Notes for: Thomas Bodine

Information on this family first came from the 1880 Census of Bridgeton, Cumberland Co., NJ. No parent information came from that, however. His supposed parents came from Ronny Bodine's work described below.

From Ronny Bodine:

The evidence that Thomas Bodine was the son of Francis Bodine and Rebecca Wright is circumstantial and remains to be proven conclusively, yet appears to be virtually certain. His birth about 1837, fits the male child aged 0-4 in his household in the 1840 census. Like the other two sons of Francis and Rebecca Bodine, Thomas Bodine also remained a resident of Cumberland County. He named his first son, Francis, likely after his supposed father. He enlisted in the same company and regiment on the same day as William H. Bodine, his supposed brother.

Thomas Bodine was enrolled in the 24th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry (USA) on 2 Sept 1862, and was mustered in as a Private in Company H on 16 Sept 1862. He served through the Dec 1862 Fredericksburg Campaign, then was discharged due to disability at the Convalescent Camp in Alexandria, Virginia on 23 Feb 1863.

Thomas Bodine lived June 1860 (aged 23) in Bridgeton, Cumberland County, June 1870 (aged 35) in Fairfield Cumberland County and in June 1880 (aged 43) again in Bridgeton. Mary Jane (Facemire) Bodine was the daughter of George and Sarah (Brooks) Facemire. The Bridgeton Evening News of 18 July 1885 reported on a walking match amongst three contestants at the local rink. One of the three was Thomas Bodine, age 50, who was described as "having a reputation of being full of pluck." The other two walkers were aged 17 and 35. By 1 AM Bodine had covered 16 miles, by 9.30 AM it was 45 miles and by noon, 54 miles, by which time, apparently, the newspaper went to press. The issue of 23 July 1885 published a letter from Thomas Bodine in which he stated he was disappointed that the walk, intended to collect money for the poor, resulted in his own loss of $22.56, and so was a failure. The Bridgeton Evening News of 4 Jan 1889 reported that Thomas Bodine had opened a butcher shop on South Laurel Street.

In the New Jersey State Census of 1885 the family was recorded in Bridgeton as Thomas W. Bodine, Mary J., Allice, Emma, Charles, Lottie, Thomas and Hannah. In the New Jersey State Census of 1895 the family lived in Bridgeton and was recorded as Thomas Bodine, Mary J., Lottie Thompson, Thomas Jr., Hannah, and Harry. Thomas Bodine was buried in the First United Methodist Churchyard in Bridgeton.