Notes for: Francis Bodine

The following information comes from the Sinnott book (p. 169): In early manhood, Francis Bodine moved to Burlington County and spent the remainder of his life in Northampton Township, about a half mile from Lumberton and two and a half miles from Mount Holly where he had a plantation of considerable size. He died Setember 27, 1822 and was buried at the Old Methodist Cemetery in Lumberton, New Jersey. His wife is also buried there. His will was proven on October 10, 1822 and made bequests to the children mentioned below.

John Stanwood has visited Francis' grave.

Francis's place, near Little Egg Harbor, was one of the Methodist circuit rider's stops. Here is a list of stops from Rev. Cooper's circuit from 1787:

TRENTON CIRCUIT, in New Jersey, had, as reported to the Annual Conference for that year (1787), three hundred and seventy-two members. These were divided into classes extending over a large tract of country, requiring six weeks to visit and minister to them all with regularity, and two preachers to serve them. Mr. Cooper's colleague was Nathaniel B. Mills, who was that year admitted on trial in the Conference. As was stated concerning the circuit last passed under review, we are constrained to say of this one: our Church historians have given so meager an account of this field at this time that we enter more into detail than we otherwise would. That the inquirer may have some data wherewith to be guided in his search into early history, the appointments of the circuit are here given, namely: Burlington, Crosswicks (at Mr. Smith's), Monmouth, Perrine's, Outgelt's, Kingston, Anderson's (near Princeton), Mr. Fiddler's, Pennytown, Hopewell, Penny Hill, Mr. Hancock's, Trenton, Mr. George's (near Burlington), Mount Holly, New Mills, Browntown, Edge Pillage, Speedwell Furnace, Francis Bodine's, Esquire Matthias's, Egg Harbor, Esquire Tucker's, Hawkins's, Wier Town, Good Luck, Mr. Brewer's, Mr. Woolley's, Colt's Neck, church near Mr. Morford's, Peter Barclay's, Mr. Higgins's (near Delaware River), Hanover (at Widow Job's), Hancock's, Bask River, Clamtown, Mr. Cook's, Cedar Creek, Dover, Mr. Throckmorton's, Mr. Grandine's, Joseph Thompson's (near Cranberry), Shrewsbury, Pleasant Valley, (at Mr. Stoutenborough's), Middletown Point (at Mr. Francis's, a Churchman), Long Branch, Mr. Rowland's, Heightstown (at Mr. Shaw's), and Robert Pettes's. These, comprising more than fifty in number, besides other places where an occasional service was held, made both the traveling and the preaching, with other ministerial duties, constant, laborious, and extensive. While it would be highly interesting to many readers to provide Mr. Cooper's Journal entire, space will not permit it, and such extracts only as are most serviceable to an understanding of the work, times, and events will be here given.

Mr. Cooper began the work on his new charge on the 6th day of June, A. D. 1787, of which he thus speaks;

Wednesday, 27. I had a long sandy road to travel, and was glad when I got to my preaching-place, which was at Speedwell Furnace. I had to preach to a number of workmen, who generally, at such places, are very wicked. I had liberty, and perceived that many were affected. Colonel Randal, from Philadelphia, the owner of the works, was there, and appeared to be very friendly. I then rode about three miles to Francis Bodine's, and preached to a small congregation.

And here is something else:

The month of March, 1796, was devoted by Mr. Cooper to a tour, through some of the circuits in New Jersey, and in attendance upon their quarterly meetings. During this tour he visited Mount Holly, where he was the guest, of Esquire Shiras; New Mills, at Isaac Budd's; Francis Bodine's, near Egg Harbor; Hawkin, where a quarterly meeting was held March 5, 6, under the charge of Rev. Richard Swain, assisted by Rev. Joseph Lovell. Eight years before Mr. Cooper had preached on this circuit, and everywhere was greeted by old friends. During this meeting he was entertained by Esquires Conklin and Randolph. From thence he went to Wiertown, preached in the school-house, and visited Mrs. Headly and Mr. Chamberlain; thence to Goodluck, preached there at Mr. Woodmansee's, not in the "meeting-house;" thence to Tom's River, where was a "small Society at friend Irons's. This Society had been formed within a few years. Having closed his visit to Burlington Circuit, his next excursion was through Freehold Circuit, where Anthony Turk and Daniel Crouch were appointed to labor for that year.

See "Beams of Light on Early Methodism in America. Chiefly Drawn from the Diary, Letters, Manuscripts, Documents, and Original Tracts of the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper: Electronic Edition. Cooper, Ezekiel, 1763-1847" for more on this.

The following comes from "Early New Jersey Marriages," #450:

Franses (Francis) BODINE and Isack (Isaac) CRAMER, both of Little Egg Harbour in the County of Gloucester** (**someone tried to erase it) Birlinton*... [bound to]... William FRANKLIN, Governor... 500 pounds... 20 March 1768. ... Franses BODINE... obtained license of marriage for himself and for Mary ROSE, "semstres" of the Township...[w] Richard WESCOT.

The following came from Ronny Bodine:

Francis Bodine, of Little Egg Harbor and Mary Rose, seamstress, were married by license of 20 March 1768. The will of Francis Bodine, of Northampton Township, written 8 June 1821, was proved 10 Oct 1822 and therein named his children James, Daniel, Samuel, Mary Warner, Betsy Warner, Ephamy Barnhart and Frances Collins, and grandson Francis Collins. Executors were his sons Daniel and Samuel Bodine (New Jersey Wills, File 13232C). In correspondence of 24 May 1897, his granddaughter, Rebecca L. Bodine, wrote to Mary Elizabeth Sinnott that Francis had served in the War of 1812 and "had the leather belt that he were to carry powder and shot blown from his body, but he was not injured." Francis and Mary Bodine were buried in the "old Methodist burying-ground" in Lumberton where the inscriptions on their gravestones were included in the "History of Burlington and Mercer Counties, New Jersey," Philadelphia, 1881, p. 348 as "Francis Bodine died 27 September 1822, aged 78" and "Mary Bodine died 15 December 1820 aged 72."