My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM E. LUKENS, a well known lumber merchant of Philadelphia, whose country residence is located in Plymouth township, near Plymouth Meeting, is descended from one of the oldest colonial families. Their ancestor was Jan Lucken, who emigrated from Holland to this country in 1683, and settled in Germantown. Among his sons was Abraham Lukens, who was the father of John Lukens, who was the associate of David Rittenhouse, the celebrated astronomer, and assisted him in observing the transit of Venus at his observatory in Norriton township in 1769. He was a skilled mathematician, and became surveyor general of Pennsylvania, succeeding Nicholas Scull.

Mr. Lukens has been twice married. He has one daughter by the first marriage, and a son by the second marriage. His present wife, Sybella (Thacher) Lukens, is descended from an old New England family, of whom Anthony Thacher was the first ancestor in this country. He was a brother of Rev. Peter Thacher, a distinguished English clergyman. Anthony Thacher came from Salisbury, England, bringing with him a nephew, Thomas Thacher. After remaining a short time at Ipswich, he and his wife embarked for Marblehead, August 11, 1635, the vessel in which he sailed being wrecked off Cape Ann, and all on board drowned except Anthony and his wife. His cousin Avery had received an invitation to preach at Marblehead, and he and Anthony with their families were on their way to that place when the dreadful shipwreck occurred. Twenty-one persons in all were drowned, including the Joseph Avery family, eleven in all; Anthony Thacher’s children, five; William Elliott, and four mariners. The desolate island on which the catastrophe occurred, was called “Thacher’s Woe,” and the rock which the vessel struck “Avery’s Fall.” Whittier has written a beautiful poem, “The Rock of Avery’s Fall.” The colonial authorities granted Mr. Thacher the island on which he found safety as his personal inheritance.

The second wife of Anthony Thacher was Elizabeth Jones, whom he married six weeks previous to sailing to America. Their children were John, Judah and Bethian.

Of these sons, John was the ancestor of Mrs. Lukens. He was born March 17, 1639, and became a prominent man in the colony of Massachusetts. He married, November 6, 1661, Rebecca Winslow, daughter of Josiah Winslow, and niece of the first governor, Winslow. A remarkable circumstance in connection with Mr. Winslow’s marriage is handed down in the family. On his return home with his bride they stopped at the house of Colonel Gorham, of Barnstable. An infant three weeks old was introduced with the remark that she was born on such a night. He answered that it was the very night on which he was married, and, taking the child, presented it to his bride, saying, “I wish you would kiss her, as I intend to have her for my second wife.” Mrs. Thacher did so, saying, “I will, to please you, but I hope it will be a long time before you have that pleasure.” This jesting prediction was verified, for the wife died, and the child, Lydia Gorham, arrived at mature age by that time, actually became his wife, January 1, 1684. It is also related that John, after the death of his first wife, while riding in Barnstable, saw a horse belonging to his son Peter tied in front of the Gorham residence, and, finding that he had advanced considerably in his suit with Miss Lydia, whom the father had prophetically declared would be his second wife, he took Peter aside and offered him ten pounds in money and a yoke of black steers to resign his claims, which offer the son appears to have accepted. John and Miss Lydia were duly married. John Thacher had in all twenty-one children, nine by the first wife and twelve by the second.

One of those by the second marriage of John Thacher, was Judah, born August 20, 1693, died January 8, 1775. He was a prominent merchant in Yarmouth, and married Sarah Crosby, June 4, 1724. She died October 20, 1771, aged sixty- nine years. They had eight children, of whom David (great-great-grandfather) born March 14, 1730, inherited and lived on his father’s place. He was a prominent man in the colony being representative, senator and judge. He married and had six children, only one of whom, David the youngest, reached maturity. He died November 9, 1801. His widow, Mrs. Abigail Thacher, died April 25, 1803, aged seventy-six years.

David Thacher (great-grandfather) was educated at college and a leading man in Yarmouth, He failed in business on account of the embargo of 1812. He removed to Egg Harbor, New Jersey, and died there in reduced circumstances. He married, first, Sarah Gray, of Yarmouth, July 4, 1786. She died July 21, 1793. Their children were Sallie, David, died in infancy. He married, second wife, Eunice Wells Noble, June 12, 1796. Their children: David, Oliver N., Henry, Frederick, Arthur, Abigail, Lucy W., Alfred, Cyrus, Eunice Noble, Charles Fox, and Martha P.

Mr. and Mrs. Lukens have spent a considerable part of their time recently at Beaufort, North Carolina, where Mr. Lukens has extensive lumber interests.