Notes for: John M. Bodine

Recent DNA evidence (as of 2008) shows that John M. Bodine's father was not a Bodine. This would seem to confirm the idea that he was born to Orrionehe Bodine before she was married and he then took her last name. Whether his father was actually Benjamin Rightmire or not would have to be proven with a DNA test to someone with the Rightmire name descended from this family.

John M. Bodine was a blacksmith. He would appear to be the "John Bodine, son of Mrs. Benjamin Rightmire," mentioned in the will of Mary Evans in 1787 in Loudoun County, Virginia. The following comes from the Loudoun County Court Orders, Book M, page 62, August 8, 1785, it would appear to concern this John Bodine:

Ordered that John Bodine, age 17, as of next January, bound to Nathan Cockrane to be taught the trade of blacksmith.

The Nelson County, Kentucky records also identify him as a blacksmith. In Loudoun County, in 1790, the tax for him was paid by Mathias Lowry and in 1794 by Charles Bennett, Jr. John Finch died September 14, 1824, in Nelson County, Kentucky and his estate was administered on December 20, 1824. The estate went to his wife Catherine and the following daughters were named: Ann Bodine, Margaret McCaffery, Elizabeth Rickmire, and Martha Cambron. John Bodine moved from Breckenridge County, Kentucky to North Arm (near Paris, Illinois) in 1831. Information on this line came from Sister Jane Bodine, Dr. Mary M. Maloney, and George W. Wehrle, among others.

In 1993, Susan McCullough-Dennell visited the little church at North Arm near Paris, Illinois. She said it is full of Bodines.

Here is a series of messages about John's last name:

From: Sister Susan Karina Dickey [sdickey at dio.org]
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2003
Subject: Of possible interest

Aloysius and Elizabeth Brown of North Arm, Edgar County, Illinois, were the first Catholic settlers within the present boundaries of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. I came across your website while doing some research on the Browns. Our 1928 diocesan history contains some information regarding two persons I did not find in your compilation.

Jane Brown, daughter of Aloysius, became a member of the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana, in 1844. She served as superior mother for many years. In religious life she was known as Sister Anastasia. She died August 10, 1918. Date and place of birth is not provided.

Ann and Alma Brown, daughters of James Brown, and granddaughters of Aloysius also became Sisters of Providence. I found an "Anna" in your list, known in religious life as Sr. Mary Gertrude. My source indicates that the dates of birth could not be determined, but both sisters were still living as of 1928.

James Brown was reported to be the first white child born in Edgar County.

Source: Thompson, Joseph, J., editor and compiler, The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, Diamond Jubilee, 1853-1928. Springfield: James A. Griffin, Bishop of Springfield, 1928, p. 199.

Best wishes,
Susan Karina Dickey, O.P., Ph.D.
Director of Archives & Diocesan Historian
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
P.O. Box 3187, Springfield, IL 2704
Ph. 217-522-3986


rom: Dave Bodine
To: 'Sister Susan Karina Dickey' [sdickey at dio.org]
Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2003
Subject: RE: Of possible interest - Brown & Bodine families


ello,

Thanks for contacting me with this information. I have added it to my computer data.

I have a question for you about the Bodines who married into this family. I'm hoping that maybe you can shed some light on it.

John M. Bodine was the father of James M. Bodine. James was the father of the Catherine Bodine who married James H. Brown (the first white baby born in Edgar Co.). James M. Bodine was also married to Mary Louisa Brown, the daughter of Aloysius Brown.

Anyway, my question is about John M. Bodine, James's father. His mother was Orrionehe Bodine who appears to have had John out of wedlock (or why else was his last name still Bodine?). This is one theory anyway. John may have been born in Loudoun County, Virginia or in Nelson County, Kentucky in about 1769. He died in 1835 and is buried in the old cemetery in North Arm near Paris, IL. This family did spend a good amount of time in Nelson County, KY.

John Bodine is the only Bodine from his line who was Catholic. I've often wondered if maybe he was given up by his mother to a convent or something because he was born out of wedlock. There was a convent in Nelson County, KY, but I can't remember the name of it. It is very old, though. Would they have records of this or were those kind of things not kept?

Thanks for any help you can be with this.

Best regards,
Dave Bodine
From: Sister Susan Karina Dickey, OP [sdickey at dio.org]
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Subject: Re: Of possible interest - Brown & Bodine families

Nelson County, is the cradle of Kentucky Catholicism. You can rule out being raised by Nelson County nuns. The two oldest communities (Sisters of Loretto and Sisters of Charity of Nazareth) were established in 1812 (I erred yesterday in stating 1814), when John M. Bodine would have been 33 years old.

It is possible that JMB was illegitimate. Based on my studies in women's history it's unusual, but not rare, that a woman gave birth and then later married the father. They would not necessarily have given up the child. He might have been raised in a Catholic orphanage. Or adopted--legally or informally--by a Catholic family.

I think it more likely, however, that JMB become Catholic when he married. Historically, that's the most common reason a non-Catholic became Catholic. He married Nancy Ann Finch in Bardstown in 1804. That town became the first diocesan see (headquarters) west of the Alleghenies in 1808. I suggest you contact St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral. stjoe at bardstown.com Ask about baptismal or marriage records for JMB. Start with the marriage since you have a firm date. If there is an entry it MIGHT indicate whether or not he was a convert. Also inquire about Catholic orphanages.

Possibly, the sacramental registers for baptisms and marriages are kept at the present-day diocesan headquarters in Louisville. The Archivist is Fr. Dale Cieslik. [chancery at archlou.org]. I'd try Bardstown first.

You're certain JMB was the only Catholic from his line? Bodine is a French name, I think, so there are probably Catholic origins unless the Bodines were Huguenots. Of course, on the frontier, many Catholics gave up the faith for lack of priests and the bigotry of their neighbors.

North Arm was definitely a Catholic enclave. Sacramental records from about 1850 or so are available through St. Mary Church, Paris, Illinois. Email Fr. William Overmann, Pastor [wovermann at comwares.net].

I've put out some feelers about Loudoun County. Expect to have something in a few days.

Here is some information from Vernon Vinzant:

Also, I don't know if I sent you the following gleaned on a trip last year: In the Terre Haute, IN, library there is an extract of records from St. Mary in the Woods Church that lists the following:

BIRTHS
NAME; DATE; AGE; PARENTS; SPONSORS; PRIEST
Bodine, John; Feb 3, 1827; -; -; -; Buteux
Bodine, John David; Jan 5, 1865; 6 mo.; Thomas & Margaretta; G. Reynolds, Cath. Reynolds; -
Bodine, Mary Elizabeth; Feb 21, 1838; -; James; -; (ditto for) Buteux
Bodine, Mary Estele; Feb. 5, 1870; -; Alexander & Ellen; John Bodine & wife; Meinrad
Bodine, Thos.; Aug 16, 1874; -; John & Ellen Wrickmyer; Michael Lively, Ellen Butler; McBarron
Bodine, William; Feb 3, 1837; -; -; -; Buteux
Bodine, William; April 4, 1841; -; John & Lucinda; -; Buteux
Bodine, Anna Marie; May 20, 1841; -; -; James & wife; -; Buteux
Bodine, Chas. L.; June 21, 1869; -; John & Ellen; Henry Leseure; Meinrad
Bodine, George E.; Nov 10, 1872; -; Alex & Ellen Edenington; Thomas Butler & May F. Shea; McBarron

MARRIAGES
HUSBAND; WIFE; DATE; WITNESS; PRIEST
Bodine, Alexander C.; Everngton, Ella M.; April 23, 1868; Francis Lightfoot & Hester McAdams; Meinrad
Bodine, Thomas; Reynolds, Margaret; Feb 19, 1841; -; Buteux Brown, John; Rightmier, Ella; Apr 21, 1868; Elsie Mickelberry & Annie Rightmier; Meinrad