Notes for: Jacob Bodine, Sr.
The information on the possible makeup of this family is mostly based on research by Joan Best. Some of her excellent work has been in researching the records from the Orphans Court in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. In 2002, Joan had those records sent to her from a lady at the Historical Society who does this kind of research. They show that Jacob Bodine and his wife Nancy (she was also called Catherine) had at least thirteen children. There is no son named William listed nor a Kitchen spouse; however, that does not rule out a connection between this family and them. Another important discovery was that James Watson's wife was listed as Mary, not Ruth as had been previously reported. A Leah Bodine and a Desire Bodine were listed among the daughters. Desire married a Jacob Lilley. We still don't have much info on Leah except that she had a daughter named Nancy. We're still not sure who James Bodine's wife was, but he did marry. We have not yet seen any record of his having had children. Jacob Bodine, Jr.'s wife was a Catherine as we had thought. They had five children: 1) William who went to Michigan. He married Mary Egle/Eagle. 2) Russel (this may be a family surname on Catherine's side). He ended up in Michigan married to Esther. 3) Prudence who married Philip Traxler and moved to Ohio. Catherine, her mother, is found there in the 1850 census. 4 & 5) They had two other daughters, Desire and Mary.*
*Apparently, Catherine and her teenagers moved to Groveland, Livingston County, NY shortly after 1820. It would be nice to know why. In the same township in 1830, Joan found several families with some familiar names: Thomas, Hendershot, Woolever, and Doty. Prudence Thomas was Catherine's sister. Prudence's maiden name was also Thomas. She was 2nd or 3rd cousin to her husband Caleb Thomas. Caleb's father was Thomas Thomas. Prudence's father was an Evan Thomas. Evan, about the same age as Jacob and Nancy, apparently lived only several doors away from them as they appear on the same page of the censuses (these were not alphabetized but ordered by location). Caleb and Prudence lived out their lives in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, but several Thomas families are found in Livingston Co., NY. Catherine does not show up there as having an independent family in 1830. Prudence was already married by then, but there is no older woman in her household either. There are no Bodines listed in the 1830 Census. Russel and William are found in Michigan in the 1840 census. So Joan suspects that Catherine, who did not marry again, (listed as Catherine Bodine in Prudence Traxler's household in 1850 in Richland Co., OH) was living with one of her siblings.
I am pasting below the information about this family from the Wills and Administrations Books and from the Orphan Court Records. These were typed up by Joan Best and I made a few changes based on the originals which Joan also sent to me:
Item: Letter of Administration from August 13, 1817
From Wills and Aministrations, Book 1, p. 73, Columbia County, PA
1817 Jacob Bodine Deceased Administration
Bond No. 16
Be it remembered that on the 13th day of August AD 1817 letters of Administration in due and common form of Law were granted were granted [sic] unto James Bodine of all and Singular the goods and chattels rights & credits which were of Jacob Bodine, late of Derry Township Deceased the widow having renounced in the following words (Viz) I do hereby certify that I have relinquished all my right by Law and otherwise of Administering on the estate of my Husband Jacob Bodine decd and it is my desire that you grant letters of Administration to my son James Bodine who is the bearer hereof July 19th 1817 Nancy [herXmark] Bodine witness present Richard Demott Mr. Josiah McClure Reg. who hath put in sureties Valentine Christian and Moses Crawford in the sum of $500
Witness my hand date aforesaid Josiah McClure. Reg.
[Note: For some reason the filled out printed form was not included, though there must have been one, naming James as administrator.]
Item: Partition of Jacob Bodine's estate
From Columbia County Orphans Court Records,
W.4 April 1818
Petition for Partition of the estate of Jacob Bodine decd.
April 7, 1818 read & Inquest awarded & it is ordered that ads be published in one of the Col. County newspapers & in the Centinel in Philadelphia.
___ p. 173.174
To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphans Court of Columbia Co.
The Petition of James Bodine one of the children of Jacob Bodine late of Derry Township in this said county deceased.
Humbly Showeth
That your petitioners father, lately died intestate living a widow Viz. Catharine Bodine and issue thirteen children to wit this petitioner and Lea, Margaret, Abraham, Nicholas, Mary since intermarried with James Watson, Elizabeth since intermarried with Daniel McIntyre, Amy since intermarried with James Best, Desire since intermarried with Jacob Lilly, Martha since intermarried with John Beers, Rachel since intermarried with Thomas Girton, Catharine since intermarried with William Girton and Jacob Bodine who is since deceased leaving five children Viz Prudence, Mary, Desire, William and Russel Bodine all of whom are in their minority and have a guardian appointed to wit John Funston.
That the said Intestate died seized in his domain as of fee of and in a certain tract of land situated in Derry Township in the said County of Columbia adjoining lands of Daniel Wooliver, Mathias Eder, Michael Evret and others, containing one hundred and twenty acres, or thereabouts with the appurtenances: Your petitioner therefore prays your Honours to award an inquest to make partiton of the premises aforesaid to and amongst the children and representatives of said intestate in such manner as is by the laws of the Commonwealth directed if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole, but if such partition causest be waste thereof as aforesaid then to value and appraise the same and make report of their proceedings herein according to law
*** be *** ***
James Bodine
(actual signature)
Item
[Note: The document below repeats much of what is above, but it is in a different and easier-to-read handwriting. It is found in the August term 1818 file, though dated April 7, 1818.]
Columbia County Sct.
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the Sheriff of Columbia County Greeting. Whereas James Bodine one of the children of Jacob Bodine late of Derry township Columbia County deceased this day presented a petition to our Justices of the Ophans Court of Columbia County aforesaid Respectifully Shewing that Jacob Bodine lately died intestate leaving a widow viz Catherine Bodine and issue thirteen Children to wit, the Petitioner and Lea, Margaret, Abraham, Nicholas, Mary since intermarried with James Watson, Elizabeth since intermarried with Daniel McIntire, Amy since intermarried with James Best, desire since intermarried with Jacob Lilley, Martha since intermarried with John Bears, Rachel since intermarried with Thomas Guider, Catherine since intermarried with William Guider, and Jacob Bodine who is since deceased leaving Five Children viz Prudence, Mary, Desire, William & Russel Bodine all of whom are in their minority and have a guardian appointed to wit, John Funston, That the said died seized in his deminse as of fee of and in a certain tact of land situate in Derry township in said County of Columbia adjoining lands of Daniel Wooliver Michael Eivatt [or Eratt] Mathias Eder and others containing one hundred and twenty acres or thereabouts with the appurtenances. The petitioner therefore prayed the Court to award an inquest to make partition of the premises aforesaid to and among the children and representatives of the said intestate in such mannor as is by the Laws of the Commonwealth directed if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole but if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole out of such partition cannot be made thereof then to value and appraise the same and make report of their proceedings therein according to Law And whereas an Inquest was awarded agreeably to the prayer of the petitioner afoursaid by out said Court.
Therefore we Command you that taking with you twelve honest and lawful men of your bailiwick you go to the premises aforesaid and there by their oath and solemn affirmations in the presence of the parties aforesaid by you to be warned (if upon being warned they will be present) the same premises having respect to the true value thereof into thirteen equal parts you cause it be parted and divided of the same can be so parted and divided without prejudice to or spoiling the whole thereof and one of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said James Bodine, on other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said Lea, on other of the Said thirteen equal parts unto the said Margaret one of the said equal thirteen equal parts unto the said Abraham, one other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said Nicholas, one other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said James Watson and Mary his wife in right of the said Mary, one other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said Daniel McIntire and Elizabeth his wife in right of the Said Elizabeth, one other of the Said thirteen equal parts unto the said James Best and Amy his wife in right of the said Amy, one other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said Jacob Lilley and Desire his wife in right of the said desire, one other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said John Bears and Martha his wife in light of the said Martha, one other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said Thomas Guider & Rachel his wife in right of the said Rachel, on other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said William Guider & Catherine his wife in right of the said Catherine, one other of the said thirteen equal parts unto the said Prudence, Mary, Desire, William, russel Bodine, Children of the said Jacob Bodine deceased to hold to them in severalty you assign and deliver but if the premises afoursaid cannot be parted and divided as aforesaid that then you cause the inquest afoursaid to part and divide the premises aforesaid to and among as many of the heirs aforesaid as it will accommodate without prejudice to or spoiling the whole as aforesaid and we further Command you that you cause the inquest aforesaid to value and appraise every part into which they divide the said premises. But if the premises cannot be parted and divided in either of the ways aforesaid without prejudice to or spoiling the whole thereof that then you cause the Inquest aforesaid to value and appraise the same and that that partition or valuation do made you distinctly and openly have before our Justices at Danville at our Orphans Court there to be held for the County of Columbia the first Monday of August under your hand and Seal and under the hands and seals of those by whose oaths or affirmation you shall make that partition or valuation, And have you then & there this writ. Witness the Honorable Seth Chapman Esquire at Danville the Seventh day of April AD one thousand eight hundred & eighteen
Geo. A. Frick Clerk
[On spine of return]
No. 9 August Term 1818
Write of Partition fee of the estate of Jacob Bodined Deceased
Executed as within I am commanded so answer, Jos. Prutzman, Sheriff
Fees....................3.50
testifying parties.....10.00
20 mile.........................1.20
Jury fees..................12.00
-----------------------------------
..................................$26.70
Recorded pages 108 & 109
The following is part of the above:
To the Justices within named
I do hereby certify that by virtue of the within writ to me directed (having first *only wedroued* the Parties) I took with me twelve honest and lawful men of my Bailawick and went to the lands goods all and singular the premises therein mentioned and thus by their oaths, finding the same could not be parted and divided to and among the parties in the said writ named, without prejudice to and spoiling the whole thereof, have valued & appraised the same, as by the within writ I am commanded so answer.
Jos Prutzman, Sheriff
* = Words are difficult to read
Item
Petition
James Bodine
Nov 4, 1818 read & prayer granted
Recorded Page 191 & 192
To the Honorable the Justices of the Orphans Court of Columbia County at Nov. Term 1818.
The Petition of James Bodine one of the children of Jacob Bodine late of Derry Township in the said County Vaz
Humbly Showeth
That in pursuance of the petition of your present petitioner presented at April term last an inquest was awarded to make partition ___ of the estate of the said Jacob Bodine dcd. Therein particularly described after due notice thereof. That due and legal notice hath been given thereof by an advertisement published for the space of a month before the return of the Inquisition in a newspaper called the "Express" published in Danville in the said County and in a daily Newspaper published in Philadelphia called the "American Centinel & Merchantile Advertiser" That the Inquisition was returned by the sheriff of the said County to the August Term last by which the said estate is appraised at ten dollars per acre. Your Petitioner therefore prays your Honors to enforce the said Inquisition and to grant a rule upon the children and other legal representation of the said Jacob Bodine to come into Court at this ensuing ___ any time and accept or refuse the said estate at the evaluation aforesaid.
*Thus he will pray*
James Bodine
Note: This does appear to be James' real signature.
The following is part of the above:
Nov 4. 1818 Rule on the heirs of said Jacob Bodine, Sr. Decd to appear in this Orphans Court the first Monday of Jan. next & accept or refuse the estate at this evaluation is granted by this Court.
Note on the above: There is no date on the petition before the November Court, so we don't know exactly when James Bodine signed it. It was some time after the August return by the sheriff and before Nov. 4, 1818. This is the last document from James Bodine. He died. Letters of administration were granted for James Bodine on 6 August 1822, so we know he died after August 1818 and before August 1822. Perhaps tombstone records will tell us more.
Item
Administration Bond No. 9
de bonis non
James Bodine dec'd.
Filed Nov. 13, 1821
Registered in Will Book No. 1, page 134 - Nov. 13, 1821
Be it remembered that in the thirteenth day of November AD 1821, Letters of Administration de bonis non, in due and common form of law were granted unto Thomas Girton administrator de bonis non, of Jacob Bodine late of Derry township deceased, who hath put in sureties, Marshall Girton and George A. Frick, in the sum of two thousand dollars
Witness my hand, the day aforesaid, } Ellis Hughes, Regr.
Note on the above: We see that Thomas Girton took over the administration of the Jacob Bodine, Sr. estate in November of 1821. James could already have died or been too sick to continue. Thomas was the husband of Jacob's daughter, Rachel. The other Bodine sons, Abraham and Nicholas were living in Canada, as were Amy, Elizabeth and Mary, together with their husbands. The only family left in Columbia County were Lea and Margaret, both single at this time, the widow Nancy (Catherine), Catherine, widow of Jacob, Jr., Catherine and William Girton, and, perhaps, Desire and husband Jacob Lilley. Martha and John Beers had already moved to Ohio. James' family, if he had one, is also still there.
[Note: Marshall Girton was the father of Thomas Girton, although I think there were other Girtons named Marshall, so this could be a brother or cousin.]
There is also a standard form filled out and signed by Thomas Girton, Marshall Girton, and George Frick. The only additional information is that they were "all of Columbia Co."
Item
No. 3 January Term 1822
Petition for sale of real estate of Jacob Bodine Senr decd.
Recorded page 376
Jan 16, 1822 Petition
Due Proof made of the service of the rule
Read & prayer granted
per cur (sp?)
Court order the sale to be held on the premises on the 3rd Saturday of march next at 10 o'clock AM. Terms of the sale three hundred dollars cash the remainder in annual payments of $100 each
Surety in $1200.00
To the Honorable Seth Chapman vg President of his associate Judges of the orphans Court in & for Columbia County.
The petition of Thomas Girton intermarried with Rachel one of the daughters & heirs of Jacob Bodine Senr decd. Who died intestate.
Humbly I herewith That a writ for the partition & valuation of a certain tract of land late his estate of Jacob Bodine sen. decd. Containing one hundred & twenty acres situate then in Derry now in Madison township Columbia County adj lands of Danl Wooliver, Mathias Heller, Michael Everit & others was issued out of this Honorable Court returnable to August term 1818. That at said term the Sheriff the said writ with an inquisition then to annexed by which it apprased that the said premises could not be partitioned or divided to & among the heirs of said decd. & Therefore the same was returned at ten dollars per acre. That the same inq. Was duly confirmed, and on the 5th day of April 1820 a rule was granted on the heirs and legal representatives of decd. To appear in this honorable court the first Monday of August 1820 and accept or said estate at this valuation, that none of the heirs have accepted of the same. Your petitioner therefore prays your honor to grant an order on the Administrator de bonis non of said Jacob Bodine decd to make sale of said premises agreeable to act of assembly in such care made & provided & he will we pray
Thomas Girton
[Note from Joan on the above: Apparently there is an April 1820 document and maybe a August 1820 document, that was probably presented by James. I'll try and get it.]
Item
No. 15 April Term 1822
Report of the Sale of the real estate of
Jacob Bodine decd
Recorded page 290
April 1st, 1822
Read & confd - nisi (or misc)
sideways: Jacob Bodine Senr sale
Columbia County
In the Orphans Court of Columbia county aforesaid inter alia it is thus contained
The petition of Thomas Girton & was preferred to the Court, Humbling shewing that a writ for the partition or valuation of a certain tract of land late the estate of Jacob Bodine Senior decd containing one hundred and twenty acres situate then in Derry now in Madison township Columbia County adjoining lands of Daniel Woolever, Mathias Heller (maybe Keller) Michael Everitt & others was issued out of the Honorable Court returnable to August Term 1818 that at said term the Sheriff returned the said writ with an inquisition there to annexed by which it appeared that the said premises could not be portioned and divided to any among the heirs of said deceased and therefore the same was valued at ten dollars per share that the same inquisition was duley confirmed and on the fifth day of April 1820 a rule was granted on the heirs and legal representatives of said deceased to appear in this Honorable Court the first Monday of August 1820 and accept or refuse the said estate at the valuation that none of the heirs have accepted of the same. The petitioner therefore prayed the county to grant an order the the [sic] administrator de bonis non of said Jacob Bodine decd to make sale of said premises agreeable to act of assembly in such case made and provided WHEREUPON January 16, 1822 this petition being read and due proof made of the service of the rule - prayer granted and the court order the sale to be held on the premises on the third Saturday of March at 10 o'clock AM Terms of sale three hundred dollars cash & the remainder in annual payments of $100. each - Surety of $1200 ---
By the Court
Columbia County Set
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said court at Danville the 12th day of February AD 1822
Hon David Setrickin Clk
A. Y. Moore
Note: On the next page of this set of documents is this:
To the Hond. The Judges within named
The within named Thomas Girton do humbly report that in pursuance of the within order of Court (having given due public & timely notice of the time & place of sale _____ to the directions thereof) I did on Saturday the 16th day of March 1822 expose the lands & premises therein mentioned to sale by public vender or out cry upon the premises and sold the same by adjournment on the 27th day of March 1822 to Daniel Miller of Greenwood township for the sum of five dollars seventy five cents per acre to be paid as follows Three hundred dollars in hand and the residue in annual payments of one hundred dollars he being the highest bidder & that the highest & best price bidden for the same which sale so as aforesaid made I pray may be confirmed by this Court
Thos Girton
Some other important evidence for figuring out the members of this family came from four letters discovered in the attic of Judy Laylon's aunt. Judy's mother rescued them as she was helping clean up the attic. They originally belonged to Martha (Bodine) Beers who lived in Ohio. They were preserved in the family and passed down through the years.
These letters discuss members of a Bodine family who lived in Madison Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania and in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada (Martha lives in Ohio, though). Madison Township used to be Derry Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Jerseytown was the closest town.
There are four letters: two from Martha's sister, Rachel Girton; one from Martha's mother, Nancy; and one which probably came from Martha's brother, Nicholas. Joan transcribed these letters and I have made a few changes based on the copies she sent me.
Letter number 1: Madison Township September 27th 1818
To Mr John Beers and Martha Beers
Dear Brother an Sister I have Taken up My penn once more To inform you that we are all well at pesent Thanks be to God for his Mercy to us hoping thes few lines May find you in the Same all our frends and neabours are in Good helth and James Watson is here and says our Brothers and Sisters is well except Abrahams wife she lies helpless and speachless in Canada the harvest was reasonable good we had great Crops of grass in this Cuntry Buckweat and Corn is Middleing good Apples is plenty But we have no peaches this year.
Dear Brother an Sister I fear that you are not alive or else you have forgotten us as we hav not Received a line from you since 1816 But since it has pleased the Lord to Seperate us so far Apart that we Cannot talk face to face we must Converse By pen and paper therefore write to us every oppertu[nity] and we will do the same I add no More But remain your efectinate brother an sister
Thos an Rachel Girton
Letter number 2: From October 2nd AD 1819
Dear Daughter I send you these few lines to inform you that we are in a Reasanable State of health at this time hoping these lines may find you enjoying the Same State of Health a Blessing wee never Can Be to thankfull For. I received a letter from Cannada from Amy Best and the are all well their the letter was wrote September the Sixth She wrote that the ware a comming for me this winter and Either me or Margeret will go with them I have not Mutch to right But if I Could Se you I Could talk a graet dale with you But I do not expect to se you soon Leah is Maried and lives with me this Summer and She Has got a fine young daughter and Calls hir Nancy ... William Girton and Caty was here last night and they are well. I expect John would like to here from Mathias Applemans family the are well I must Conclude.
With love to you | October the 2d AD 1819
Nancy Bodine
Notes from Joan Best:
Mathias Appleman's wife's maiden name is Beers (WorldConnect). She is probably a relative of John Beers, Martha's husband. Amy Best is Nancy's daughter, wife of James Best. They lived in Elgin Co., Ontario, Canada, as did several other of Nancy's children. Caty is Catherine Bodine, married to William Girton. She is believed to be one of the older of Nancy's children. The census figures (1790-1820) indicated that there was a daughter that did not marry in the Jacob and Nancy Bodine household. She is still with her mother in the 1820 Census. We believe this was Margaret. She is mentioned in another letter. Leah Bodine married Abia Phillips and had a daughter Nancy, and had died before 1830. The Phillips household is found in the 1820 Columbia County (PA) Census. It was this letter that made us realize that she was part of this family, as references to her are in Lycoming County. I am not sure if she is Nancy's daughter or a granddaughter.
Letter number 3: October the 19th, 1823. Sent from Thomas and Rachel (Bodine) Girton to Martha (Bodine) Beers, New Landcaster, Ohio
Address on envelope is:
To
Mr.
John Beers
New Landcaster
State of Ohio
Madison Township Columbia County October the 19, 1823
Dear Brother and Sister I take this oppertunity to Inform you that we are all well at presant Thanks be to God for his Mercys to us hopeing these lines May find you all in the same wen they come to hand William Girton and family is well Margaret Bodine lives with us us [sic] and is Reasonable well, we are sorry to here of your ill heth, By Mr. Obediah Welever, for he says you was very Sick But we are in hopes God will have Mecy on you and raise you up to the honour and glory of his great name (sp?) Our country here is very sickly & grate Many has died of the fever, we had a very fine season, Ry, Corn and Buckneat, and all kinds of grain is plenty, I have sold the Real Estate of father Bodine By order of the Cort and the last payment is not due till April first 1826 We have just Received letters from our Brothers and sisters in Cannaday Dated September the 22: 1823 and they are Reasonable well except James Best he was very sick Zelah is giting Better and in hopes of recouvering again
We add No more at presant but Remain your efectionate Brother and Sister untill Death
Thomas Girton
Rachel Girton
To
Mr.
John an Martha
Beers
Notes from Joan Best:
James Best is the husband of Amy Bodine, sister to Martha and Rachel. They lived in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada.
Zelah is the wife of Abraham Bodine. Her maiden name is given in LDS records as Taylor. They lived in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada. Abraham was Martha and Rachel's brother. William Girton is believed to be Thomas' uncle. His wife is Catherine Bodine, sister to Martha and Rachel. They lived in Columbia County, PA also. Margaret Bodine is [probably] the spinster sister of Rachel and Martha. The mother, Nancy, with whom she had lived, has apparently died by this time. Father Bodine is believed to be Jacob Bodine, based on census records of this family. He apparently died between 1810 and 1820. Obadiah Welliver lived in Ohio. He was the brother of Abigail Welliver, who married ________ Bodine. This reference is found in a Welliver biography.
Letter number 4: The "2" in 1826 is partially obscured (only the top is visible), but 1826 is the only date which makes sense in the context of the letter. Joan Best pointed out this information in regard to the date.
July 28th 1826
Brother and Sisters I embrace this opportunity to inform you that we are all well at present and thanks be to the all Mity for his kind faviour and hoping these few lines May find you in the Same State of health I am in the State of Pennsylvania at this time and it is 25 Days since I left Canada and then tha were all in a Reasonable State of health but Abrahams wife. and Best is troubeld withe the asma And Abrahams wife is in a meloncolly State and has ben this 10 years past She cant Neither see nor talk But at the same time has children Since Shes bin this way shes had 3 or 4 if I am correct. She has in all ten children James Watson nine Betsey five Amy 6 or seven I will Now return on my Story. I am at this time at Thomas Girtons as before Stated from Canada Williams and Thomas famalys are well and send, there Respects to you all.
I ohere side [I guess this means "other side." This is the end of the first sheet. Joan thinks the two sheets of paper she has were back to back in the original.]
Second sheet:
I am Married and have ben four years last winter and we have two Children living boys and one dead and we call the oldest James, Alexandra youngest an Franklin [or this might say "the oldest James Alexandra youngest Franklin"]. we suspect that you wold enquire who I married as she is a stranger of you all hir name is or was Charlott Sovereene I am living in Canada yet and expect to remain my days in that place as I have got seteld there it is agrate while since I have had any Sight of you Martha Desiar I seen when I was here before but I wood be verry happy to see you both once more but if we will we may talk to each other by pen and paper if the distance was not grat I wood come and see you but you must for give My indulgance As I have come a long jurney and My family will be Expecting me home I expect to leve this on the first of August for Canada and there to spend the Remainder of my days As I am not as
Notes from Joan Best:
The letter appears to end in mid-sentence. I don't know if there was an additional page. Ruth Dengler, who also received a copy of the letter stated, "There were two more pages to this letter but Judy said too faint to scan." Ruth has transcribed this letter also, with some variations and a different interpretation of the meaning of parts of it.]
I believe the names and numbers on the first page of the letter refer to Nicholas's siblings who lived in Canada, not the names and ages of Abraham's children. The numbers do conform to the known number of children in each family. [Note from Dave: I think this is clear as well. The numbers do refer to the number of children each of Nicholas's named siblings had at the time the letter was written.]
End of information about four letters.
Here below is a map giving the general area discussed in this section. The red mark in Pennsylvania is the approximate location of Columbia County. The red mark below London, Ontario (Canada) is the approximate location of Fingal, Southwold Township, Elgin County, Ontario. See more maps below of the Columbia County area in Pennsylvania.
And here is some earlier information from Joan Best. This was received before she found the Orphan's Court Records. However, most of it is still valid. I have added a few changes using brackets "[ ]".
Parents of Canadian Bodines from Northumberland Co. PA
Author: Joan Best Date: 4 Mar 2002
Surnames: Bodine, Best, Taylor, McIntyre, Beers, Girton, Watson
Classification: Census
As some of you may know, I have been searching for the ancestors of my ancestor, Amy Bodine, wife of James Best. They traveled from Jerseytown, Columbia Co., PA to Southwold, Elgin Co., Ontario in 1811. My reseach has come up with 4 other Bodines about Amy's age who came to the same place at the same time and lived very close to each other. I have been operating under the assumption that they are siblings and I have been trying to find their parents in PA. With the help of Ancestry's census images, I think I have. Here is the evidence for the following:
in Elgin Co., Ontario:
Abraham Bodine
Amy Bodine Best (James)
[Mary] Bodine Watson (James)
Elizabeth Bodine McIntyre (Daniel)
in Middlesex Co., Ontario:
Nicholas Bodine
stay-at-homes in Columbia Co. PA
Rachel Bodine Girton (Thomas)
Catherine Bodine Girton (William)
Jacob Bodine, Jr.
moved to Ohio, I think
Martha Bodine Beers (John)
1790 Northumberland (not differentiated by twp.)
Jacob Bodine (1male over 16)
4 males under 16
7 females
1800 Northumberland, Derry Twp.(list is alphebetical)
Jacob Burdin (1 male over 45)
2 males under 10
1 male between 16-26
2 females under 10
3 females 10-16
3 females 16-26
1 female over 45
1810 Northumberland, Derry Twp. (Girtons on either side)
Jacob Bodine
1 male 45+
1 male 10-16
1 male 16-26
2 females 10-16
2 females 16-20
1 female 26-45
1 female 45+
Catherine Bodine, b. abt. 1780 was married to William Girton. There is a William Girtin right after Jacob in the census. There is a male, 16-26, male 45+, and a female 26-45 in his household. In 1800 there is a William Girtin and female, both between 16-26, no children. However, the Family Search records show two sons born between 1800 and 1810 that grew to adulthood so where are they?
Also, in the next township over, Greenwood, there is M. Best, probably Michael Best, James father and Amy Bodine's father-in-law. Amy and James were married in 1809 and had their first child in 1812. I did not find an independent household for these two. James' brother, Henry, shows up for several census in this area. Amy was born in 1786.
Abraham Bodine was married abt 1805 to Zellah Taylor (I have only Family Search type info on her name); although, a grandaughter was named Zellah. There are several Taylors in Derry. I did not find an independent household for Abraham. They had two daughters by 1810. Abraham was born 1781.
[Mary] Bodine was married to James Watson. James has an independent household in Derry Twp. (His father is Hugh Watson). Both James and wife are between 26 and 45. The have 2 sons under 10 and there is a 16-26 year old male living with them. (James had a brother, David, that went to Canada with him, could be David)
There is a second Jacob Bodine in Derry Twp. In his household there are 2 males under 10, 1 male 16-26, 2 males 26-45, and one female, 16-26.
Rachel Bodine was born in 1795 and was unmarried in 1810.
Martha Bodine was born abt. 1789, she married Beers, first known child born 1814, so she may or may not have been married in 1810. Haven't found Beers family yet.
Elizabeth Bodine was born in 1784. She married in Canada in 1815
There are various ages for Nicholas in the records. I estimate he was born abt 1788.
In 1820 All of these people lived in Madison Twp. I think the township lines changed and the people stayed put. Columbia Co. split off from Northumberland abt. this time. The recorder ... got many names wrong. The list was alphabetical so one can't tell who lived next to who. Also living there was James Best's brother, Henry Best.
1820 Columbia Co., Madison Twp.
Nancy Bodin
(no males)
1 female 26-45
1 female 45+
Catherin Bodin
2 females under 10
1 female 26-45
I think Nancy was Jacob's widow and the mother of this large family. Amy and James Best's second child was named Nancy. This is the only grandchild with this name that I know of. I think Catherine was Jacob, Jr's widow, although one wonders what happened to the two sons that would be between 10-20 now. If not the widow of Jacob, Jr. then, one of the other sons.
William and Thomas Girton families are also in the 1820 census for Madison Twp. In 1830 they are there, and Henry Best, but no Bodines as head of household.
In 1840 William Bordin and female, both 15-20, are found in Danville and a Christianna Bardine is found in Liberty Twp., a spin-off from Madison, I think. In her household there is 1 male, 20-30, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 20-30 and 1 female 40-50. I don't know whose widow she is.
End of this info from Joan Best.
There is another Bodine family in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. This is the family of Peter Bodine and Anna Vought. Peter was born in 1797 and died in 1865, probably in Catawissa, Columbia Co., PA. In the History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania (Battle, p. 506), there is some history on this family. It says that Peter and Ann were natives of New Jersey, but they came to Columbia County with their parents when they were young. Researchers have looked for a connection between Jacob Bodine's family and this Peter Bodine (of an age to have been Jacob's youngest child or an older grandchild). The recent documentation mentioned in this file makes it clear that Peter and Jacob are not closely related, if at all. It is presently believed that all of Jacob's descendants carrying the Bodine surname had probably removed from Columbia County by 1825. Any Bodines found there after that date are probably related to this Peter Bodine, son of Peter Bodine and Sabillah Ent, of Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey or other Bodine families.
There is a reference to a Bodine Revolutionary War veteran whose family settled in the Columbia County area of Pennsylvania (although he himself did not necessarily end up there). The veteran is referred to as "Col. Bodine of Revolutionary War fame." Some sources say that his daughter married a William Kitchen. Their daughter, Mary Kitchen, married William Hendershot. (The Hendershot family originally came from New Jersey.) William Hendershot was the grandfather of an Erastus Hendershot who was born in Jerseytown on July 16, 1832 and was a farmer there. Erastus' parents were John Hendershot and Mary Welliver. John was a native of Madison Township in Columbia County. John was born March 18, 1802 (History of Columbia and Montour Counties Pennsylvania, Battle, 1887, p. 503). The identity of "Col. Bodine" is unknown. If this is learned, it could help find the Bodine family that moved to Columbia County. The only hint I have as to who he might be is that Catherine Bodine (b. 1721 in Somerset Co., NJ) married John George Hendershot (b. 1720 in the Raritan Valley, NJ). This is an early connection between Bodines and Hendershots. I would guess that Col. Bodine could be a nephew of Catherine Bodine. That would make him a son of either John, Jacob, Cornelius, or Peter Bodine. I can see no further hints from there. I have some info on the children of Jacob and Cornelius, but nothing on John and Peter.
I later looked at a Kitchen family web site and found this about Colonel Bodine: "There was a William KITCHEN, a Quaker, who came from NJ, to the Danville, PA. area. One account says he 'was m. to the d/o Colonel BODINE of Revolutionary fame.' Another account says he married Eliza BEAVERS. His dau. i. Mary BEAVERS Kitchen, (m. in Danville, 3/1/1799, Wm. Scholl HENDERSHOT, b. 12/16/1778), ii. Nancy, (Judge James DERR). Kitchen's Creek at Red Rock is supposedly named for him." If what was found at this Kitchen site is true, then we might not be able to put much stock in this story about a "Colonel Bodine."
Joan Best later wrote, "William Kitchen was a close neighbor of the Bodines. William Kitchen, Jr. acted as surety for James Bodine's estate. You would think, if there was a daughter that married William Kitchen and died before Jacob, that her children would be named, just as Jacob Jr.'s were."
The question now is Who were Jacob and Nancy?
The best choice for the father of these Canadian Bodines might be Jacob Bodine, the son of Jacob Bodine and Catherine Bogart. Jacob and Catherine had two known sons, Jacob (b. abt. 1744) and Nicholas (b. abt. 1746). Nicholas lived out his life in New Brunswick, New Jersey. I know little of what happened to Nicholas' brother, Jacob. His father died about 1748 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey when he was very young. He and Nicholas became wards of their uncle, Cornelius Bodine, in 1754. Cornelius moved to Loudoun County, Virginia around 1769. Jacob would have been old enough to be on his own by then. I have no evidence that he left Hunterdon County when his uncle did. I am just guessing, but it is possible that Jacob moved to the Jerseytown area of Pennsylvania and was the father of the Bodines who later left from there to go to Canada.
Another Jacob Bodine in the area deserves to be looked at more closely; although, the possibility of him being the father of these Canadian Bodines is virtually nil. He is Jacob Bodine the husband of Mary Pickel. Jerseytown is not far away, maybe fifteen miles southeast of Muncy, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. (Lycoming County was formed from Northumberland in 1795.) There were Bodines in and around Muncy. They were probably descendants of Jacob Bodine and Mary Pickel, more concretely, the descendants of one of Jacob and Mary's possible sons, John W. Bodine. John was born on March 29, 1788 in Alexandria, Hunterdon County, New Jersey and was baptized at the German Reformed Church there. He and his wife, Barbara Smithgall came to Lewis on Lycoming Creek, near Pennsdale, and settled in a town that is now called Bodines. It was called Bodinesville at one time. I have pretty good research, but not definitive, on the children of Jacob Bodine and Mary Pickel. I very much doubt that they had a lot of other children who are not known. This Jacob would not be the father of the Canadian and Columbia County Bodines; however, his line could somehow be related to them.
Here below is a map of the area discussed above. The red dot at the bottom right is the junction of Lycoming, Columbia, and Montour Counties. Next up is Muncy in Lycoming County. It is the red dot at the bend of the Susquehanna River. North of Muncy is Pennsdale where many Bodines are buried. And several Bodines lived in Hughesville, to the east of Pennsdale. These three towns are three or four miles apart. The red dot at the top left of the map is the small town of Bodines. It is about fifteen miles away from Muncy. If you look closely, the other red dot marks the Bodine Mountains. These are just northwest of Bodines. The city of Jerseytown does not appear on this map, but it is just off the bottom right of this map. It is about fifteen miles southeast of Muncy. See the second map below for the location of Jerseytown.
The next map below gives the location of Derry and Jerseytown as compared to the Muncy area. Jerseytown is the second red dot up from the bottom of the map. Derry is a little southwest of Jerseytown (the name Derry does not appear on the map). They are very close to each other, about a mile or so apart. Jerseytown is about four miles from the dot toward the middle of the map which represents the junction of Lycoming, Columbia, and Montour Counties. Muncy, Pennsdale, and Hughesville the three red dots to the left on the map.
Another Bodine in the area, and who might be related, is a Cornelius Bodine. He is in the 1790 Census of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. (The area of present day Columbia County was part of Northumberland County in 1790.) Cornelius could be a brother to Jacob Bodine, the father of the Canadian Bodines. Listed in the 1790 Census was one male over 16 (Cornelius), six males under 16 (six sons), and two females (Cornelius's wife and one daughter). This Cornelius Bodine is most likely the husband of Margaret Sutphen. He supposedly moved from Somerset County, New Jersey to Muncy, Pennsylvania around 1785. He then moved to Ovid, New York in 1802. There might be an obituary for Cornelius in a June 28, 1820 newspaper in Ovid. This should be checked.
Here is a message that Joan Best posted at Genforum:
From what I can tell, Catherine Bodine married John Hendershot, mid 1700s in
Morris Co. New Jersey. Her brother, Jacob Bodine, married Catherine (Bogart or
Shipman - some discussion of her maiden name). Jacob died leaving widow
Catherine Bodine and two small children, Jacob and Nicholas. Widow Catherine
remarried Roelof Ruloffson (spellings vary, but you get the picture).
Catherine and Roelof also had children. Catherine and Roelof Fuloffson lived
in Morris Co.
This makes Jacob and Nicholas Bodine cousins with the children of Catherine
and John Hendershot, and psudo cousins with Catherine's step-children. When
these children grew up, Nicholas took over his father, Jacob Bodine's lands in
Hunterdon Co. NJ. It is unknown what happened to Jacob.
Now we skip to Northumberland Co. PA prior to 1790 in that area near
Bloomburg/Dansville/Jerseytown. We find a Jacob Bodine and a whole slew of
Hendershots. These Hendershots appear to be some of the children of John
Hendershot (above), cousins of the Jacob Bodine discussed above. Both Jacobs
were born in early 1750s. I suspect that Jacob, neighbor of Hendershots in PA
is their cousin, nephew of Catherine Bodine Hendershot.
Does anyone out there have any information that will help me prove or disprove
this theory? About half of Jacob and Nancy (maiden name unknown) Bodine's
children moved to the Elgin Co. Ontario area abt. 1811.
Joan Best