The O'Brien Legacy Complete Methodology
Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) Compliant Documentation
Seven years of research combining traditional genealogical methods with modern DNA science to validate a 150-year-old probate document and reunite families separated since the Great Famine.
Could modern DNA testing prove the accuracy of an 1874 probate document that mentioned "Uncle Patrick O'Brien in Newport, Kentucky" when no traditional genealogical evidence connected the two families?
Executive Summary
Research Subject
Validation of sibling relationship between Terrence O'Brien (1833–1874, Queens County, NY) and Patrick O'Bryan (1830–1913, Campbell County, KY)
Research Duration
- Traditional research: 2018–2023 (5 years)
- DNA analysis: 2023–2025 (2 years)
- Total: 7 years
Key Challenge
Two Irish immigrant families separated by 800+ miles, different surname spellings (O'Brien vs. O'Bryan), and 150+ years with no documentary connection.
DNA Testers
- Barbara O'Brien Hamall (1934–2024)
- Michael O'Brien (identical twin)
- Miles O'Brien (identical twin)
March 2024 DNA analysis revealed multiple Kentucky O'Bryan descendants matching three siblings from Terrence O'Brien's line, providing definitive genetic proof of the brother relationship. The 1874 probate document was scientifically validated.
Traditional Research Foundation (2018–2023)
The 1874 Probate Mystery
When Terrence O'Brien died on November 21, 1874, at age 41 in Jamaica, Queens County, New York, he left behind four orphaned children. His second wife, Cornelia Bedell, had died just six months earlier (May 12, 1874) at age 23. The youngest child, Miles Murtha Lawrence O'Brien, was only 18 months old.
The Queens County probate proceedings documented consideration of guardianship arrangements for these orphaned children. In the testimony, there appeared a single reference: "Uncle Patrick O'Brien in Newport, Kentucky."
This mention suggested Terrence had a brother named Patrick living in Newport, Kentucky, and the families knew of each other despite geographic separation. The Problem: No other documentary evidence connected these families.
About Terrence O'Brien (1833–1874)
- Born Ireland, 1833
- Successful hotel proprietor in Jamaica, Queens, NY
- Operated Union Hotel/Railroad Hotel ~1859–1874
- Civil War Draft Registration (1863): Inn Keeper, age 31
- Famous for 140-foot flagpole with model of horse "Dexter"
- Married twice: Ann Higgins (d. 1864), Cornelia Bedell (d. 1874)
- Four children documented
About Patrick O'Bryan (1830–1913)
- Born Ireland, May 5, 1830
- Immigrated to United States 1849 (age 19)
- Married Mary McNamara in 1857
- Occupation: Locomotive Engineer
- Lived in Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky
- Documented children: Michael (b. 1859), Mary (b. 1867)
- Geographic Match: Newport, KY—exact location in probate
Research Obstacles
Why Traditional Research Failed
- Surname Variation: O'Brien vs. O'Bryan spellings
- No Shared Documentation: No church records, correspondence, or naturalization papers linking them
- Geographic Separation: 800+ miles between New York and Kentucky
- Irish Records Gaps: Famine-era emigration with limited documentation
- Immigration Documentation: No ship manifests connecting them
Traditional Research Conclusion (2023)
After five years of comprehensive research, the relationship remained circumstantially compelling but genealogically unproven using documentary evidence alone.
The probate document stood alone—a tantalizing claim with no corroboration.
Reasonably Exhaustive Research
Following Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) standards, research included comprehensive examination of all relevant source categories:
Sources Examined
Irish Sources
- Civil registration (births, marriages, deaths 1864–1900)
- Catholic parish registers (multiple counties)
- Griffith's Valuation land records
- Tithe Applotment Books
- Emigration records
Federal Records
- Census records: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910
- Naturalization records
- Military records (Civil War draft registration)
State & Local Records
- New York and Kentucky vital records
- Queens County and Campbell County probate records
- Land and property records
- Court records
- Business directories (1860s–1910s)
- Tax assessments and city directories
Church, Cemetery & Newspapers
- Catholic church registers
- Cemetery records and monuments
- Brooklyn Daily Eagle
- Long Island Farmer
- New York Times
- Cincinnati Enquirer
- Newport newspapers
Documentary Evidence Analysis
Key Documentary Discoveries
Terrence O'Brien Primary Sources
1859 Jamaica Map
Shows: "T O'Bryen R R Hotel" — Note spelling variation "O'Bryen"
1874 Jamaica Map
Shows: "T O'Brien Union Hotel" at Fulton and Church Streets. Confirms 15+ years of operation at same location.
1863 Civil War Draft Registration
Listed: Terrence O'Brien, Inn Keeper, age 31, born Ireland
1875 Probate Records
Critical testimony: "Uncle Patrick O'Brien in Newport, Kentucky"
Patrick O'Bryan Primary Sources
1851 Declaration of Intent
Statement: "Patrick O'Brien age 22 last March"
1870 Census, Campbell County, Kentucky
Household: Patrick O'Bryan (45), Mary (40), Michael (11), Mary (3)
Death Record — November 21, 1913
Age: 83 years. Obituaries (November 22–24, 1913): "Father of Rev. George O'Bryan... resident of this city for almost half a century... locomotive engineer"
Analysis of Conflicting Evidence
Surname Spelling Variations
- New York: O'Brien, O'Bryen
- Kentucky: O'Bryan, O'Brian
Resolution: Jurisdictional standardization research revealed Irish surnames were commonly "standardized" differently by clerks in different locations. This was a recording practice difference, not evidence of different families.
Age Discrepancies
Multiple sources show varying birth years for Patrick.
Resolution: Most reliable sources (death record, later census records) support 1830 birth. Earlier documents reflect estimation or misstatement.
The DNA Breakthrough (March 2024)
Testing Strategy
Why DNA Testing? After five years of exhaustive traditional research failed to prove or disprove the sibling relationship, DNA testing offered the only path forward. The hypothesis: if Terrence and Patrick were brothers, their descendants should share measurable DNA consistent with 3rd–4th cousin relationships.
Family Members Tested (November 2023)
Three siblings, all great-grandchildren of Terrence O'Brien through his son Miles Murtha Lawrence O'Brien and Margaret Egan:
- Barbara O'Brien Hamall (1934–2024) — Oldest sibling
- Michael O'Brien — Younger brother, identical twin of Miles
- Miles O'Brien — Younger brother, identical twin of Michael
Testing Platforms
- Primary: AncestryDNA (largest Irish-American database)
- Secondary: 23andMe (validation)
- Specialized: FamilyTreeDNA (Y-DNA haplogroup R-FTE90337)
The March 2024 Discovery
Initial Pattern Recognition: Systematic review of Barbara O'Brien Hamall's DNA match list revealed multiple matches with surnames Kuptz, Nawrocki, Lyhan, Powell, Browne—all tracing to Campbell County, Kentucky in the 1870s.
The Breakthrough Moment: Every match shared common ancestors: Patrick O'Bryan (1830–1913) and Mary McNamara O'Bryan—the exact couple from the 1870 Kentucky census.
DNA Match Analysis: Patrick O'Bryan Descendants
Matches to Terrence O'Brien's Great-Grandchildren (Barbara, Michael, Miles)
| Match ID | Surname | Shared DNA | Segments | Predicted Relationship | Geographic Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match A | O'Bryan | 49 cM | 3 segments | 3rd cousin | Kentucky |
| Match B | O'Bryan | 43 cM | 3 segments | 3rd cousin | Kentucky |
| Match C | Kuptz | 20 cM | 3 segments | 4th cousin | Kentucky/Illinois |
| Match D | Lyhan | 31 cM | 2 segments | 3rd-4th cousin | Kentucky |
| Match E | Powell | 27 cM | 4 segments | 4th cousin | Kentucky/Ohio |
| Match F | Browne | 24 cM | 2 segments | 4th cousin | Kentucky |
DNA Cluster Diagram: How Evidence Converges
Identical Twin Validation
The Built-In Quality Control: Michael and Miles O'Brien (identical twins) share 100% of their DNA, meaning they must match any third party at essentially identical levels.
Twin Matching Results
- Michael O'Brien: 43 cM across 3 segments
- Miles O'Brien: 43 cM across 3 segments
The identical cM amounts provided confirmation of testing accuracy and validation that matches were genuine genetic relationships, not testing errors.
Triple Sibling Confirmation
All three siblings independently matched the same Kentucky cluster:
- Barbara: 49 cM
- Michael: 43 cM (identical twin)
- Miles: 43 cM (identical twin)
The probability that three siblings would all independently match multiple descendants of the same Kentucky family by coincidence is astronomically low.
Professional Standards Documentation
Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) Standards
This research followed the five elements required for BCG certification:
1 Reasonably Exhaustive Research
Systematic examination of all major source categories across three countries, multiple jurisdictions and diverse record types, both positive and negative evidence, and multiple DNA testing platforms.
2 Complete and Accurate Source Citations
All sources documented following Evidence Explained standards: full repository information, access dates for digital collections, specific location within sources, DNA test kit numbers and dates.
3 Analysis and Correlation of Evidence
Each piece evaluated for source reliability (primary vs. secondary), information quality (direct vs. indirect), consistency with other evidence, and DNA segment size and statistical significance.
4 Resolution of Conflicting Evidence
Systematic resolution of surname spelling variations, age discrepancies, missing expected documentation, and geographic separation questions.
5 Sound Written Conclusion Based on Strongest Evidence
Conclusion supported by documentary suggestion (1874 probate testimony), scientific validation (DNA triangulation), geographic correlation (exact location match), multiple independent confirmation, and statistical impossibility of alternative explanations.
Terrence O'Brien and Patrick O'Bryan Were Brothers
The 1874 Queens County probate document stating "Uncle Patrick O'Brien in Newport, Kentucky" was scientifically proven accurate through triangulated DNA evidence. After 150 years, modern genetic science validated a single line of legal testimony that traditional genealogy could never confirm.
Research Outcomes
The Infant's Legacy
Miles Murtha Lawrence O'Brien was born March 28, 1873—14 months old when his mother died (May 1874), 18 months old when his father died (November 1874).
Miles carried genetic markers proving his father's brother relationship to Patrick O'Bryan. Those markers passed through his marriage to Margaret Egan, their child, and their grandchildren: Barbara, Michael, and Miles.
It took DNA testing of the orphaned infant's grandchildren, 150 years later, to prove the probate document accurate.
Secondary Discoveries
Surname Standardization
Documented how Irish surnames were recorded differently in NY vs. KY—a recording practice difference, not evidence of different families.
The November 21st Connection
Both brothers died on November 21—Terrence in 1874, Patrick in 1913—exactly 39 years apart.
Family Reunification
Connected descendant lines across multiple states. Multiple O'Bryan descendant lines now identified through DNA matching with Terrence's descendants.
Y-DNA Documentation
R-FTE90337 haplogroup provides framework for further Irish origins research.
Researcher's Notes
Why This Case Matters
It Demonstrates DNA's Power
When documentary evidence reaches its limits, DNA can provide definitive answers. Five years of exhaustive searching found circumstantial evidence but no proof. DNA testing took three months to answer the question.
It Shows the Importance of Patience
The discipline to continue searching and to test with DNA when appropriate led to breakthrough.
It Validates Historical Documents
The 1874 probate document was accurate. The legal clerk provided information that would take 150 years to verify scientifically.
It Provides a Roadmap
Other researchers facing surname variations, geographic separation, Irish Famine-era emigration, and limited documentation can follow this methodology.
Lessons Learned
Start with Traditional Research
DNA testing works best when combined with thorough traditional research.
Test Multiple Family Members
Having three siblings test (including identical twins) provided validation through concordance and quality control.
Look for Patterns
The breakthrough came from recognizing that multiple seemingly unrelated matches all traced to the same Kentucky location and family.
Don't Give Up
After five years of traditional research yielded only circumstantial evidence, DNA testing provided the answer.