DNA Analysis & Conclusions: The Susan Hamill and Charles McCanna Line
DNA Analysis & Conclusions
Throughout this series, we have traced the lives of Charles McCanna and Susan Hamill from their 1857 marriage in Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan, Ireland, through their emigration during the post-Famine years, their settlement in Joliet, Illinois, and the lives of their ten children. We followed three children in particular—Mary Ann McCanna Kelly, Ellen B. "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan, and Frank Charles McCanna—whose descendants have undergone DNA testing.
Now we bring together the genetic evidence. DNA testing has confirmed that the McCanna descendants share common ancestry as expected. More intriguingly, some matches appear with other documented Donaghmoyne families: the Henry Hamall and Mary McMahon line of Chicago, the Owen Hammel and Ann King line of Wisconsin, and the James Hamill and Ann Gartlan line. While these cross-network matches are at levels that require careful interpretation, they suggest possible connections within a broader network of families from this single Irish parish.
This concluding episode presents the DNA evidence matrix, explains what the match levels mean, and explores the McCanna family's potential place within the Donaghmoyne Network—a web of families whose descendants, scattered across America and Ireland, may share common ancestry.
Part I: The DNA Testers
9 Descendants Across 3 Children's Lines
Of the ten children of Charles McCanna and Susan Hamill, descendants of three children have been identified with DNA matches, creating a web of genetic connections that validates the documentary research.
Mary Ann McCanna Kelly
S.H.
L.M.
Ellen B. "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan
J.G.
S.S.
J.R.
K.B.
Frank Charles McCanna
DNA-Tested Descendants (Initials Key)
| M.S. | Descendant of Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
| J.G. | Descendant of Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan (daughter of M.S.) |
| S.M. | Descendant of Mary Ann McCanna Kelly |
| S.H. | Descendant of Mary Ann McCanna Kelly |
| L.M. | Descendant of Mary Ann McCanna Kelly |
| S.S. | Descendant of Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
| J.R. | Descendant of Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
| K.B. | Descendant of Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
| H.C. | Descendant of Frank Charles McCanna |
Names have been anonymized to protect the privacy of living individuals.
Part II: Internal DNA Matrix
Shared DNA Between McCanna Descendants
The following matrix shows the shared DNA (in centimorgans) between tested descendants of Susan Hamill and Charles McCanna. The child from whom each tester descends is noted. Higher cM values indicate closer relationships.
| Tester (Ancestor) | M.S. Nellie |
J.G. Nellie |
S.M. Mary Ann |
S.H. Mary Ann |
L.M. Mary Ann |
S.S. Nellie |
J.R. Nellie |
K.B. Nellie |
H.C. Frank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
M.S. Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
— | 3440 | 67 | 51 | 50 | 253 | 369 | 283 | 140 |
|
J.G. Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
3440 | — | 40 | 37 | 33 | 139 | 205 | 140 | 41 |
|
S.M. Mary Ann McCanna Kelly |
67 | 40 | — | 2700 | 1864 | 36 | 27 | 0 | 37 |
|
S.H. Mary Ann McCanna Kelly |
51 | 37 | 2700 | — | 3458 | 49 | 47 | 0 | 0 |
|
L.M. Mary Ann McCanna Kelly |
50 | 33 | 1864 | 3458 | — | 0 | 37 | 15 | 0 |
|
S.S. Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
253 | 139 | 36 | 49 | 0 | — | 3486 | 317 | 114 |
|
J.R. Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
369 | 205 | 27 | 47 | 37 | 3486 | — | 317 | 143 |
|
K.B. Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan |
283 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 317 | 317 | — | 143 |
|
H.C. Frank Charles McCanna |
140 | 41 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 114 | 143 | 143 | — |
Cross-Branch Matching Confirms Common Ancestors
Descendants of Mary Ann McCanna Kelly share 27–67 cM with descendants of Ellen "Nellie" McCanna Sheridan, and 0–37 cM with the descendant of Frank Charles McCanna. These match levels are consistent with descent from common great-great-grandparents—Charles McCanna and Susan Hamill.
The high matches within branches (such as 3440 cM between M.S. and J.G., who are mother and daughter, and 3486 cM between S.S. and J.R.) confirm that testers correctly descend from the documented ancestors.
Part III: The Donaghmoyne Network
Cross-Family DNA Connections
The DNA evidence extends beyond the McCanna family. Some descendants of other Donaghmoyne families—including the Henry Hamall and Mary McMahon line (Chicago) and the Owen Hammel and Ann King line (Wisconsin)—show matches with McCanna descendants. However, these cross-network matches are generally at low levels (8-15 cM for Chicago, sporadic for Wisconsin) that require careful interpretation. At these levels, matches could represent distant cousinship or could be coincidental (identical by chance).
The Donaghmoyne Network
Four Documented Couples — Exploring Potential Connections
Henry Hamall & Mary McMahon
Owen Hammel & Ann King
Susan Hamill & Charles McCanna
James Hamill & Ann Gartlan
McCanna Descendants → Henry Hamall Line (Chicago)
Descendants of Susan Hamill and Charles McCanna match M.H.M. (descendant of Henry Hamall and Mary McMahon, Chicago) at the following levels:
Matches to M.H.M. (Chicago)
| M.S. | 13 cM |
| J.G. | 8 cM |
| S.M. | 10 cM |
| S.H. | 8 cM |
| L.M. | 8 cM |
| S.S. | 15 cM |
| J.R. | 15 cM |
| K.B. | 11 cM |
| H.C. | 8 cM |
McCanna Descendants → Owen Hammel Line (Wisconsin)
Some McCanna descendants also match descendants of Owen Hammel and Ann King (Wisconsin), though the matches are sporadic:
Selected Cross-Matches to Owen/Ann King Descendants
| M.S. → M.G. | 35 cM |
| J.R. → C.L.L. | 51 cM |
| J.R. → S.R. | 47 cM |
| J.R. → C.L. | 27 cM |
| K.B. → C.L. | 25 cM |
| K.B. → C.L.L. | 51 cM |
| K.B. → S.R. | 47 cM |
McCanna Family Shows Possible Links to Other Donaghmoyne Lines
The McCanna descendants match the Henry Hamall line (Chicago) at 8–15 cM. These match levels are at the lower threshold of significance—they could represent distant cousin relationships (5th–6th cousins), but matches this small can also occur by chance between unrelated individuals. The consistency of matches across multiple testers suggests a possible real connection, but this cannot be considered definitive proof.
Some McCanna descendants show stronger matches to the Owen Hammel line (Wisconsin), with J.R. and K.B. matching certain Owen descendants at 25–51 cM. However, the pattern is sporadic—most McCanna testers show no match to most Owen testers—which makes interpretation difficult.
These cross-network matches are suggestive of shared ancestry within the Donaghmoyne parish community, but additional research and testing would be needed to confirm the connections.
Part IV: A New Discovery
Catherine Hammill Linstead of Joliet
During the compilation of this DNA analysis, a new match emerged that may represent an additional branch of the Donaghmoyne Hamill network. D.G. descends from Catherine Hammill Linstead (1867 Ireland – c. 1910 Joliet, Illinois), whose parents are listed as Pat Hamill and Mary Cunningham.
Catherine Hammill Linstead was born in Ireland and died in Joliet—the same city where Susan Hamill and Charles McCanna raised their family. The timing and location suggest a possible connection to the broader Hamill network.
D.G.'s DNA Matches
D.G. (descendant of Catherine Hammill Linstead) matches:
M.H.M. (Henry Hamall line, Chicago): 13 cM
C.H.M. (Henry Hamall line): 13 cM
S.S. (Nellie Sheridan): 29 cM
J.R. (Nellie Sheridan): 28 cM
K.B. (Nellie Sheridan): 32 cM
H.C. (Frank McCanna): 0 cM
Research Question: Was Pat Hamill (Catherine's father) related to Susan Hamill's father James Hamill? The DNA matches and shared Joliet location suggest a connection worth investigating.
Part V: Interpreting the Evidence
What the DNA Match Levels Mean
DNA match levels are measured in centimorgans (cM), which reflect the amount of genetic material shared between two people. Higher cM values indicate closer relationships. The expected ranges vary based on the relationship:
Expected cM Ranges by Relationship
| 1st Cousins | 575–1330 cM |
| 2nd Cousins | 40–400 cM |
| 3rd Cousins | 15–180 cM |
| 4th Cousins | 5–80 cM |
| 5th Cousins | 0–50 cM |
| 6th Cousins | 0–30 cM |
The McCanna descendants who descend from different children of Charles and Susan (such as Mary Ann Kelly vs. Nellie Sheridan) are typically 2nd or 3rd cousins to each other, matching at 27–67 cM—within the expected range.
The cross-network matches to the Henry Hamall line (Chicago) at 8–15 cM suggest a more distant relationship—consistent with 5th or 6th cousins, indicating common ancestors approximately 5–6 generations back in Donaghmoyne parish.
Part VI: Conclusions
The Weight of Evidence
Genealogical proof requires the convergence of multiple independent lines of evidence. In the case of the Susan Hamill and Charles McCanna family, we have:
Documentary Evidence — Marriage Record
The 1857 marriage of Charles McKenna and Susan Hamill in Donaghmoyne parish, County Monaghan, establishes their Irish origin and places them within the Donaghmoyne community.
Documentary Evidence — Death Certificate
Susan's 1917 death certificate names her parents as James Hamill and Catherine Dougherty—both of Ireland—providing a direct link to her Hamill ancestry.
DNA Evidence — Internal Matching
Descendants of three children of Charles and Susan share DNA at levels consistent with their documented relationships: 27–67 cM between descendants of different children, confirming common grandparents.
DNA Evidence — Possible Network Connections
McCanna descendants show low-level matches to descendants of other Donaghmoyne families (Henry Hamall/Chicago at 8–15 cM; Owen Hammel/Wisconsin at 0–51 cM sporadically). While suggestive of shared ancestry, these match levels are at the threshold of significance and require further investigation.
Geographic Evidence
All four documented couples married in Donaghmoyne parish between 1841 and 1857, emigrated during the Famine era, and settled in the American Midwest—a pattern consistent with extended family migration.
Conclusion: The McCanna Family and the Donaghmoyne Network
The documentary and genetic evidence confirm that the tested descendants share common ancestry through Susan Hamill and Charles McCanna. The cross-network DNA matches to other Donaghmoyne families—while intriguing—are at levels that suggest possible connections but do not constitute proof. Susan Hamill, who married Charles McCanna in Donaghmoyne in 1857, may have belonged to a Hamill family connected to the broader network, but confirming this will require additional documentary research and possibly more DNA testing to strengthen the genetic evidence.
Research Still Needed
| Susan's Parents | Locate baptism records for Susan Hamill and her brother James in County Monaghan to confirm parentage (James Hamill and Catherine Dougherty) |
| Hamill Relationships | Determine the specific relationship between Susan's father James Hamill and the other documented Hamills: Henry (Chicago), Owen (Wisconsin), and James of Dian |
| Pat Hamill Connection | Investigate whether Pat Hamill (father of Catherine Hammill Linstead, also of Joliet) was related to Susan's family |
| Additional Testers | Identify and test descendants of other McCanna children to strengthen the DNA evidence |
| Segment Triangulation | Analyze chromosome browsers to determine if cross-network matches share the same DNA segments—this would strengthen evidence for common ancestry versus coincidental matching |
A Note on DNA Evidence: DNA matches below 20 cM require careful interpretation. While they can represent genuine distant cousin relationships, they can also occur by chance between individuals who share no recent common ancestor. The cross-network matches presented in this episode are suggestive but not conclusive. The strongest evidence for the McCanna family's connection to the Donaghmoyne Network remains the documentary record: four couples, all married in the same small Irish parish between 1841 and 1857, all emigrating during the Famine era.
Key Evidence Documents
The Donaghmoyne Marriages — Four Couples, One Parish (1841–1858)
The Network Question: Three Hamill/Hamall marriages in the same small Irish parish over 16 years. Were Henry (1841), Owen (1846), and Susan (1857) related? The DNA evidence suggests possible connections, but the exact relationships remain under investigation.
Newspaper Evidence — Proving the Family Network
Charles and Susan McCanna are one of four couples married in Donaghmoyne Parish between 1841 and 1857 whose descendants share DNA matches with each other:
| 1841 | Henry Hamall & Mary McMahon → Chicago |
| 1846 | Owen Hammel & Ann King → Wisconsin |
| 1857 | Charles McCanna & Susan Hamill → Joliet |
| 1858 | James Hamill & Ann Gartlan → Dian (stayed in Ireland) |
These DNA connections suggest possible biological relationships between the families — through shared ancestors in Donaghmoyne parish or surrounding townlands. The exact nature of these relationships remains under investigation.
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