of Montana Descends from James & Ann of Dian
Documentary: Irish Birth Records
James Hamill baptized 2 Sep 1873 at Donaghmoyne. Father: James Hamill. Mother: Anne Gartlan. Sponsors: Owen Gartlan and Bridget McNeany. Civil registration shows father as "James Hamill, Dian, Farmer."
Documentary: American Marriage Record
James Hamill's 1909 Montana marriage record names his parents as "James Hamill and Ann Gartland [sic]"—matching the Irish records.
Documentary: Brother's Death Certificate
Peter Hamill's 1949 Missouri death certificate independently confirms parents as "James Hamill" and "Ann Gartland"—a third child naming the same parents.
Documentary: The Headstone
Old Broomfield Cemetery headstone: "JAMES HAMILL, DIAN — died 14 Sep 1914, aged 87" and "ANNE HAMILL — died 25 Aug 1914, aged 72." The explicit townland identification matches the 1861 Griffith's Valuation.
DNA: Cross-Branch Matching
Descendants of James (Montana) share 23–228 cM with descendants of Patrick (Missouri), 38–198 cM with descendants of Bridget (Ireland), 96–175 cM with the descendant of Henry (Missouri), and 53–67 cM with the descendant of Anna (Ireland). This pattern is consistent with descent from common great-great-grandparents.
Conclusion
The documentary and genetic evidence converge on one conclusion: James Hamill of Anaconda, Montana (1873–1951) was the son of James Hamill (c. 1827–1914) and Ann Gartlan (c. 1842–1914) of Dian, Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan, Ireland. He was a brother to Patrick J., Peter, Henry, Anna, and Bridget—all documented through records and/or DNA.
Connection VERIFIED Through Multiple Evidence Types
Key Evidence Documents
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