Research Methodology Guide

Phase 1: Initial Chicago Documentation (2018)

Establishing the Foundation

The research began with Thomas Henry Hamall, the researcher's ancestor, who was born in Chicago in 1880 and died in Riverside, Illinois in 1938. Working backward from this known individual, the first phase focused on documenting his parents and immediate family in Chicago records.

Primary Research Question

Who were Thomas Henry Hamall's parents, and what were the circumstances of his birth and early life in Chicago?

The Discovery of "Thornton Hammil"

The 1880 U.S. Census provided the family's composition but introduced the central mystery that would drive the next six years of research. The household included:

• • Owen Hammil (32) – Head of household, iron molder
• • Kate Hammil (28) – Wife
• • Thomas Hammil (infant) – Son
• • Thornton Hammil (24) – Brother

The census enumerator's notation "brother" appeared definitive. However, no other record of a Thornton Hamall could be located. Birth indexes, death indexes, marriage records, naturalization papers—every source searched yielded nothing. He existed in one document and vanished completely.

Initial Hypotheses Developed

By the end of Phase 1, several working hypotheses emerged:

1. Census Error Hypothesis: Perhaps "Thornton" was a mistranscription and the person was actually a different relative (cousin, boarder, etc.)
2. Nickname Hypothesis: Perhaps "Thornton" was a middle name or nickname for someone recorded differently in other documents
3. Short-term Visitor Hypothesis: Perhaps Thornton was visiting temporarily and resided elsewhere, explaining his absence from other Chicago records

None of these hypotheses would prove correct, but they guided the next phase of research by emphasizing the need for broader geographic and temporal searches.

Phase 2: Cemetery Research Breakthrough (Mother's Day Weekend 2019)

The Discovery That Changed Everything

On Mother's Day weekend 2019, cemetery records research at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois, produced a stunning discovery that transformed the investigation. What had been a search for one person (Thornton Hamall) suddenly revealed four children who had been completely unknown—children who were born and died between census enumerations, leaving almost no trace in standard genealogical sources.

The Emotional Context

The timing of this discovery—Mother's Day weekend—added profound emotional resonance to the research findings. Cemetery cards revealed that Owen and Kate Hamall had lost four children between 1892 and 1893:

• • William Hamall – Born January 16, 1883; Died April 29, 1893 (age 10)
• • Lizzie Hamall – Born March 30, 1887; Died March 30, 1893 (age 6 – died on her birthday)
• • Katie Hamall – Born December 28, 1889; Died July 29, 1892 (age 2 years, 7 months)
• • Eugene Owen Hamall – Born May 28, 1892; Died March 31, 1893 (age 10 months)

Cemetery Plot Ownership Discovery

Cemetery records revealed that the plot where Owen and his four deceased children were buried was purchased by Eliza Reynolds Griffith—Kate's mother—on May 27, 1870. This discovery provided two crucial pieces of information:

1. Kate's maiden name confirmed: Catherine Griffith was definitively established as Kate's full name, with her mother's full name documented as Eliza Reynolds Griffith
2. Economic context: The fact that Kate's mother (not Owen or Kate themselves) purchased the burial plot suggested economic circumstances—working-class families often relied on extended family members to secure cemetery plots

Triggering New Research Questions

The cemetery discoveries generated an entirely new set of research questions:

• Why were these four children not found in birth indexes?
• Where were death certificates for these children?
• Were there baptism records documenting their births?
• What diseases caused the cluster deaths in Spring 1893?
• How did the family recover (or not recover) from such devastating losses?
• Were there other children who survived? (The 1880 census showed only infant Thomas)

Impact on the Thornton Mystery

While Phase 2 did not solve the Thornton Hamall mystery, it provided crucial family context. The knowledge that Owen and Kate had lost four children explained potential family disruptions and economic hardships. It also suggested that relationships with extended family members (including potential half-siblings) might have been particularly important for family survival after such devastating losses.

The cemetery plot ownership by Kate's mother also raised the question: Were there other family members who might have provided support? Could the mysterious "Thornton" actually be a relative by marriage or remarriage rather than a biological brother?

Phase 3: Census Record Collection (2019-2020)

Systematic Enumeration District Searches

Following the cemetery discoveries, Phase 3 focused on comprehensive census research across multiple decades and geographic locations. The goal was to document Owen Hamall's complete life trajectory and identify all household members who might provide clues to the Thornton mystery.

Multi-Decade Census Analysis

Census research expanded beyond the 1880 Chicago enumeration to include:

The Critical 1861 Canadian Census Discovery

The 1861 Canadian Census provided the first major clue to solving the Thornton mystery. The census enumeration in Montreal's St. Anne Ward showed a blended household:

• Pat Thornton – Head (Patrick Thornton)
• M Thornton – Wife (Mary McMahon Thornton, widow of Henry Hamall)
• O Hamel – Son (Owen Hamall, age 18, apprentice)
• M Hamel – Daughter (Mary Ann Hamall, age 8)
• Wm Thornton – Son (William Thornton, age 5)

This single census entry transformed the research by revealing:

1. Owen's mother had remarried: Mary McMahon (widow of Henry Hamall) married Patrick Thornton
2. Owen had a half-brother: William Thornton, born from Mary's second marriage
3. The blended family lived together: Children from both marriages were raised in the same household
4. The surname "Thornton" was explained: William Thornton took his father Patrick's surname

The 1900 William Thornton Census

A critical discovery in Phase 3 was locating William Thornton in the 1900 U.S. Census in Chicago. This census provided:

• • William Thornton (age 44) with wife Mary
• • Two nieces living with them (Mary Holland and another child)
• • Census notation: "3 children, 0 living" – parallel tragedy to Owen's family
• • Occupation: Laborer
• • Living in Chicago (same city as Owen had lived)

The census notation "3 children, 0 living" was devastating—William Thornton had also lost all his children, creating a parallel tragedy to Owen and Kate's loss of four children.

Remaining Questions After Phase 3

While Phase 3 provided crucial evidence of the blended family structure, several questions remained:

• When did Mary McMahon marry Patrick Thornton? (Between Henry's 1854 death and the 1861 census)
• When did the family move from Montreal to Chicago?
• What happened to Patrick Thornton? (Not in 1880 or 1900 censuses)
• What was the relationship between Owen and William in adulthood?
• Why did William live with Owen's family in 1880?

These questions would drive the next phases of research into church records, city directories, and ultimately baptismal sponsorship patterns that would provide definitive proof of the family relationships.

Phase 4: Canadian Connection Discovery (2021)

Montreal Church Records and Marriage Documentation

Building on the 1861 census discovery, Phase 4 focused on documenting the family's time in Montreal through church records and vital statistics. Quebec's Catholic church records are among the most complete in North America, making this phase particularly productive.

Key Marriage Record Discovery

The marriage record of Mary McMahon (widow of Henry Hamall) to Patrick Thornton was located in Montreal Catholic church registers. The record explicitly stated:

• "Mary McMahon, widow of Henry Hamall, married Patrick Thornton"
• Marriage date: 1855 (one year after Henry's death in 1854)
• Location: Montreal, Quebec

This record was crucial because it:

1. Confirmed the widow status: Mary was explicitly identified as Henry Hamall's widow
2. Provided timeline: The 1855 marriage date established when the blended family formed
3. Documented name continuity: Mary kept "McMahon" as her maiden name even in her second marriage record
4. Explained William's surname: Born after 1855, William would have taken Patrick Thornton's surname

Mary McMahon's Timeline Established

Phase 4 research allowed for the complete reconstruction of Mary McMahon's life:

Understanding the Remarriage Context

Mary McMahon's remarriage to Patrick Thornton one year after Henry Hamall's death must be understood in its historical context:

• Economic necessity: A widowed woman with four young children (ages 1-7) in 1854 Montreal faced severe economic challenges
• Cultural norms: Quick remarriage of widows, particularly those with young children, was common and expected in 19th-century immigrant communities
• Children's welfare: Remarriage provided economic stability and a father figure for Owen (age 7), Michael (age 4), and Mary Ann (age 1)
• Death of eldest daughter: Mary had already lost her daughter Mary in 1851 (age 4), leaving her with three surviving children to support

Geographic Migration Pattern

Phase 4 also clarified the family's geographic trajectory:

• 1841-1850: Donaghmoyne parish, County Monaghan, Ireland
• c. 1850: Great Famine emigration to Montreal, Canada
• 1854-1861: Montreal, St. Anne Ward (documented in 1861 census)
• 1861-1880: Migration to United States (exact timing unknown)
• 1880+: Chicago, Illinois (Owen documented in 1880 census)

The family's time in Montreal (minimally 11 years, 1850-1861) was substantial enough for children to be born, baptized, and raised there. This long residence in Canada explained why some family records were split between Canadian and U.S. sources.

Remaining Question: When Did William Move to Chicago?

While Phase 4 documented William Thornton's birth in Montreal and his presence in Chicago by 1880, the exact timing and circumstances of his migration remained unclear. The 1861 census showed him as a 5-year-old child in Montreal; the 1880 census showed him as a 24-year-old adult in Chicago. The intervening 19 years remained undocumented.

This gap would require city directory research and voter registration searches—the focus of Phase 6.

Phase 5: Irish Parish Records Research (2022)

Documenting Origins in County Monaghan

With the Montreal connection firmly established, Phase 5 pushed research back another generation to document Owen Hamall's Irish origins. This research focused on Donaghmoyne parish, County Monaghan, Ireland, where Henry Hamall and Mary McMahon had married in 1841.

Critical Marriage Record Discovery

The marriage record of Henry Hamall and Mary McMahon in Donaghmoyne parish, 1841, provided the foundation for understanding Owen's Irish ancestry:

The Griffith's Valuation Discovery

Griffith's Valuation (1861) provided remarkable evidence of the extended Hamill family network in Donaghmoyne. Multiple Hamill/Hamall families appeared in adjacent townlands:

• Edengilrevy townland: "Henry Hamall" (or his heirs/widow, as Henry died 1854)
• Drumaconvern townland: Owen Hammel (likely Henry's brother or relative)
• Dian townland: James Hamill (1827-1914, married Ann Gartlan)
• Throughout parish: Multiple Gartlan families

This geographic clustering suggested that Henry, Owen Hammel, and James Hamill were likely siblings or close relatives who settled on adjacent or nearby lands. The proximity of their holdings—all within walking distance—indicated a close-knit extended family network typical of pre-Famine rural Ireland.

Understanding the Great Famine Context

The Hamall family's emigration must be understood within the context of the Great Famine (An Gorta Mór), 1845-1852:

• County Monaghan impact: While less devastated than western counties, Monaghan still experienced significant population loss through starvation, disease, and emigration
• Emigration timing: The family's c. 1850 emigration coincided with peak famine emigration years
• Destination patterns: Quebec/Montreal was a major destination for Irish Famine emigrants due to lower fares on timber ships returning to Canada
• Family fragmentation: Emigration often meant permanent separation from extended family members who remained in Ireland

Building the Extended Family Network

Phase 5 research revealed that Owen Hamall was part of an extensive Hamill family network in Donaghmoyne. This would become crucial in Phase 9 when DNA evidence validated these family connections and extended the proven lineage back another generation.

The research established:

• Henry Hamall (Owen's father) was likely related to Owen Hammel and James Hamill in adjacent townlands
• The Hamill families intermarried with Gartlan families (James Hamill + Ann Gartlan, their son James Hamill Jr. + Catherine Gartlan)
• Multiple Hamill families emigrated from Donaghmoyne (some to Canada/US, some to Montana)
• Geographic clustering in 1861 Griffith's Valuation suggested sibling relationships or close cousins

Phase 6: City Directories & Voter Registrations (2020-2023)

Tracking Urban Life Through Annual Publications

While earlier phases established family relationships and geographic origins, Phase 6 focused on documenting Owen Hamall's day-to-day life in Chicago through city directories and voter registrations. These sources provided year-by-year documentation of residential addresses, occupation consistency, and economic circumstances.

Chicago City Directory Research

Chicago city directories (published annually by R.L. Polk & Company and Lakeside Directory Company) documented Owen Hamall from 1874 through 1897—nearly his entire adult life in Chicago:

The Significance of "Iron Molder"

Owen Hamall's occupation as an iron molder provides important context for understanding his family's economic circumstances and the eventual tragedy:

• Skilled trade: Iron molding required training and skill—not unskilled labor
• Dangerous work: Foundries were hazardous, with exposure to extreme heat, molten metal, toxic fumes, and industrial accidents
• Physical demands: The work required significant strength and stamina
• Economic vulnerability: Economic downturns directly affected manufacturing, leading to layoffs and wage reductions
• Disability impact: Any physical disability (like blindness) immediately ended an iron molder's ability to work

Voter Registration Records

Two voter registration records (1888 and 1892) provided additional documentation:

• 1888 Voter Registration
• • Name: Owen Hamall
• • Address: 2 Ashland Ave, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
• • Occupation: Molder
• • Naturalization confirmed
• 
  
• 1892 Voter Registration
• • Name: Owen Hamall
• • Address: 302 Desplaines Ave, Cook, Illinois
• • Occupation: Molder
• • Last registration before death

These records confirmed Owen's civic participation and his naturalization status—important details for understanding his integration into American society.

Naturalization Documentation

Phase 6 research also located Owen's naturalization records showing a two-step process typical of the era:

1. 1868 Declaration of Intention: Filed in Blue Earth County, Minnesota
2. 1872 Naturalization Completion: Cook County Criminal Court, Illinois

This documentation revealed Owen briefly lived in Minnesota before settling permanently in Chicago—a migration pattern common among Irish immigrants seeking industrial work.

The 1897 Chicago Tribune "Destitute List"

One of the most poignant discoveries in Phase 6 was Owen Hamall's appearance on the Chicago Tribune's published "Destitute List" in 1897:

• Name: Owen Hamall
• Condition: Blind
• Status: Unable to work
• Family: Wife and children destitute
• Published: 1897 (one year before his death)

This newspaper listing documented the family's descent into poverty following Owen's blindness. Newspapers in this era published lists of destitute individuals to encourage charitable contributions. Appearing on such a list indicated extreme economic distress—families who had exhausted all other resources.

Phase 7: Baptism Record Breakthrough (March 2024)

The Discovery That Solved the Mystery

After six years of systematic research accumulating evidence from census records, cemetery documentation, city directories, and church registers, the final breakthrough came in March 2024. A baptism record at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago provided the definitive proof that William Thornton was Owen Hamall's half-brother.

The Critical Baptism Records (March 1883)

The breakthrough came not from one baptism, but from discovering two baptisms in 1883 that revealed a reciprocal sponsorship pattern—the key proof of the half-brother relationship:

• Baptism #1 - March 25, 1883:
• Child: William Hamall (Owen's son)
• Born: January 16, 1883
• Parents: Owen Hamall & Catherine Griffith
• Godfather (Sponsor): William Thornton
• Baptism #2 - 1883:
• Child: Mary Margaret Thornton (William Thornton's daughter)
• Parents: William Thornton & Mary Lynch Thornton
• Godfather (Sponsor): Owen Hamall

These records transformed the research because:

1. William Thornton was identified by full name: Not "Thornton Hamall" or "Hammil, Thornton" but "William Thornton"—confirming the correct surname
2. The reciprocal pattern proved family relationship: Not just acquaintances, but men who considered each other family
3. The timing aligned perfectly: William lived with Owen's family in 1880 (listed as "Hammil, Thornton"); three years later, they were godparents for each other's children

How Parental Identification Was Established

In the absence of Owen's baptism (likely lost to Great Famine record destruction in Ireland), parental identification relies on multiple converging sources:

• Mary Ann Hamill's 1853 baptism listing parents as Henry Hamall & Mary McMahon
• Mary Ann's 1879 marriage record confirming parents
• Henry Hamall's 1854 death record in Montreal
• Mary McMahon's 1874 death record identifying her as "widow of Henry Hammel"
• 1861 Canadian census showing Owen and Mary Ann as siblings in the Thornton household
• DNA matches through Mary Ann's descendants validating the relationships

Combined, these sources meet the preponderance of evidence standard for professional genealogy.

Validation Through Convergence

The baptism record didn't stand alone—it validated and was validated by all previous research phases:

• The 1861 Canadian census showed William Thornton living with the Hamall family
• The 1880 U.S. census showed "Thornton" living with Owen's family
• Mary McMahon & Patrick Thornton's 1855 marriage established the blended family
• The 1883 baptism showed William Thornton as sponsor for Owen's son
• Cemetery records showed both Owen and William buried in Chicago (different sections, but same cemetery)
• The 1900 census showed William still in Chicago, confirming continued residence

Each piece of evidence corroborated the others, meeting the BCG standard of soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.

Phase 8: William Thornton Reconstruction (2024)

Following the Half-Brother's Life Story

With William Thornton's identity established through the baptism records, Phase 8 focused on reconstructing his complete life story. This research revealed a parallel tragedy—William, like Owen, lost all of his children, creating two devastated branches of the same family.

The 1900 Census Discovery

The 1900 U.S. Census provided critical information about William Thornton's family situation at the end of his life:

The census notation "3 children, 0 living" mirrored Owen's tragedy. Both half-brothers lost all their children, creating parallel stories of family devastation in late 19th-century Chicago.

Children's Death Records: The 1886 Summer of Sorrow

Cemetery records and death certificates revealed that William Thornton lost two of his three children within three weeks in the summer of 1886:

• Mary M. Thornton
• • Died: July 31, 1886 (age 3 years, 2 months, 4 days)
• • Buried: August 2, 1886, Calvary Cemetery
• • Buried just 2 days after death
• 
  
• Eugene M. Thornton
• • Died: August 20, 1886 (age 1 year, 4 months, 22 days)
• • Buried: Calvary Cemetery
• • Died 20 days after his sister

The rapid succession of these deaths—two children within three weeks—suggests epidemic disease swept through the family. The third child mentioned in the 1900 census likely died either before Mary and Eugene or between 1886 and 1900, but no death record has been located.

William's Death: September 1900

William Thornton died September 10, 1900, just two years after his half-brother Owen's death. The circumstances surrounding his death remain partially documented:

The cemetery record indicates William died in Metropolis, Illinois—a small city in southern Illinois on the Ohio River, 360 miles from Chicago. Why William was in Metropolis remains unknown. Possibilities include:

• Work-related travel: As a laborer, William may have traveled for seasonal or construction work
• Family connections: Unknown relatives or friends in southern Illinois
• Health-related: Seeking treatment or convalescence
• Misfortune: Accidental presence (traveling through the area)

His body was returned to Chicago for burial in Calvary Cemetery, the same cemetery where Owen was buried (though in different sections—Owen in Section D, William in Section T). This demonstrates the family maintained Chicago as their home base despite William's death occurring elsewhere.

Mary Lynch Thornton St. Pierre: The Widow Who Survived

William's widow, Mary Lynch Thornton, remarried after his death, becoming Mary St. Pierre. Her remarriage—like Mary McMahon's remarriage to Patrick Thornton after Henry Hamall's death—illustrates how widows with few resources needed to remarry for economic survival. The pattern repeated across generations.

Phase 9: DNA Evidence Integration (2024-2025)

Genetic Validation of Documentary Findings

After establishing Owen Hamall's identity and parentage through seven years of documentary research, Phase 9 integrated DNA evidence to corroborate the findings. This phase demonstrated how genetic genealogy validates traditional documentary research when used appropriately as corroborating evidence.

Two 19 cM Matches: Direct Parental Validation

The strongest DNA evidence came from two independent matches who both descended from Owen's sister, Mary Ann Hamill Byron (1853-1909):

These two DNA matches definitively corroborated the documentary evidence establishing Henry Hamall and Mary McMahon as Owen's parents. The matches came through his documented sister Mary Ann, providing biological validation of the sibling relationship established through census, marriage, baptism, and death records.

Extended Family DNA Clusters

Four DNA-Validated Donaghmoyne Marriages (2024-2025 Discovery)

A major research breakthrough in 2024-2025 revealed that four couples who all married in Parish of Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan, Ireland, are biologically related. DNA testing proved these were not merely geographic neighbors but members of one extended biological family network:

Research Significance of Four-Couple Validation

This discovery was significant for multiple reasons:

1. Surname Variations Validated: DNA confirmed that "Hamall," "Hamill," and "Hammel" represent spelling variations of the same family name, not different unrelated families
2. Geographic Clustering Explained: The families' presence in adjacent townlands (Edengilrevy, Drumaconvern, Dian) reflected biological relationships, not coincidence
3. Gartlan Mystery Solved: For years, researchers questioned why "Gartlan" appeared in DNA matches. The answer: James Hamill married Anna Gartlan, creating the Hamill-Gartlan intermarriage that shows up genetically. This is a Hamill-side connection, NOT a Kate Griffith connection.
4. Extended Family Context: Owen Hamall didn't emigrate alone from a single nuclear family—he left behind an extensive network of related Hamill families in Donaghmoyne
5. Multi-Generational Validation: The marriages span 1841-1857, with DNA matches extending to descendants in the 21st century

Beyond direct parental validation, DNA evidence revealed extensive family networks in Donaghmoyne parish, County Monaghan, Ireland:

The Gartlan Family Cluster

Multiple DNA matches connected to descendants of Gartlan families in Donaghmoyne. —The Gartlan matches connect through the Hamill family line in Ireland, validating intermarriage patterns:

• James Hamill (1827-1914) married Ann Gartlan – First generation intermarriage
• James Hamill Jr. (1874-1951) married Catherine Gartlan (1883-1961) – Second generation intermarriage
• Both James Hamill families lived in Dian townland, Donaghmoyne parish
• Geographic proximity to other Hamill families in adjacent townlands

Methodology Principle Applied

DNA as Corroborating Evidence, Not Primary Evidence: Following BCG standards for genetic genealogy, DNA evidence in this case study:

• • Corroborates documentary findings: Does not stand alone, but validates documentary research
• • Is positioned appropriately: Not used as primary evidence for establishing parentage
• • Acknowledges limitations: Match amounts interpreted conservatively
• • Explains context: Irish Famine-era records gaps justify DNA's increased importance

The documentary evidence (Mary Ann's baptism and marriage records naming parents, the 1861 census, marriage records, death certificates) established the relationships. DNA evidence validated those findings through biological confirmation.

The McMahon Maternal Line Cluster

A separate DNA cluster validated Mary McMahon as Owen's mother through matches to other McMahon family descendants from County Monaghan. This cluster is distinct from the Gartlan cluster and represents Owen's maternal line.

Tools & Techniques Applied

• AncestryDNA database searches
• Shared match analysis
• DNA match clustering using Leeds Method
• Chromosome browser analysis
• Building match family trees
• Cross-referencing DNA matches with documentary research
• Creating visual cluster diagrams

Lessons Learned: Integrating DNA with Documentary Research

DNA is most powerful when combined with documentary evidence. This case study demonstrates the proper integration methodology:

• • Document first: Establish relationships through records before testing DNA
• • Test strategically: Identify which DNA tests would corroborate documentary findings
• • Interpret conservatively: Don't overstate what DNA proves
• • Cluster intelligently: Group matches by ancestral lines to validate family networks
• • Acknowledge gaps: Explain why DNA evidence is more important when records are missing

Professional Standard: For BCG certification or peer-reviewed publication, DNA evidence must be positioned as corroborating evidence that strengthens documentary findings, not as a shortcut to avoid documentary research.