Josh Zeitz states that McNamar "claimed that his family was deeply in debt and that he had changed his surname [to McNeil] to make a clean break of things. Now that he had amassed a small fortune, he planned to return east and settle his family's accounts". Zeitz, Josh, "The Man Who Created the Lincoln We Know," PoliticoMagazine, April 14, 2015
Gannett, Lewis (Summer 2010). "The Ann Rutledge Story: Case Closed?". Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. 31 (2): 21–60. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
Hoffman, John (Summer 1998). "Benjamin P. Thomas". Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. 19 (2): 15–54. Retrieved February 6, 2023.