Notes for: Isaac Bodine

I have never seen any original sources listing the names of John Bodine and Mary Crocheron's children. As far as I can tell, the best list of these children would be John, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Catherine, Peter, and Abraham. However, one should realize that this is only an educated guess. Hopefully, more information will come to light on who John and Mary's children were, but it is not likely. These children were probably born on Staten Island, but there is no source for this information either.

It is almost certain that all the children John Bodine of Bethune and his wife Mary Crocheron would have been born on Staten Island and baptized at the old French Huguenot Church of Fresh Kills (now Greenridge). However, the church records are now lost. Registers from this church did exist at least until 1758 when they were last in the hands of Henry Latourrette, the son of Jean Latourrette and Maria Mercereau. It is thought that these were probably destroyed during the American Revolution by the English and their hired Hessian mercenaries. They probably also destroyed the old church and graveyard. The British did this to those they thought supported the American Rebels (adapted from http://www.latourrette.net/jean_america.html). If by some miracle those records ever were discovered, I'm sure they would reveal a lot about the family of John and Mary Bodine. Without those, we will not know the details of the births and baptisms of John and Mary's children.

Here is some information sent to me by Scott Thompson (iamsthomp2 at worldnet.att.net). It comes from page 490 of History of Hunterdon and Somerst Counties New Jersey, compiled by James P. Snell (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1881). The information in Snell's book does seem to have several errors, but it is probably the earliest information on who some of the children of John and Mary Bodine were. He must have gotten this straight from some of those Bodines themselves. Here is the info:

The Bodine Family is an honored one in the history of France, but moderate as were the advices of Jean bodine, the wise counselor of Henry III, his relatives were afterwards compelled to flee, with other Huguenots, to Holland, whence they ultimately came to Staten Island, at least as early as 1701.*

From the mouth of the Raritan they ascended to its source. Among the settlers of this region there were at least five of this name, all of whom left a large number of descendants.

*The earlier history of the Bodine family has been traced by Rev. Dr. Charles Baird, of New Rochelle, N.Y., for his forthcoming work on the Huguenots of America.

John Bodine had a plantation, early in the last century, on the west side of the North Branch. Immediately north of that was the Ammerman tract, and immediately north of that the Du Mont tract. This John Bodine had a son Abraham, who married Mary Low, and had John, baptized April 15, 1748; Judick baptized March 31, 1745, married Samuel Willemsen; Mary, probably the Mary that married Thomas Cooper; Cathelyntje, baptized Sept. 3, 1749; Sarah baptized Aug. 10, 1755 ; Cornelius, baptized November, 1755, married Margaret Sutphen, of Six-Mile Run, born 1754, and had Abraham, Peter, John, Cornelius, Gilbert, Issac, Charles, and George, all deceased.

Isaac Bodine had eleven children,- eight by his first wife, Cataleyn, and three by his second wife, Jannetje. These children, with dates of baptism, were Jan, Nov. 19,1703; Jantien, April 30, 1707; Frederick April 26, 1709; Mareyken, April 25, 1711; Kataleyn, Aug. 8, 1713; Isaac, April 5, 1715; Abraham, July 31, 1717; Elizabeth, Oct. 31, 1719; Hester, Dec. 25, 1723; Isaac, Aug. 16, 1730; and Jannetje, Aug. 16, 1730.

Peter Bodine had two children by his first wife and one by his second, Margrita. Their names and dates of baptism were Jan, April 30, 1712; David, April 3,1717; Mareytje, Oct 15, 1738.

Jacob Bodine's wife was named Elizabeth. They had six children,-Viz,, Jan, St. Jantien, Jacob, Catherine, Cornelius, and Antje.

Abraham Bodine married Adriantje Janse, and had nine children, among whom were Catrina, baptized April 14, 1725, and married Lodewyk Haydenbrook; Peter baptized December, 1726 and twice married ( first, Mareytje; second, Widow Williamson}; John, baptized Dec. 5, 1730, married Femmetje Vorhees; Abraham and Judick. The last named was born March 17, 1735, and ultimately married John Thompson.

***End of info from Scott Thompson.


Here are some entries from the baptismal records of the First Reformed Church of the Raritan which probably refer to this Isaac Bodine.

Sept. 26, 1700 Middage, Derck and wife--Piter. Witnesses: Isack Bodyn and wife.
Mar. 11, 1701 Van Neste, Piter and wife--Jan. Witnesses: Isack Bodyn and wife.
Oct. 19, 1703 Bodyn, Isack and wife--Jan. Witnesses: Piter Van Neste and wife.
Apr. 30, 1707 Bodyn, Isack and wife--Jantien. Witnesses: Joris Haall and wife.
Apr. 28, 1708 Joosten, Jan and wife--Johannes. Witnesses: Isack Bodyn, Van (Jan?) Kocke.
Apr. 26, 1709 Bodyn, Isack and wife--Fredrick. Witnesses: Abraham Merlet, Arientien Van Neste.
Apr. 25, 1711 Muelenaer, Hendrick and wife--Jan. Witnesses: Isaack Bodien and wife.
Nov. 2, 1711 Bodien, Isack and wife--Kateleyn. Witnesses: Jacop Bodien and wife.
Apr. 30, 1712 Bodyn, Piter and wife--Jan. Witnesses: Isack and Cataleyn Bodyn.
Apr. 30, 1712 Haell, Joris and wife--Elisabet. Witnesses: Isack Bodyn and wife.
Aug. 6, 1712 Vroom, Hans and wife--Jesyntien. Witnesses: Isack Bodien and wife.
June 3, 1714 Vroom, Kors and wife--Petrus. Witnesses: Isack Bodyn and wife.
Oct. 9, 1714 Bodyn, Jacob and wife--Jan. Witnesses: Isack Bodyn and wife.
May 18, 1715 Bodyn, Isaack and wife--Isaack. Witnesses: Abraham Bodyn; Kataryna Van Neste.
July 31, 1717 Bodien, Isaack and wife--Abraham. Witnesses: Piere v. Neste; Engeltien Daent.
Oct. 14, 1719 Bodyn, Isak and wife--Elisabet. Witnesses: Pieter Bodyn and wife.
Dec. 25, 1723 Bodyin, Isaac and Jannetje--Hester.

I did have that he was married twice. His first wife being one Catherine Van Neste (?) who was named with Isaac as witnesses to the baptism of Jan, son of Peter Bodine, at the Raritan DRC on April 30, 1712. I then had that she died after October 13, 1719 based on that being the last child she was probably the mother of. From the last names of the witnesses at Isaac's first children's baptisms, I was guessing that his wife's last name was probably Van Neste, Haall or Merlet. Van Neste appeared four times. Later, a message from Michael Duffy (see further below) threw this into doubt. I now tend to think that a Janettje, mentioned at the baptism in 1727 as Isaac's wife, was probably the mother of all his children. At least, that is what we should go with until better info comes up. There are problems with this, but it could be right.

Jannetje (or Engeltje?) is named with him at the baptism of Isaac's last child, Hester, in 1723. From then on, in 1723, 1727 and 1746, his wife is called Engeltje. As his widow, she is called Angtetic and Annetie Bodine when she renounced her right to administer his estate.

He was a resident of Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, as early as September 26, 1700 when he and his wife witnessed a baptism at the Raritan Dutch Reformed Church. He was a commisioner of roads for that county on April 16, 1735.

The Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Set of 8 Volumes, Editor A. Van Doren Honeyman, Plainfield, NJ. Raritan, New Jersey, Somerset Historical Publication Reprint Publishers, 1977, volume I - 1912, p. 101:

Early road records in Somerset County (Road Book !, No. I, pages 1 & 25): Report of a committee on completion of a road from Basking Ridge along Dead river, signed and recorded 7Oct1735:
Dirck Van Veghten
Thomas Riggs
Isaac Bodine
Henry Cortelyou

FTM CD #163 Family History: Pennsylvania Genealogies #1, Ancestry of Jost Miller of Salem County, New Jersey, page 331: [In estate of Hendrick Mulliner] "There seems to have been some difficulty in administering the will. On March 4, 1718, Adrian Molenaer and Isaac Bodine renounced their right to act as executors and Adrian wrote to the Surrogate: Mr. J. Barclay, Let no administration be granted on the estate of Hendrick Mulliner, till the other executor, Isaac Bodine have notice thereof and let good security be taken if administration be granted for the due administration of the said Estate. Ari Molenaer"

A reference to this will is "NJ (or NY) Archives," v. 18, p. 333.

This is a guess to link many of the people mentioned in the baptisms at Readington DRC from 1741 to 1751 (see v. 4, pp. 299-302 of the Somerset County Historical Quarterly). The names mentioned there line up very well with Isaac's known children.

His son, Frederick, administered on his estate on August 4, 1752, the widow, Jannetje, waiving her rights in his favor (NJ Archives, Series 1, 32: 34).

In January of 2002, I received the message below. See, also, my comments which follow.

From: michael duffy (mailto:mwduffy at istar.ca)
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002
Subject: Isaac Bodine

Hello

I came across your webpage while I was looking for information about the Maurits or Mowerson family in New Jersey. You indicate that Isaac Bodin’s second wife was Jannetje (Engeltje, Annetie) Maurits, so that caught my eye.

I don’t know anything about Jannetje or how she fits into the Maurits family I’m looking at. While I don’t know anything about the Bodin family either, from what I see in the Raritan DRC records, I think you may have a few mistakes in your write up on Isaac. For what they’re worth (and they may not be worth much), here are my thoughts:

You say that Isaac was married twice, and that his first wife was Cataleyn Van Neste (? ). Your notes are:

From the last names of the witnesses at their children's baptisms, her name is probably Van Neste, Haall or Merlet. Van Neste appeared four times.

His first wife, Catherine, was named with Isaac as witnesses to the baptism of Jan, son of Peter Bodine, at the Raritan DRC on April 30, 1712. She died after October 13, 1719.

With respect to the names of the sponsors, I think the Catherine named with Isaac was likely a sister or some other female member of the Bodin family, not his wife. Looking at the other baptismal entries, it seems that a wife (unless she was the mother of the child being baptized) was referred to as just that, the "wife". Over and over again, you see a male sponsor’s name followed by "and wife". That leads me to suspect that Catherine was not Isaac’s wife. If she was, she would not have been named.

Looking at the Raritan DRC records on the Internet (First Reformed Church, Raritan (Somerville) Baptisms 1699-1745 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kindred/BRar1699.txt), these are only children I found that are Isaac’s:

1703 Oct. 19. Bodyn, Isack and wife--Jan. Witnesses: Piter Van Neste and wife.
1707. Apr. 30. Bodyn, Isack and wife--Jantien. Witnesses: Joris Haall and wife.
1709. Apr. 26. Bodyn, Isack and wife--Fredrick. Witnesses: Abraham Merlet, Arientien Van Neste.
1711. Nov. 2. Bodien, Isack and wife--Kateleyn. Witnesses: Jacop Bodien and wife.
1715. May 18. Bodyn, Isaack and wife--Isaack. Witnesses: Abraham Bodyn; Kataryna Van Neste.
1717. July 31. Bodien, Isaack and wife--Abraham. Witnesses: Piere v. Nests; Engeltien Daent.
1719. Oct. 14. Bodyn, Isak and wife--Elisabet. Witnesses: Pieter Bodyn and wife.
1723. Dec. 25. Bodyin, Isaac and Jannetje--Hester.

It wasn’t until 1723, and Hester’s baptism, that Isaac’s wife was identified by name: Jannetje. While you refer to Hester as her first child with Isaac, could it be that Hester was her last child with Isaac? I didn’t see any other children born to Isaac and Jannetje.

If, as you say, Jannetje was a Maurits, the "Joris Haal and wife" who were the sponsors at her daughter (?) Jantien’s baptism were likely related to her. Joris (aka George Hall) was married to Outie (Oitje, Oeyke) Mouritz, who (according to information on the Internet) was the daughter of Frederick and Engeltje Mouritz. Frederick and Engeltje had a daughter Jannetje too, but she married Isaak Davids and had a family in Kingston. As "your" Jannetje’s name was also recorded as Engeltje and Annetie, perhaps Frederick and Engletje had a daughter by that name (eg. named after the mother). If so, she could have been Isaac Bodin’s wife, and a sister to Joris Haal’s wife.

Regards.
Michael Duffy

Comments: I think Michael has a point here. I wonder if someone was just guessing that Isaac had two wives. There is only one reference to an Isaac and Catherine Bodine - at the baptism of Peter Bodine's child, Jan. However, that does not have to be his wife. It could be his sister.

From: mike [mikemorr at hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Subject: Mary Bodine and John Van Nest

Dave,

Based on the records below, I believe Isaac Bodine and Engeltje Mouritz had a daughter named Mary, born about 1705.

She married John Van Nest and had the following children:
1. Catherine Van Nest baptized 1 JAN 1725/26 First Reformed Church, Raritan, NJ
2. Isaac Van Nest baptized 6 AUG 1727 at Readington Reformed Church, Readington, NJ
3. Peter Van Nest bapttized 26 SEP 1731 at First Reformed Church, Raritan, NJ
Mary's maiden name in not given in the records above, nor were witnesses listed.
From "Early Church Records of Somerset Co., NJ" by Colonial Roots. Also published in the Somerset County Historical Quarterly.

Mary is mentioned in the abstract of John's will, as well as her presumed father:
1760, Jan 7. Van Neste, Jan, of Somerset Co.; will of. My wife is to have the interest of 300 pounds. Eldest son, John, 50 pounds. Daughters, Sarah, Mary and Hannah, to each 25 pounds. Duaghter, Saida, 160 pounds. Daughters, Mary, Hannah, and Catrin, 160 pounds. My son-n-law, Peter Kinney, and my daughters, Sara, Mary and Hanah, to have all the estate which I had by their mother, Kniertye, my wife. My children, Isaac, Peter and Catrin, whom I had by my wife, Mary, to have their part of the estate coming to them by the estate of Isaac Bodyn, deceased. Sons, John, Isaac and Peter, the rest. Executors - son, John, son, Peter, and Cornelius Coryne. Witnesses - Elizabeth Van Nest, Teunis Post, Peter Van Neste. Proved May 20, 1777.
1777, March 7. Inventory, 285.18.6, made by Peter Ten Eick and John Wortman. Lib 18, p. 548.
Doucments Relating to the Colonial and Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol XXXIV, Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol V, pg 549.

Isaac Bodine died without a will, but it is very unlikely anyone other than his children and creditors would receive anything from his estate. The naming of her oldest son, Isaac, after his maternal grandfather, supports this. Her other children, Catherine and Peter, were named after their paternal grandparents. Mary herself was named after her paternal grandmother.

Hope this helps.

Mike Morrissey

From: mike
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010
Subject: Re: Mary Bodine and John Van Nest

David,

I have not found anything more.

John Van Nest was baptized at the DRC of Raritan, NJ
11 Mar 1701. Van Neste, Piter and wife-Jan. Witnesses: Isack Bodyn and wife.
From "Early Church Records of Somerset Co., NJ" by Colonial Roots. Also published in the Somerset County Historical Quarterly.

The inventory of the estate of John Van Nest may say something about the "part of the estate of Isaac Bodyn", but probably not. Isaac had been dead for 25 years, but it is odd that the children had not received their portion since they were now in their 40s. If it does say something and the amount is more than a token amount (which it probably was if he held onto it for 25 years), that would be another indication that Mary was Isaac's daughter.

Mike

From: mike [mikemorr at hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010
Subject: Re: Mary Bodine and John Van Nest

Dave,

I just noticed that John Van Nest wrote his will in 1760. All his children by Mary were of age by that time, so it is still unusual that he did not just distribute their share directly to them, though he may not have received it yet. In any case, it is unlikely that he had not distributed it by the time the inventory of his estate was taken in 1777.

The estate was proved in May 1777, shortly after the inventory was taken, so I think he probably died in 1777.

Mike Morrissey

From Ronny Bodine (June 30, 2018):

1st marriage--by 26 Sept 1700--CATALEYN.
The Reformed Dutch Church of Raritan in Somerset County was organized 9 March 1699 and already on 26 Sept 1700, Isack BODYN and wife witnessed the baptism of Piter, son of Derck Middage and wife. His wife, Cataleyn, is not actually named until 30 April 1712 when Isack and Cataleyn BODYN witnessed the baptism of Jan, son of Piter BODYN and wife.


2nd marriage--about 1722--JANNETJE (ENGELTJE, ANNETIE)
His 2nd wife, Jannetje, is not named until 25 Dec 1723 at the baptism of Hester, daughter of Isaac BODYIN and Jannetje. It is thus uncertain if this was Jannetje's first child. Her family name has been reported as Maurits, but no reliable source can attest to this. None of the records of the Dutch Reformed Churches cite a family name for her.

JANNETJE translates to Jane, Anna or Jennie.
ENGELTJE translates to Angelica.
ANNETIE translates to Anna or Hannah.

Isaac was one of two executors of the will of Hendrick Muliner of Somerset County (his brother-in-law, husband of his sister Catherine), written 26 Jan 1712/3 who refused to act on probating the will on 4 March 1718/9 (NJ Archives, Series 1, 23: 333). He was executor of the will of Hendrick Traphagen of Raritan, Somerset County, written 28 July 1723 (NJ Archives, Series 1, 23: 470).

Somerset County Road Book A/No. 1, pp. 1, 25, 16 April 1735: Report of a road laid out from Basking Road to NW branch of the Dead River, signed by 4 men, including Isaac Bodine,

Their last appearance was on 23 March 1746 when Isaac Bodine and Engeltje were witnesses to the baptism of Jacob, son of Jacob van Neste and Elizabeth Bodyn (his daughter by his 1st wife) at the Readington Dutch Reformed Church.

On 4 Aug 1752, Angtetic (also Annetie) Bodine, widow, renounced her right of administration in favor of her son, Frederick Bodine, on the estate of Isaac Bodine of Bridgewater, Somerset County, yeoman, who died intestate. Frederick Bodine, as the eldest (surviving) son of Isaac Bodine, posted bond as administrator, along with Abraham Bodine, both of Bridgewater, yeomen. (New Jersey Archives, Series 1, 32: 34 citing Liber F, p. 61).

Baptisms at the Raritan (now Somerville) Dutch Reformed Church, Somerset County, New Jersey.
.....1700. Sep. 26 PITER, to Derck Middage and wife. Wit-Isack BODYN and wife.
.....1701. Mar. 11 JAN, to Piter Van Neste and wife. Wit-Isack BODYN and wife.
1703. Oct. 19 JAN, to Isack BODYN and wife. Wit-Piter Van Neste and wife.
1707. Apr. 30 JANTIEN, to Isack BODYN and wife. Wit-Joris Haall and wife.
1709. Apr. 26 FREDRICK, to Isack BODYN and wife. Wit-Abraham Merlet, Arientien Van Neste.
.....1711. Apr. 25 JAN, to Hendrick Muelenaer and wife. Wit-Isaack BODIEN and wife.
1711. Nov. 2 KATELEYN, to Isack BODIEN and wife. Wit-Jacop BODIEN and wife.
.....1712. Apr. 30 JAN, to Piter BODYN and wife. Wit-Isack and Cataleyn BODYN.
.....1712, Apr. 30 ELISABET, to Joris Haell and wife. Wit-Isack BODYN and wife.
.....1712. Aug. 6 JESYNTIEN, to Hans Vroom and wife. Wit-Isack BODIEN and wife.
.....1714. June 3 PETRUS, to Kors Vroom and wife. Wit-Isack BODYN and wife.
.....1714. Oct. 9 JAN, to Jacob BODYN and wife. Wit-Isack BODYN and wife.
1715. May 18 ISAACK, to Isaack BODYN and wife. Wit-Abraham BODYN, Kataryna Van Neste.
1717. July 31 ABRAHAM, to Isaack BODIEN and wife. Wit-Piere v. Neste, Engeltien Daent.
1719. Oct. 14 ELISABET, to Isak BODYN and wife. Wit-Pieter BODYN and wife.
1723. Dec. 25 HESTER, to Isaac BODYIN and Jannetje. No witnesses named.

The Readington Reformed Church, formerly known as The Church over the North Branch and the North Branch Reformed Dutch Church was organized in 1717 or 1718.

Baptisms at the North Branch (now Readington) Dutch Reformed Church, Readington Twp., Hunterdon County New Jersey:
1723. Aug. 18 JACOB, to Isaac BODYN and Engeltje. Wit-Jacob Ten Eyk and Jacomyntje, his wife.
.....1723. Sep. 15 ABRAHAM, to Abraham Bronco and Maria. Wit-Isaac BODYN and Engeltje, his wife.
1727. Sep. 3 PETRUS, to Isaac BODYN and Engeltje. No witnesses named.
.....1746. Mar. 23 JACOB, to Jacob van Neste and Elizabeth BODYN. Wit-ISAAC BODINE and Engeltje.


Two further children are noted in in History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey, by James P. Snell, Philadelphia, Everts & Peck, 1881, p. 490.
16 Aug 1730: Isaac Bodine and Janatje Bodine.

Sinnott's Annals, p. 158, also notes these two additional baptisms at the North Branch DRC, but they are NOT on record there or any of the other Dutch Reformed Churches.