The Hughes Family History

"The Dillon Family made its first appearence in Cabell County in 1832. After
his father, William, died (about 1818), Marlin Dillon sold his inheritance in Franklin
Co. Va. and brought his wife Lucy Arthur and their children to the Four Pole area of
Cabell County. Marlin and Lucy had a total of 15 children, some of which were born
in Cabell County..." from "The Heritage of Cabell County, West Virginia (Vol 1, P 164)"
by Lewis R. Dillon, II.


-------------------------------------------------
The 1930 census of Cabell Co, WV shows the following family in the same household:

Marlin Dillon, Cabell, VA 72 1787 Virginia Male
Lucy Dillon, Cabell, VA 62 1797 Virginia Female
W Dillon, Cabell, VA 30 1829 Virginia Male
Lemuel Ray, Cabell, VA 20 1839 Virginia Male
Adalaide Dillon, Cabell, VA 19 1840 Virginia Female
Marlin Blankenship, Cabell, VA 14 1845 Virginia Male
Sarah Dillon, Cabell, VA 1 1858 Virginia Female

(The following notes were submitted by Lewis Dillon, II)

According to Benjamin Franklin Dillon's death notice in the
9/22/1924 Herald Dispatch, Marlin and Lucy had 15 children.
The Franklin County Virginia Census of 1830 mentions 11 of these
children, unfortunately not by name. At the time of the census
there were three boys and eight girls living with Marlin and Lucy.
That means that after 1830 Marlin and Lucy had four more children.
Of those four children I can name three and maybe
all four: Benjamin Franklin Dillon (1933), Amanda V. Dillon (1836),
Electra Dillon (approx. 1838-1842), and the questionable one Bersheba
Dillon (1838). Of the eleven children born in Franklin County,
I can name six: William J. Dillon (1817), John L. Dillon (1822),
Reece Randolph Dillon (1830), Sarah Dillon (1825), Ellenor
Dillon (1828), and Celila Clay Dillon (1815). Of the remaining
five children, I have strong suspensions on two: Susannah Dillon
(approx. 1920) who married Andrew Wiley and Thomas Hatfield,
and Lucy Dillon (approx. 1927) who married Johnson Lusher.

Marlin's tombstone gives his birth date as 1779, but the book
"The Descendants of Richard and Susanna Beckett of
Mecklenburg Co and Cabell Co, VA" gives Marlin's date of birth as
1789 and Marlin and Lucy's year of marriage as 1810.

Court Order book for Franklin County, VA, 9 page 136.
December 1825 Frances Dillon, widow of William. In 1832 Marlin
sold to Randolph Chitwood all interest in estate of William Dillon.

This will actually belongs to Benjamin Ray, but it was witnessed
by Marlin Dillon. I include it for this reason, Dad (Lewis R. Dillon)
had always heard that one of his relatives owned and had a
house on the property on which Crook Cemetery is located.
Marlin is buried in Crook Cemetery and since it use to be the
practice to bury the deceased on their own property, this
could be an indication that Marlin owned this property. Also,
Benjamin Ray owned the property on Four Pole Creek just
across the road from where Crook Cemetery is located. If
the normal practice was to get neighbors to witness your
will this would put Marlin in the right neighborhood. The obituary
of Benjamin Franklin Dillon, Marlin's son, states that Marlin and
Lucy had settled on Four Pole Creek in 1832. This would also add
weight to the possibility that Marlin owned the Crook Cemetery property.

Will of Benjamin Ray, Probated 25 Nove 1839,
Cabell Co., West Virginia
Will Book 1, p. 237:

I, Benj. Ray, of the County of Cabell and State of Virginia do hereby
make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form
following, that is to say,

First, I desire that all my personal property be immediately sold after
my decease and out of the monies arising therefrom, all my just debts
and funeral expenses be paid -

Secondly, I give my son Benjamin and his heirs forever, the lower
part of my farm on which I now live from the Water Gap down Fourpole
Creek, upon this condition, that he pay to my son Elijah Ray and James
Rupert (who married my daughter Nancy), each the sum of twenty dollars,
so soon as they or their legal representatives demand the same.

Thirdly, I give to my sons, Luke Ray and William Ray, to be equally
divided between them and their heirs forever the tract of land that
William now lives on being the same I purchased of Bostick and
Summers at my second and last purchase from them. It is my desire
that William have the lower end of said tract where he now lives
and that Luke have the upper end.

Fourthly, I give to my son Isaiah Ray the balance of the farm on which
I now live and the farm I lately purchased from my son Luke Ray to be
enjoyed by him and his heirs forever upon this condition; that the said
Isaiah pay to my two grandchildren, Lemuel Preston Carter and
Angeline Carter at the time they arrive at full age, each the sum of
one hundred dollars, with interest from the time of my death,

Fifthly, all the rest of my estate, both real and personal, of what
nature or kind soever it may be not herein before particularly disposed
of, after paying my debts, I desire, may be equally divided between
my two sons, William and Luke, which I give to them and their heirs forever.

And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Isaiah Ray
Executor of this my Last Will and Testament.

his
Benj. X Ray
mark


Signed, sealed, published, and declared by Benj. Ray as
and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence and hearing
of us, who at his bequest and in his presence, have subscribed our
names as Witnesses: S. Thornburg, F. F. Summers, Marlin Dillon.

At a court held for the county of Cabell the 25th day of November
1839, this Last Will and Testament of Benj. Ray was presented in
court and was proved by the oaths of Ferdinand Summers and
Marlin Dillon, which is ordered to be recorded.

John Samuels, Clerk

***After his father, William Dillon died (after 1818), Marlin Dillon
sold his inheritance in Franklin County, VA and brought his wife,
Lucy Arthur, and their children to the Four Pole area of Cabell County, VA.

1. Celia Clay Dillon b: 17 APR 1815 in Franklin Co, Va
2. William J Dillon b: ABT 1817
3. John L Dillon b: 1822
4. Ellenor J Dillon b: ABT 1828
5. Reece Randolph Dillon b: 1830
6. Benjamin Franklin Dillon b: 4 JUN 1833 in Cabell Co, WVa
7. Amanda V Dillon b: ABT 1836
8. Bersheba Dillon
9. Sarah Dillon
10. Electra Dillon b: 1844 in W. V.

1. Note:
   Scott Grant, 7 Lovell Dr, Charleston, WV, 25302, 304-343-5386
2. Note:
   Headstone
3. Note:
   Scott Grant, 7 Lovell Dr, Charleston, WV, 25302, 304-343-5386 Crooks Cem is located at 82 degrees 22' 25" by 38 Degrees 21'57" at Four Pole Rd and Green Valley Rd, Cabell Co
4. Note:
   Photo from Stephen Arnold web site.
5. Note:
   See letter from Morgan Bloom Hughes, dated 7/1/1974.