Notes for: John Bodine
John Bodine was probably born about 1772-73 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Although, I did find one unsupported reference saying he was born in "New Amsterdam, New Jersey." He died in July of 1815 in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He married Catherine Parker the daughter of Richard Parker and Mary Grissel Nalle (See Nall Families of America, by Sally Nall Dolphin and Charles Fuller Nall, 1978, Palm Beach, Florida). Catherine and John's house, built in about 1800, still stands on the edge of Fairfield, Kentucky, somewhat off the road to Bloomfield and nearly out of sight. It has recently (1990s) been owned by Robert Elder. John Bodine's first acquisition of land in Nelson County, Kentucky occurred soon after his marriage, when on August 9, 1797 he was deeded 53 1/2 acres on Mill Creek by John and Abigail Herrell for 21 pounds, 15 shillings (Nelson Co. Deed Book 5, p. 331).
John was a lieutenant colonel in the Kentucky militia in the War of 1812. He is on record in 1814 as being in the 27th Regiment, First Brigade ("Cornstalk" Militia). His will, written 30 Apr. 1815, before he set out for New Orleans (Nelson Co. Will Book C, p. 413) mentions sister Catherine and "brother" Samuel Evans (This Samuel Evans also moved to Nelson County).
In the settlement of Jacob Bodine's estate the heirs consented to a small settlement to Sarah Evans, so this has led some to think that he had a widow Sarah who then married William Evans or that there might have been a sister Sarah who married this Evans. John inherited 400 acres in Clark County, Kentucky entered by Jacob Bodine. Later this land was divided into thirds, one of which went in 1814 to John's sister Catherine (Sister Catherine's will is in Nelson Co. Will Book 2, p. 149). Presumably they were Jacob's children. (In 1816, Catherine the widow and Catherine the sister were paying taxes on 133_ acres of land each in Clark County, Kentucky. There is no listing of such land for them from 1817, although in 1817 a Lewis Bodine - perhaps a mistake for John - was listed.)
Catherine Parker Bodine later married Elisha Metcalf. Her will is recorded in Nelson County, Kentucky, Will Book 2, p. 7, and is dated October 9, 1826. Among the records of the Nelson County court is a suit against her by John Davis. He claimed that he had not been paid a promised sum for accompanying John Bodine to New Orleans and helping him to sell certain commodities and that he had cared for him during his illness of three months in Louisiana. The suit was dismissed.
Here is a message I got from Judy Corbin:
From: JCNORWALK at prodigy.net
Cc: jcnorwalk at prodigy.net
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2002
Subject: John Bodine, Nelson County, Kentucky
I have the following note that I took two years ago at a library. From what I can figure (I take poor
notes.) is that it was from a book of Nelson County, Kentucky records and the page numbers are in a
will/probate book of Nelson county. I am sure the time frame is between 1800 and 1830 (wide range).
Page 413: Will, John Bodine, brother=Samuel Evans, sister=Caty Bodine, wit: John Hobbs, Cornelius
Bodine, William N. Robertson, Bond: Samuel Evans, Cornelius Bodine, Isaac Bodine, Asher Pullen.
Of course, sister and brother, could mean sister-in-law, and brother-in-law.
I tried to pin it down by looking at the World Connect Project, but I got lost in the repeated given
names of the Bodines in Nelson County. Although, I believe one of them did marry a Pullen.
My interest is in Samuel Evans. I am descended from an Edward Evans that settled in the Nelson/Washington
Counties area in the 1790's. I am trying to determine if there is a relationship with this Samuel Evans.
I saw your postings on the rootsweb Bodine surname board in my only search results for Nelson.
Do you know "who" this John Bodine is? If you do, do you have any idea of the relationship with Samuel
Evans? I appreciate any assistance you can give me.
Sincerely,
Judy Cobin, Norwalk, Connecticut
From Ronny Bodine:
Although three men named John Bodine lived in Nelson County, Kentucky in the same time period it is evident that this John Bodine was the son of Orrionehe Bodine, prior to her marriage to Benjamin Rightmire, as she was named as one of the children of Cornelius Bodine in the latter's will, along with son John Bodine, who is identified as the John Bodine (1763-1837) who married Sarah Bailey. Also, this John Bodine (c1773-1815) named a son Isaac Addison Bodine, who was the namesake of his maternal uncle, Isaac Addison Bodine (1752-1818) and this latter man, in his family bible was noted as the son of Cornelius and Mary Bodine. Further, Mary Evans, in her will of 1787 named John Bodine, son of Benjamin Rightmire's wife and in his own will of 1815, John Bodine named "brother" Samuel Evans.
From Nelson County, Kentucky Marriage Records:
John Bodine AND Catharine Parker were married 24 July 1797 by James Chambers.
Bond of 20 Dec 1820 by Elisha Medcalfe & Robert N. Bodine for the marriage of Elisha Medcalfe and Mrs. Catharine Bodine, widow of John Bodine, deceased. There was no marriage return.
The following will of John Bodine, written 30 April 1815, is transcribed as originally written with the exception of periods [.] which have been inserted. The will is recorded in Nelson County, Kentucky Will Book C, page 413. John Bodine does not name his wife or children and Turkey town in Nelson County is now Fairfield: "It is my wish in case I should not return from the trip I am about to take to new orleans that my wife should be possesses of all my estate real and personal during her life or widowhood and in case she should mary I wish my property to be divided with all my children agreeable to the law now in force[.] I wish my children to have as good education as it is in my wifes power to give them and as soon as my oldest son arrives to twenty one years of age if the circumstances of my family will admit of it I wish my negro fellow Peter to be free[.] I also wish my brother Samuel Evans to assist my wife in the administration of my estate and if the situation of my family will admit it I wish my sister Caty Bodine to be boarded in it[.] I also wish my wife to make such advancements to my children when they leave her as circumstances may admit."
At a county court held for Nelson County on the 18th day of December 1815 The above writing was proved by the oaths of John Hobbs, Cornelius Bodine and William M. Robertson to be entirely the proper handwriting of John Bodine late of Turkey town in Nelson County deceased and ordered to be recorded[.] An on the motion of Caty Bodine in writing or will named she having given bond with Samuel Evans, Isaac Bodine, Cornelius Bodine and Asher Pullen her securities in the penalty of ten thousand dollars conditioned as prescribed by law and having taken oath the law in such case directs it is ordered that a certificat of probate of said will be granted her. Teste-Ben Grayson, County Clerk
The children of John Bodine are named in the following deed: Deed of 14 Dec 1820 between Catherine Bodine of the one part and Robert N. Bodine, Richard P. Bodine, Martin Bodine, Alfred Bodine, Catherine N. Bodine, Addison Bodine and Mary Ann Bodine of the other part, witn. that the sd Catherine Bodine for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which she hath for her afsd loving chn....the slaves which should belong to them. (Nelson Co., Ky. Deeds, 14: 261.)