The Brooklyn Mat Maker
How Sequential Evidence Building Solved What Traditional Genealogy Couldn't
When census records failed to distinguish between dozens of John Kennys in 1870s Brooklyn, traditional genealogy methods reached their limit. No unique birth dates. No distinct middle names. No reliable family stories. Just one Irish immigrant matmaker among countless others with the same name.
The client's family had meticulously preserved cemetery information, family group sheets, and hand-drawn family trees for 90 years. But for John Kenny, they had nothing but a name—no date of birth, no date of death, no occupation, no parents' names, no siblings, no places. The researcher was truly starting from scratch.
Then four words in a city directory changed everything: "Kenny Elizabeth, wid. Richard."
This simple designation—"widow of Richard"—appeared consistently across multiple years, creating the anchor point that traditional genealogy methods had missed. Eliza Kenny, John's mother, became the key to identifying the correct John Kenny.
"Kenny Elizabeth, wid. Richard"These four words unlocked a seven-year genealogical mystery and revealed a methodology that changed how we approach common surname research.
Case Study Summary
The Challenge • The Breakthrough • The Result
The Challenge
The Breakthrough
The Result
How sequential evidence building—from widow designation to family structure to occupational tracking—created breakthrough identification and connected John Kenny to the McKenna/McKenny family and Aunt Maime, fully encompassing this family's 154-year history of tragedy and resilience.
Explore This Case Study
Complete BCG-compliant documentation following the Genealogical Proof Standard
Full Methodology
6 research phases over 7 years. Phase-by-phase progression, occupational tracking methodology, breakthrough moments, and transferable techniques.
Explore Methodology →BCG Evidence Analysis
Comprehensive analysis of 30+ primary sources meeting all five elements of the Genealogical Proof Standard. Individual source analysis and correlation matrices.
View Evidence Analysis →DNA Evidence Analysis
BCG-compliant DNA analysis validating Thomas and Richard Kenny as brothers through shared cemetery plot coordinates and Corcoran DNA line connection.
View DNA Analysis →Document Gallery
All 30+ sources with high-resolution images, full repository citations, evidence quality ratings, and "what it proves" analysis.
Browse Documents →Evidence Trail
1848-2002 chronological record. Year-by-year documentary evidence showing five generations from County Longford to Brooklyn.
View Timeline →Extended Edition
Detailed timeline, evidence framework, and the complete seven-year journey from one name to five generations.
Read Extended Edition →Research Template
Complete Brooklyn Mat Maker research template collection for applying this methodology to your own research.
Download Template →Related Stories
"Four Words That Solved a Mystery"
How a simple widow designation became the key to unlocking seven years of research.
Read Blog Post →"Four Generations in Hats"
A Brooklyn story of resilience tracing the Kenny family through the textile trades.
Read Blog Post →"Woman in the Portrait: Aunt Maime"
The extraordinary 47-year devotion of an unmarried aunt who raised her sister's orphaned daughters.
Read Blog Post →"The Tintype in the Box"
Solving a 150-year-old family mystery through forensic photo analysis.
Read Blog Post →Facing a Similar Genealogical Challenge?
Common surnames. Fragmented records. Limited DNA matches. When traditional methods reach their limits, innovative methodology and persistent research can unlock generations of family history.
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