Notes for: Sarah Elizabeth Bodine
From Ronny Bodine (May 9, 2019):
From The New York Times of 11 Aug 1893.
White Plains, N.Y., Aug. 10.--Is Gen. Alexander Hamilton insane? That is the question which Elihu B. Frost, as Commissioner, has been appointed by Justice J. O. Dykman of the Supreme Court to Ascertain. Gen. Hamilton is a grandson of the famous Alexander Hamilton and son of John C. Hamilton. He lives at Tarrytown, Westchester County, and formerly had the reputation of being a highly-cultivated and accomplished litterateur, having written tragedies, poems, prose, &c.
The present whereabouts of Gen. Hamilton are not known positively here or in Tarrytown. One report is that he is residing with his son, the Rev. Alexander Hamilton of Lyons Plains, Conn. Another is that he is harbored, if not actually held under duress, by a Mrs. Freeman at 134 West One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Street, New York City.
This is the allegation of Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth, Hamilton's second wife, in an affidavit to the court. She says she is his second wife, they having been married in 1878, his first wife having died about 1874; that there is no issue of the marriage, but that on Aug. 8, 1891, they legally adopted as their daughter Mabel Hamilton. Besides Mabel, she says, Gen. Hamilton had by his first wife, Elizabeth S. Hamilton, the following children: Alexander Hamilton, Jr., who resides at Lyons Plains, Conn., and who is of age; Henry Hamilton, also of age, but whose residence is unknown to Mrs. Hamilton, and Minnie Hamilton, whose residence is also unknown to her stepmother.
Summarized: Gen. Hamilton threatened to kill his wife several times and is careless with his money and had contributed nothing toward the support of his wife, who says he was seventy-seven years old on Nov. 19, 1892. About 1890 he called on Mrs. Freeman and his acquaintanceship ripened into infatuation on his part.
In view of all those facts, Mrs. Hamilton asked for a writ de lunatico inquirendo, and Judge Dykman has just appointed Mr. Frost Commissioner to conduct the inquiry. With Mrs. Hamilton's affidavit, others from Mabel, the adopted daughter; Mrs. Emily C. Bodine of New York, a friend of the family, and Dr. J. Henry Furman of Tarrytown were presented to the court.
From The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.) of Thursday, 17 Aug 1893.
Summarized: Mrs. Hamilton, his second wife is about 47. She stated of her husband he "...lived with me at a residence I own in Jacksonville. We were married by Rev. Mr. Weller, in the Episcopal church. After living in Jacksonville for a few years we went to Tarrytown." "My father lived at Montgomery, Orange county, and Bodine bridge in that county, is named after him." Gen. Hamilton replied "This action, he insists, is a blackmailing scheme on the part of my wife and her relatives. It is a grab game to get hold of my property. I met my second wife originally years ago at a wedding in White Plains. She followed me up and we became engaged, but she broke it off. Her sister, who is the mother of our adopted daughter, Mabel, said that Sarah had no business marrying a man of my years." But they did marry on 13 April 1878.
Florida marriage records attest to the marriage on 13 April 1878 in Duval County of Alexander Hamilton and Sarah E. Bodine. The couple obviously reconciled as they were living together in June 1900:
1900 Greenburgh, Westchester Co., NY: Alexander HAMILTON Nov 1815 NY, Sarah E. April 1848 NY wife, Mabel June 1877 NY dau, Emily C. BODINE Sept 1854 NY sister-in-law single.
From New York Death Records.
Sarah E. B. Hamilton died 31 Aug 1901 in Tarrytown, Westchester County.
Alexander Hamilton died 10 Dec 1907 in Tarrytown, Westchester County.
Obituary, The United States Army and Navy Journal and Gazette of 14 Sept 1901, p. 30.
Recent Deaths. Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, wife of Gen. Alexander Hamilton, who passed away Saturday, Aug. 31, at Tarrytown, N.Y., was Miss Sarah Elizabeth Bodine, daughter of Hon. Aaron Bodine, and influential and highly respected citizen of Orange County. When Sumpter was fired upon Mrs. Hamilton's two brothers, one a minor, joined Colonel Van Wyck's Regiment, and at the battle of Bull Run both lost their lives for their country. [Note: this latter claim is incorrect.]
From The Eastern State Journal (White Plains, NY) of Sat., 7 Dec 1901.
Letters Testamentary. Nov. 28---Est. Sarah E. Hamilton, late Greenburgh, to Mabel S. Hamilton, Alex Hamilton and Emily C. Bodine.
Burials in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Westchester County, New York.
(For grave marker photo see Find A Grave Memorial No. 27167399)
Major General ALEXANDER HAMILTON U.S.A. 1839-1866 Born Nov. 15, 1815 Died Dec. 10, 1907.