James Mehegan was born about October 29, 1811 in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. (His grave indicates he was born about 1807-1808, but his Naturalization papers indicate he was born October 29, 1811). He immigrated to America around 1834, about the age of 23-25. It is not know where he embarked in the United States, or whether he arrived with other family members, but it is known he became a Naturalized Citizen in Norfolk, Virignia in 1839.

Soon after he arrived in America, he married Mary Anne Malbourne (Malborn), and resided in Virginia before removing to Tarboro where James set up shop as a tailor. James was then widowed in 1848, when Mary Anne died.

James & Mary Ann would have 7 known children:

* Azula Mehegan (ca. 1838 - aft 1900)
* James Thomas Mehegan (1838-1840)
* Walter Mehegan (ca. 1842)
* Erin Go Brah Mehegan (1843-1912)
* C. Mehegan (ca. 1845)
* Robert Norfleet Mehegan (1846/1848-1932)
* Inez Mehegan (1846-1846)

On January 23, 1853, James married Emily L. Bond of Tarboro, the 27-year old daughter of Lewis Bond (noted furniture maker from the period) and his wife Sydney Nelson.

James and Emily would have 11 known children:

* James Mehegan (1853-1856)
* Francis "Frank" Louis Mehegan (1855-1881)
* Louis Mehegan (1856-1856)
* Siddie Mehegan (1858-1940)
* Mary Mehegan (ca. 1859)
* Annie Mehegan (ca. 1861)
* Charles Boromeo Mehegan (1863-1931)
* Norah Long Mehegan (1864-1874)
* Sarah Megehan (ca. 1865)
* William Long Mehegan (1866-1868)
* James Gregory Mehegan (1871-1957)

James died in 1870 at about age 59-61. His bride of 17 years survived another 42 years, passing in 1912 at about age 86.

Of his children, Azula Mehegan married Thomas Norfleet, son of Isaac Norfleet, patriarch of the prominent Norfleet family in Tarboro. Daughter, Siddie Mehegan, married John Peter Mallett/Mallette and had 8 children. Of his 6 sons with Emily Bond, only one was known to have married and have children -- James Gregory Mehegan who married Selma Ann Dawson and fathered 3 known children.