From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 722-723.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


THOMAS HUGHES MEIGHEN

Thomas Hughes Meighen, the father of Benjamin F., was born in Greene 
county, Penn., March 5, 1821, and his father, William, was born in 
county Donegal, Ireland.  The family first came to America in 
September, 1790, in the persons of James Meighen and wife, Susan 
McCluskey and their children, Peter, John and William.  Margaret, 
another daughter, married John Mulrine, and with Elsy, wife of Dennis 
Timony, came to America two years later.  From Philadelphia they 
moved to Fayette county, Penn., and thence to Greene county, where 
they located permanently.  William, the father of Thomas H., married 
Elizabeth Hughes in 1779, and reared a family of seven sons and four 
daughters.  The Hughes family came also from Ireland, but were 
originally Welsh.  In this country they are very numerous, and many 
of them have occupied prominent positions in affairs of state, church 
and society.  Thomas Hughes, the founder of the family in America, 
settled in Loudon county, Va., prior to 1739.  He married his cousin, 
Bridget O'Neill, and reared three children, Pheline, John and Thomas.  
Pheline married Cintha Kaighn, and had six children, James, Thomas, 
Barnett, John, Elizabeth and Martha.  James being the direct ancestor 
of the subject now being treated, we pursue only the branch of the 
family springing from him.  He was born in 1750, and in 1772 married 
Cassandra Dunn, of Scotland parentage, and had nine children, Thomas, 
Pheline, Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, James, Sarah, Thomas and Martha. 
The first born, Thomas, died very young, which accounts for a second 
Thomas in the family.  James was one of the first settlers of Greene 
county, Penn.  He located near Carmichaelstown, that county, in 1771, 
coming thence from Loudon county, Va.  He was accompanied by his 
brother, Thomas, his father Pheline, and the families Swan, King and 
Heller.  He was a public-spirited man, prominent in local affairs 
possessed of considerable wealth, and was the first commissioner of 
Greene county.  He died at the home of his son-in-law, Jacob Burley, 
near Waynesburg, in 1807.  His daughter, Elizabeth, as has been seen, 
married William Meighen, and bore eleven children, Susannah, John, 
James, Mary, Peter, Phelix, Dennis, Cassander, Thomas, Hughes and 
Catherine.  The children of Thomas Meighen are: Mary, deceased; 
Dennis R., farmer in Greene county, Penn.; Benjamin F., lawyer; Sarah 
Catherine (Mrs. J. A. Connelly); Elizabeth (Mrs. John Earnest); 
Cassandra (Mrs. George Wiscaron); Mary Magdaline (Mrs. William 
Carney); Cassandraand Mary were twins; Susan and Seba, twins, both 
deceased; William M., attorney at law, Moundsville, and Thomas H., a 
teacher in the public schools of Marshall county.
         

(Linda Fluharty)