January 8, 1776
This obituary contained a cautionary tale about the winter weather, which caused the death of a Delaware teenager. At midday on December 23, Rebecca Killen walked to a neighbor’s house, about a quarter of a mile away, and immediately stood in front of the fireplace to warm up. But “so extremely had the chilness of the air affected her, that she sunk down in a fainting posture. Killen was escorted home and “every method and appliance was made use of that two very skilled physicians attending could devise,” with no improvement.
Rebecca Killen was mourned for her kind and meek demeanor, “possessing a share of prudence and discretion above her years” and a “sweet domestic usefulness.” She was buried at the Presbyterian cemetery in Dover alongside her mother, also named Rebecca, who had died in 1773 at age 37 “after a painful illness.” The notice of her death described the “irreparable loss of a disconsolate husband,” William, while the 1775 notice of their daughters’ death described William as “her afflicted father.”
There are, in fact, three Rebecca Killens buried at the cemetery in Dover: William Killen’s wife and daughter, as well as his second wife, also named Rebecca.
Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet or, the General Advertiser
Printed by John Dunlap
Kent County, on Delaware
On the 23d ult. a day remarkably cold and gloomy, Miss REBECCA KILLEN, the third daughter of William Killen, Esq; of Dover, in the sixteenth year of her age, walked out, a little before noon, to a neighbouring house about a quarter of a mile distant from the town. The minute she entered the door, and approached the fire, so extremely had the chilness of the air affected her, that she sunk down in a fainting posture. As soon as it was practicable, she was conveyed home; retaining yet some symptoms of life, which did not indeed intirely disappear for ten or eleven hours after. During all this time, every method and appliance was made use of that two very skillful physicians attending could devise—while Hope and deep Anxiety stood looking on;—but all appliances and means proved ineffectual.—Endued with a temper meek and exceeding kind; possessing a share of prudence and discretion above her years; having a peculiar happy turn for retirement and sweet domestic usefulness; she delighted to fulfil the pious duties of a Daughter, and all the Sister’s endearing offices.—Called off so early—so very unexpectedly, from this her tender department! No wonder, if the loss of such a one should be lamented.—But still, this consolation the dear departed Innocent hath left for her afflicted father, and the remaining children of the family—the memory of her blooming virtues.
