"In 1907 an 800 page Milliken genealogy was published by Journal Pressi n Lewiston ME from information compiled by Rev Gideon TibbettsRidlon, S r. of Kezar Falls, ME which relates the following:.....
Thomas MILLIKEN, born abt 1730; died abt. 1778 in Milford Twp.,Cumberl and Co., PA; buried abt 1778 in Milford Twp., Cumberland Co.,PA. Accor ding to a genealogy published in 1907 by Rev G T Ridlon,Thomas Millike n came from one of the northern counties of Ireland,and with his broth er, sat down first in Chester Co., PA. Hesubsequently secured a grant o f several hundred acres of land in[what is now] Juniata Co., probably b etween 1760 and 1770, and therecleared his farm, now in Spruce Hill To wnship in the TuscaroraValley. At the beginning of the Revolution, he w ith several neighborswalked to Lancaster, PA where they joined a compa ny of expertriflemen, then being made up; a company that became a part o f theSecond Regiment, and was sent to Cambridge, Mass. where they arri vedAugust 4, 1775, and participated in the latter engagements in the locality under General [Charles] Lee. He was with [Benedict] Arnold inQ uebec, and during the expedition rendered valuable service as a spy.Af terwards, he served under [Israel] Putnam, and was attached to[George] W ashington's staff. In 1778, completely broken down by longmarches, exp osure to cold and hunger, he was sent home and soondied."
Cumberland County PA Will Book "D" Page 449 #2
Will of Thomas Millikin deceased
In the name of God. Amen: I Thomas Milliken of Milford township Countyo f Cumberland being of sound and perfect mind & memory &understanding a nd sensible of the great uncertainty of this life &c,think convenient t o make this my last will & testament as follows,
First and principally I commend my Soul to Almighty God my Creatorhopi ng through his mercy & the prevailing merits and mediation of Myblesse d Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be eternally happy and mybody I comm it to the Earth to be decently intered at the discretionof my Executor s hereinafter named and as for such worldly substanceas it hath please d God to bestow upon me. I do hereby give devise anddispose of the sam e in manner following that is to say.
In the first place my will is that such Just debts as I shall owe atmy d ecease be together with my funeral expences paid with allconvenient Sp eed after my interment. I do hereby give & bequeath thethird of my rea l & personal estate to my Dear and loving wife MaryMillikin During her n atural life likewise I give her the gray mareand one cow together with h er bed & bedding for her own private useExclusive of her thirds. I giv e and bequeath to my children each anequal share of my plantation to b e divided equally amongst them Saidplantation to be sold when my secon d son James Millikin arrives atthe age of twenty one years.
Likewise tis my will that my wife shall have the use of all thehouseho ld furniture & the whole profits of the place for the space oftwo year s together with all the Swine and the whole crop now in theground prov ided she keeps and cloathes the Said children during thatterm and then i f she continue to keep the children She shall beentitled to the same p riveleges as before.
And I do appoint & authorize James Gray guardian for my son JohnMillik in, Joseph McConnell guardian for James Milligan, John Crozzerfor Edwa rd Milligen, William Bell for Saml Millikan and JohnMcConnell guardian f or Thomas Millikan until said children arrive atthe age to choose guar dians for themselves. Tis my will that eachchild shall have schooling S ufficient for them before and after theirapprenticeship Commences & ti s my will & desire that each child shallbe put to a trade at the age o f fourteen years.
I do appoint & constitute my trusty friends William McConell & ThomasT orbett my sole Executors of this my last will & testament made thisday a nd I do revoke & renounce all former wills Dated this eight dayof Apri l in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred andSeventy eight 1 778.
In witness whereof I set my hand & seal this day and year abovewritten . In presence of us David Beale, Thomas Beale, William Shaw
the word then interlined before signing, Joseph McConnell
his
Thomas Millikan
mark
Be it remembered that on the 6th day of June Anno Domini 1780 thetesta mant and last will of Thomas Millikan was legally proved ofwhich the f oregoing record is a true copy and letters testametyissued in Common f orm to William McConnell and Thomas Torbutt (theformer only being swor n) Executors therein named, Inventory andaccount to be exhibited in th e time appointed by law.
