Notes for: Lydia Bodine

Data from Betty Malone Strawther in 1997 gives her married name as Moon. For quite some time, Lydia's maiden name was not certain. Some camps claimed it was Burke. Others said it was Bodine. I think the message below from Jim Moon should clear up the confusion.

Re: James Bodine, of Loudoun Co., VA
Posted by: James MoonDate: November 30, 2001
In Reply to: James Bodine, of Loudoun Co., VA by Ronny Bodine

Mr. Bodine,

You may add Lydia (Bodine) Moon (born August 9, 1780 in Loudon County, Virginia - died May 20, 1855 in Hamilton County, Tennessee), wife of Rev. Jonas Moon (born July 18, 1777 in Pennsylvania - died April 27, 1849 in Hamilton County, Tennessee) to the list of children born to James Bodine.

Although I have no written documentation, strong oral tradition asserts Lydia Moon, wife of Rev. Jonas Moon was the daughter of James Bodine, of Sevier County, Tennessee. The Moons and Bodines resided in Sevier County, Tennessee where many of the early records were destroyed. I am confident if they had not been destroyed we would have written records attesting to the relationship between the Moons and Bodines.

James Harvey Moon (1818-1904) was a son of Rev. Jonas Moon and his wife, Lydia (Bodine) Moon. James Harvey Moon related to his children and grandchildren that his mother, Lydia, was born a Bodine and that he (James Harvey Moon) was named "James" in honor of his Grandfather Bodine. That certainly indicates that Lydia was the daughter of James Bodine. James Harvey Moon talked often of his kinfolks, including his Bodine relatives. There were a number of cousin intermarriages between the descendants of this family, especially into the Bodines. This was not uncommon for the time.

Someone started some foolishness a number of years ago trying to say that Lydia (Bodine) Moon was the daughter of John and Effie Burke. That is not true. Effie Burke was Lydia (Bodine) Moon's SISTER. James Harvey Moon talked of his "Aunt Effie Burke." A cousin of mine, Idella Kelly, was led astray in her old age about this point, but the fact remains that Effie was Lydia's sister, not her mother. Family tradition clearly indicates that Lydia was a Bodine and the daughter of James Bodine. This came directly from Lydia's son, James Harvey Moon, who would certainly have been in a position to know.

Jim Moon

End of message from Jim Moon.

Some info says Lydia and her husband only had two children, James and Noah.

I did have that she might have been born in Greene County, Pennsylvania and that she had died on March 30, 1858.