An American Family History

Rebecca Coulston Lykins was born about 1735 in Hanover Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania near Sanatoga which was once called Crooked Hill, in what is now Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Henry Coulston and Rebecca Braun.

She married Jonas Lykins (Likens, Likins). Jonas was born on January 3, 1733 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Jonas was listed as a single man in the 1752 tax list for Robeson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Rebecca and Jonas' children included:

Henry Lykins (1758),
Phebe Lykins Pickering (1760, married Samuel Pickering, Jr. and Abraham Engle),
William Lykins (1761, married Hannah Marsh and Ruth Hays),
Jonas Lykins (1764, married Mary Eckstein),
Sarah Lykins Pickering (1766, married John Pickering, son of Samuel Pickering),
Peter Lykins (1769),
John Lykins,
Elizabeth Lykins (1772, married Henry Marsh), and
Ann Lykins, (1773, married William Rankins),

They moved to Frederick County, Virginia by 1772, when "Jonas and Rebekah Likings" were listed as witnesses to a wedding.

On July 1, 1782 Henry Lykins and his sister Phebe were "received" by the Hopewell Monthly Meeting. However, on December 1, 1783, it was reported the Henry had married contrary to discipline and on January 5, 1784 he was disowned.

Jonas died on September 22, 1804 in Frederick County, Virginia. Rebecca died on May 3, 1819.

In the name of God Amen, I Jonas Likens of the county of Frederick and commonwealth of Virginia do make this my Last Will and Testament.

In the first place I will and devise that all my just debts and funeral charges be fully paid and satisfied.

2ly- My will is that all my estate both real and personal be sold by my Executors with full power to convey the real estate the best advantage for such price or prises (sic) as may be had for the same. With this reserve that my beloved wife Rebekah shall have her full privilige of reserving all such household furniture as she thinks fit with two milk cows.

3dly- I devise and bequeath to my wife Rebeckah six hundred pounds current money over and above the reserves already made to her and her heirs and assigns for ever.

4thly and further my will is that the remainder of my estate shall be equally divided between my children and their heirs namely, Henry, Jonas, William, Peter, John, Pheby Pickren, Sarah Pickren, Ann Rankins and Elizabeth March [Marsh] to them their heirs and assigns for ever.

5thly- My will is that after the sale of my estate that the money first arising there from shall be paid to my wife Rebeckah or so much thereof as pays her what is bequeathed to her, and after that she receives her part thereof that the remainder of the money arising from such sales shall be equally divided among all my representatives by executors as it may be received from the sales of my estate.

6thly and further my will is that whereas my son Henry and my daughter Sarah Pickren is both dead and have sundrey heirs that my executors shall shall (sic) put their equal shares to use and to be paid to them or any of theirs till they arrive at age to receive the same that is the boys to twenty-one and the girls to eighteen years of age and in case any of my said grandchildren should die before to arrive to age above and without Issue that then their shear shall be equally divided among their brothers and sisters.

7thly Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my wife Rebeckah, John Cowgill, James Steer and Robert Russell executors of this my last will and testament hereby revokeing all other will by me heretofore made and declareing this to be my true last will and (blank)

In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this 22nd day of September in eighteen hundred and four [1804] signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Jonas Likens as his last will and testament in our presents and at his request did sign our names as witnesses thereunto N.B, before signed by my executors with full power to deed the real estate interlined in the of the sixth line.

Jonas X Likeing {seal}

James Steer his mark
Joel Marton
Philip Garrat mark

In the name of God, amen. I Rebecca Likens of the county of Frederick and State of Virginia being sick and weak of body but of sound mind and disposing memory calling to mind the great uncertainty of human life and being disirous of disposing of all such worldly estate as it has pleased Almighty God to bless me with do, in order to that effect hereby make this my last will and testament giving and bequeathing the same in manner & form following that is to say,

1st. It is my will and desire that my executor hereafter mentioned shall out of the money hereafter mentioned and appropriated for that purpose pay and discharge all my funeral expenses.

2ly. I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law William Rankins all my notes and bonds of every nature whatsoever out of which is to be defrayed my said funeral expences.

3ly. I give and bequeath unto my said son-in-law William Rankins and my daughter Ann Rankins all my land which lies in the said county of Frederick and which in bounded by the lines of Christian Crum Senr. and others to them and their heirs forever.

4th. I give and bequeath unto my nephew William Rankins Junr. my desk to be possesed by him forever.

5th. I give and bequeath unto my nephew Samuel Rankins my chest freely by him to be possessed.

6th. I give and bequeath unto my niece Nancy Rankins my bed and bed clothes to
be possessed by her forever.

7th. I give and bequeath unto my niece Maria Rankins all my pewter to be possessed by her forever.

8th. I give and bequeath unto my niece Rebecca Lock my brass kettle arm chair to be possessed by her forever.

9th. I give and bequeath unto Richard Ridgway and Jonas Ridgeway equally to be possessed or divided between them by sale my single plated stove.

10th. I give and bequeath unto my son William Likins one hundred dollars to be paid him by my said son-in-law William Rankins.

11th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Pheoby Ingle fifty dollars to be paid her by my said son-in-law William Rankins.

12th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Marsh fifty dollars also to be paid her by my son-in-law William Rankins.

13th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Rankins all my wearing appearal also all and every other piece of property not already disposed of in several desures

And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my said son-in-law William Rankins sole executor of this last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all other or former wills heretofore made by me.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this twenty fifth day of January in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.

Signed sealed published and declared heras and for the last will and testament of the above named Rebecca Likens before us the subscribers who was requested to sign it by said Rebecca Likens as witnesses thereto

Rebecca X Likens
{Seal}
mark
William Reed
Thomas Wiett
Geo. M. Seevers