Notes for: William H. Bodine, Sr.

I only have sources that his name was William H. Bodine. However, his son was William Horace Bodine, Jr. I would venture to guess that his middle name was Horace, but I have no other proof of that.

I am only guessing that this William is the son of Benjamin Bodine and Catherine Ent. Take all this information with a grain of salt. More documentation is needed to really prove all of this. I am leaning heavily on burials in the Sandy Ridge Cemetery and the 1850 Census of Delaware Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey to show some of these relationships, but much of that is guesswork. Info from Carol Morris is also in agreement with what I had.

Carol Morris (CarolM8606 at aol.com) sent me the following photograph of William Bodine in September of 2000. They appear to have been taken around the 1870's in Lambertville, New Jersey by a man named Fritz.

William H. Bodine

I had April 13, 1819 for William's birth date, but Carol Reading Morris (CarolM8606 at aol.com) sent me this new date, April 30, 1818. That comes from his tombstone. Carol also gave me his middle initial "H." She said that the middle intitial is on the monument at his grave. Since William had a son named William Horace Bodine, Jr., the middle initial "H" could stand for "Horace." However, later information I recieved might point toward the "H" standing for "Howard." See my notes further below.

A Delilah Ann is listed as the wife of William Bodine in the cemetery at Sandy Ridge Baptist Church in Hunterdon County. She was William's first wife. William died on March 28, 1886 in his 68th year. He would have been born around 1818. Delilah died young in 1847. She was only about 26. Brian Bodine says the stone says "Deliah."

Deats lists a Mary Bellis as the wife of a William Bodine. They were married January 23, 1850 by Summerbell in the Christian Church in Milford, New Jersey (Book 3, p. 350, Kingwood Township Records). Deborah Naylor-Farhar says that Summerbell was a Minister of the Christian Church in Kingwood Township, but he lived in Alexandria (Hunterdon County, New Jersey). Benjamin was William's father and John Bellis was the father of Mary. This couple is buried in the Sandy Ridge Cemetery. She died in 1904 at age 84.

Here is a picture of Mary Bellis sent to me by Carol Morris:

Mary (Bellis) Bodine

The following comes from a book on Hunterdon County called "Recollections of Baptistown (p. 89). It is located online at "http://www.raub-and-more.com/":

Mary Bellis was born Dec 2, 1824. She married Jan 23, 1850 to William Bodine. They had 9 children, all of whom are still living: Della Catharine married John D. Larison; Emma Elizabeth married George W. Kugler; Marietta married John R. Johnson of Lumberville, Pa., merchant; William Horace married Jennie Horner; Wesley B. married first Jennie Hunt, married second Emma Wood; Jane; Anna R. married Henry Roole; Carrie; Ida married Lewis P. Nailer.

There is a William and Catherine Bodine listed in the same household as Benjamin and Catherine Bodine (1850 Census, Delaware Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ). This William was married to Mary Bellis by the time of the 1850 Census. If Catherine is William's wife, then the name Catherine might refer to Mary Bellis. Maybe her name was Mary Catherine Bellis. This census needs to be checked again to make sure exactly what it says about the relationship between William and Catherine.

Carol Morris (CarolM8606 at aol.com) wrote the following in September of 2000:

Also I have two albums that I am scanning all the photos, if you descend from George W. Kugler (son of Samuel) & Emma Bodine (dau of William Bodine & Mary Bellis) I have photos from the mid 1800's.

Here is the message that Carol Morris sent me concerning the children of William Bodine and his two wives:

Subject: Re: William Bodine and Mary Bellis
Date: 23 Sep 2000
From: CarolM8606 at aol.com

Descendants of William H. Bodine

... 1 William H. Bodine b: Apr 30, 1818 in NJ d: Mar 28, 1886 in NJ.
........... +Delilah Ann Rittenhouse b: Jul 28, 1821 d: Jul 28, 1847 in NJ m: Aug 7, 1841 in NJ.
..... 2 John E. Bodine b: 1843 in NJ.
........... +Jane H. ? b: 1843 in NJ.
..... 2 Watson R. Bodine b: Jun 23, 1844 in Delaware Twp NJ d: 1917 in NJ.
........... +Ann Elizabeth Sharp b: May 23, 1841 d: Jun 19, 1916 m: Dec 20, 1871 Father: George W. Sharp Mother: Elizabeth VanDolah.

(Note from Dave Bodine: I am adding a picture here of Watson and Ann's gravestone. This was sent to me by Chris Hankins (hankinschris at hotmail.com).

Watson R. and Ann (Sharp) Bodine

..... 2 Samuel Reading Bodine b: 1846.
..... 2 Charles W. Bodine b: 1847 in NJ.
........... *2nd Wife of William Bodine:
........... +Mary Bellis b: Dec 2, 1824 in NJ d: May 26, 1908 in NJ m: Jan 23, 1850 in NJ Father: John Jr. Bellis Mother: Elizabeth Roberson.
..... 2 Delia Catherine Bodine b: Nov 17, 1850.
........... +John Larison b: in See notes m: Dec 11, 1872 in Hunterdon Co. NJ (Deats).
..... 2 Emma Elizabeth Bodine b: Aug 16, 1852 d: 1929.
........... +George W. Kugler b: Dec 1846 d: 1927 m: Nov 24, 1875 Father: Samuel R. Kugler Mother: Eliza Rittenhouse.
..... 2 Marietta Bodine b: Apr 11, 1855 d: 1939.
........... +John R. Johnson b: Apr 22, 1854 d: 1926 m: Jan 1, 1879 in Hunterdon Co.NJ Father: Albert Rittenhouse Johnson Mother: Margaret A. Dilts.
..... 2 William Horace Jr. Bodine b: Nov 7, 1857 in NJ d: Oct 29, 1936.
........... +Jennie Horner
..... 2 Wesley Bellis Bodine b: Nov 17, 1859 in Stockton NJ d: Aug 15, 1910 in Stockton, NJ.
........... +Jennie Hunt b: 1868 d: Feb 27, 1891 in see notes m: Jan 1889 in NJ.
........... *2nd Wife of Wesley Bellis Bodine:
........... +Emma Wood b: 1872 d: Aug 17, 1945 m: Oct 28, 1895.
..... 2 Jennie (Jane) Bodine b: Sep 7, 1861 in NJ d: 1949.
..... 2 Annie Bodine b: Jul 20, 1864.
..... 2 Carrie Bodine b: Feb 2, 1866 in NJ d: 1940.
..... 2 Ida Bodine b: Aug 6, 1868 in NJ.
........... +? Naylor

End of message.

Carol Morris said that Wesley Bodine of Stockton, New Jersey has info on this family (Tel: 609-|||-||||).

Here is some info from the marriage record of William and Delilah (August 18, 1841, v. III, no. 51, p. 155): On the 7th inst., by the Rev. J. W. Wigg, Mr. William Bodine, to Miss Delilah Ann, youngest daughter of Mr. Jonathan Rittenhouse, all of Raritan.

A note for DELILAH ANN RITTENHOUSE sent to me by Carol Morris said this: Lamb. Rec. 9-9-1891. Samuel Rittenhouse, a 16 year old son of Watson Rittenhouse, who lives about a mile north of Sandy Ridge, disapeared from his father's home about two weeks ago and has not been heard from since. Note: This could be related to Delia Ann since one of her sons is named Watson.

Carol also said that Delilah might possibly be the sister of Watson Rittenhouse and Sarah? (Wilson). Her son, Watson R. Bodine, was living with them in the 1850 Census.

Kay Hourigan Larson sent out a list of people who added recipes to a cookbook compiled by the Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Kingwood, Hunterdon County, New Jersey in 1920. In it are mentioned Mrs. George W. Kugler, Mrs. Jennie Bodine, and Carrie W. Bodine. I believe these are all children or wives of the children of William and Mary Bodine.

The following burials are listed in the Everittstown United Methodist Cemetery in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. These can be found on the Internet at "http://www.geocities.com/bgmcdonough.geo/everittstown.htm".

RITTENHOUSE, George W., son of Mahlon & Abby, d. Jul 24, 1877.

RITTENHOUSE, John W., son of Mahlon & Abby, d. May 11, 1875 - age 04 mos., 25 days.

RITTENHOUSE, Mahlon, d. Dec 18, 1866 - age 34 yrs.

RITTENHOUSE, Mary C., dau. of Mahlon & Elizabeth A., d. May 25, 1870 - age 15 yrs., 10 mos., 28 days.

RITTENHOUSE, Infant Son of Mahlon & Abby, d. Sep 21, 1868.

RITTENHOUSE, Lucinda, dau. of Mahlon & Elizabeth A., d. Apr 12, 1868 - age 1 yr., 10 mos., 23 days.

She was lovely, she was fair / And for a while was given /
An angel came and claimed his own / And bore her home to heaven.

Buried in the Frenchtown Cemetery in Frenchtown, Hunterdon County are the following Rittenhouses. These can be found at "http://raub-and-more.com/frenchtown/frenchtownr.html".

Rittenhouse, Sarah A., wife of Watson, 1843-1906.
Rittenhouse, William C., 1882-1903.
Rittenhouse, George, 1867-1869.
Rittenhouse, Albert, 1878-1878.
Rittenhouse, Florence D., b. and d. 1883.
Rittenhouse, Mary Jane, wife of Richard Ashcroft, 1838-1911.
Rittenhouse, Deborah; see Lair, Deborah.
Rittenhouse, George, d. March 29, 1888, aged 65-2-0.
Rittenhouse, Harold, 1896-1902.
Rittenhouse, Ella, 1866-1952.
Rittenhouse, Herbert, 1894-1916 (U.S. Vet).
Rittenhouse, Charles B., 1865-1956.
Rittenhouse, Asa, 1835-1906.
Rittenhouse, Louisiana, 1839-1928.
Rittenhouse, Benjamin D., 1864-1878.
Rittenhouse, Amy L., 1867-1878.
Rittenhouse, Annie J., 1871-1875.
Rittenhouse, Benjamin, d. March 8, 1871, aged 73-7-1.
Rittenhouse, Mary, wife of Benjamin, b. May 21, 1803, d. July 12, 1883.
Rittenhouse, Sarah E., wife of Joseph Stull, b. 1864.
Rittenhouse, Elisha, b. May 12, 1828, d. Jan. 2, 1911.
Rittenhouse, Delilah; see Burkett, Delilah.
Rittenhouse, Annie E., 1872-1954.
Rittenhouse, Thomas, son of Daniel and Catherine A., b. Feb. 18, 1847, d. Sept. 1, 1876.
Rittenhouse, Catherine A. wife of Daniel T., d. Jan. 12, 1867, aged 74 years--stone broken and repaired.
Rittenhouse, Daniel T., d. March 20, 1881 (?), aged 83-5-14, stone in rough shape.
Rittenhouse (Father), 1831-1916.
Rittenhouse, Sarah L. C. (Mother), 1834-1910.
Rittenhouse, Wilson, 1858-1935.
Rittenhouse, Belle; see Burd, Belle.
Rittenhouse, Cornelia, wife of Rev. N. J. Wright, 1856-1951.
Rittenhouse, Mary H., daughter of Jere and M. E., d. May 13, 18??, aged 6 years.
Rittenhouse, Mary E.; see Burket, Mary E.
Rittenhouse, Jeremiah, b. Jan. 6, 1837, d. March 25, 1895.
Rittenhouse, Francis W., b. May 1, 1869, d. Sept. 4, 1903.
Rittenhouse, Kenneth B., b. Dec. 5, 1901, d. June 26, 1920.
Rittenhouse, Mary, wife of Reuben Hillpot, 1856-1896.
Rittenhouse, John S., son of David and Jane, Aug. 28, 1865. Stone broken.
Rittenhouse, Catharine, b. Jan. 17, 1819, d. Jan. 16, 1886.
Rittenhouse, Caroline; see Voorhees, Caroline.
Rittenhouse, Nathaniel T., b. Aug. 22, 1823, d. July 14, 1891.
Rittenhouse, Catharine; see Hoffman, Catharine.
Rittenhouse, Nellie, wife of Mitchell Case, 1881-1919.
Rittenhouse, Charles, b. Sept. 3, 1858, d. Aug. 4, 1890.
Rittenhouse, Mary J.; see Slater, Mary J.
Rittenhouse, Roland Hoff, 1907-1913.
Rittenhouse, Elizabeth H., 1869-1942.
Rittenhouse, Oscar, 1869-1942.
Rittenhouse, Pearl, 1880-1949.
Rittenhouse, Isabelle C., 1856-1937.
Rittenhouse, Brener, 1855-1926.
Rittenhouse, William, b. April 5, 1826, d. Jan. 1, 1892.
Rittenhouse, Ida; see Brewer, Ida.
Rittenhouse, Erma Fremont, daughter of James Judson and Lillie, b. Dec. 8, 1890, d. Aug. 26, 1894.
Rittenhouse, James Judson, 1857-1927.
Rittenhouse, Lillie U., 1859-1919.
Rittenhouse, Erma F., 1890-1894.
Rittenhouse, Allison P., 1871-1942.
Rittenhouse, Lillie M., 1873-1944.
Rittenhouse, Mahlon, b. Aug. 29, 1827, d. Feb. 23, 1909.
Rittenhouse, Abbey, wife of Mahlon, b. Sept. 29, 1830, d. June 5, 1921.
Rittenhouse, Eva, 1873-1953.
Rittenhouse, Elijah R., 1843-1907.
Rittenhouse, Susan; see Roberson, Susan.
Rittenhouse, John D., 1849-1914.
Rittenhouse, Susan A., wife of John D., 1856-1910.
Rittenhouse, Whitfield, 1846-1925.
Rittenhouse, Sarah C.; see Dalrymple, Sarah C.
Rittenhouse, Herbert F., 1869-1905.
Rittenhouse, Whitfield, 1873-1954.
Rittenhouse, Cora; see Fleming, Cora.
Rittenhouse, Cornelius H., 1841-1908.
Rittenhouse, Mary R., wife of Cornelius, 1841-1921.
Rittenhouse, George M., 1868-1938.
Rittenhouse, Laura M., wife of George M., b. 1870.
Rittenhouse, Emma J., 1873-1946.
Rittenhouse, William T., 1870-1945.
Rittenhouse, Annie E., 1854-1936.
Rittenhouse, S. Mabrey, 1840-1918.

I found the following obituary for a William Bodine. I guess it applies to this one. It was in the April 6, 1886 edition of the Hunterdon County Democrat (v. 48, no. 34).

Wm. Bodine, a highly respected and valuable citizen, residing near Stockton, in Delaware township, died quite suddenly at his residence on Sunday afternoon, 28th ult. For some time he had been afflicted with a heart difficulty, but not seriously enough to prevent him from active labor upon his farm. He was buried in Sandy Ridge Cemetery on Friday, the delay being necessary in order to allow time for one of his sons living in the West to reach here. He leaves a widow and thirteen children, the youngest a girl of 16. He was aged about 73 years.

Here is something that was sent to me from the card files at the Hunterdon County Historical Society:

Bodine Reunion 1909 at Island Park, near Easton, Pa. through the efforts of J. V. Bodine.
Those present were: Jane Bodine, Miss Carrie Bodine, Miss Lucy Bodine (Sandy Ridge ), Mrs. Lewis Bodine of Englishtown, Mr. & Mrs Walt Bodine of Philadelphia, Mr. & Mrs. Howard Bodine -- Grandson of Howard Bodine, Trenton, NJ.

Note: These people may be related to Charles W. Bodine (husband of Hannah Shadinger). The Howard Bodine may be his son. If so, this tells me that Howard would be the grandson of William H. Bodine and that the "H" stands for "Howard." This is only a guess however. Here are my guesses as to who else was there: Mr & Mrs Walt Bodine could be Charles "W." Bodine (husband of H. Shadinger). Maybe the "W" stands for "Walter." Mrs. Lewis Bodine is the wife of Charles's son, Lewis. Carrie and Jane would be daughters of William H. Bodine. I'm not sure who Lucy or J. V. Bodine are.

From Ronny Bodine:

William Bodine lived all of his married life in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County engaged in farming. In 1850, as a widower, he lived with two of his children, John (7) and Samuel (4), in the home of his parents. In 1900, Mary Bodine, age 74 and widowed, was living with her son Wesley Bodine in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County. She reported she had borne 9 children and all were then living. Mary (Bellis) Bodine was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Roberson) Bellis.

From: Recollections of Baptistown, by Jay Bee, Published Hunterdon Independent Frenchtown, N.J. 1893 - 1897.
Mary Bellis was born Dec 2, 1824. She married Jan 23, 1850 to William Bodine. They had 9 children, all of whom are still living: Della Catharine married John D. Larison; Emma Elizabeth married George W. Kugler; Marietta married John R. Johnson of Lumberville, Pa., merchant; William Horace married Jennie Horner; Wesley B. married first Jennie Hunt, married second Emma Wood; Jane; Anna R. married Henry Roole; Carrie; Ida married Lewis P. Nailer.

Obituary, Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, N.J.) of 27 May 1908.
STOCKTON, May 27.---The funeral of Mrs. Mary Bodine, widow of William Bodine, who died at the home of her son, Wesley B. Bodine, yesterday, will be held from her late home Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The Rev. Irvin H. Fisher, pastor of the Baptist church of this place will officiate. Interment will be in Sandy Ridge Cemetery, under the direction of C. W. Green. Six grandchildren will act as pallbearers. The deceased woman was eighty-four years old and had been ill for three months. She is survived by two sons, seven daughters, three stepsons and 32 grandchildren. The children are: William, of Roselle; Mrs. John R. Johnson of Lumberville; Mrs. George Kugler, of Idell; Mrs. Delia Larison, of Sergeantsville; Mrs. Henry Rolley and Miss Carrie, of Jersey City; Mrs. Lewis Naylor, of Washington, D.C.; Miss Jennie and Wesley, with whom she resided. Samuel R. and Charles of this vicinity, and Watson, of Kansas City, Mo.