John Meahan was born in Omagh, County Tyrone and married Mary Donnelly in 1841, later he established a shipbuilding business.
He was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, the son of James Meahan and Sarah McTaggart, and came to New Brunswick in 1833. In 1841, he married Mary Donnelly. Meahan established in Bathurst a shipbuilding business which built four ships, two barques, two brigs and two brigantines, which were among the largest ships built in Gloucester County. 
