Notes for: John Bodine, Capt.
The only source I've personally seen for his birth year is from a family Bible that appears to have once belonged to his son, Samuel Tucker Bodine. For "Births" it says, "John Bodine, in New Jersey 1745." The "5" seems like it was marked out later by someone and changed to a "3"; however, this could be an original correction. I don't think it is, but it could be. I will go with the date that I think was first put in the Bible - 1745.
Early in his life, he moved to Burlington County and lived at Wading River in Little Egg Harbor Township. John Bodine was the owner of an inn for over forty years in Wading River.
The book "Heart of the Pines," by John E. Pearce, says that in 1791 John Bodine bought land about seven miles from Tuckerton where the road crossed the Wading River and built a tavern. Francis III, John's nephew, and his wife Mary (Rose) seemed to have lived there as well. He (I think Francis II, John's brother) died September 27, 1822 and is buried in Lumberton. His wife died on December 15, 1820.
The book also says that the Bodine name is preserved by a huge campground called by the State "Bodine's Field." During the long drought of 1995, a 1500 foot sluiceway was found near Bodine's field. In a book by Thomas F Gordon, it says Bodine ran a sawmill near his tavern.
He was also a prosperous farmer and a large landowner. One of his tracts of land, purchased on October 5, 1791, lay along the road going from Clam Town to Wading River Bridge. He enlisted as a private in the first regiment of Burlington County Militia and rose to the rank of captain in the Continental Army, serving throughout the Revolutionary War. See the article on Judge Joseph Lamb Bodine. One source says his birth date was 1755. Sinnott says he was buried at Lower Bank, but other info had Wading River. This is probably the same area. Volume three of Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, page 1326, says he died in Nottingham Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.
The information on the ten children of Ann Taylor comes from the Sinnott book. He had descendants living in Bridgeton, New Jersey.
The article sent to me by S. Hobbs (700 years of History of the Families of Bodine and Bodin..." says that this John Bodine served seven years in the Continental Army.
For the children without birth dates (just birth years), I've seen several variations. For example, some information says Abigail was born in 1799, but other info says 1807. The same for Wilson and maybe others.
Sheila Bodine (Norumba at aol.com) says that he died in Wading River, New Jersey. She did not give a source for this info.
I found this as http://www.jansdigs.com/NewJersey/ under the biographies for Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland Counties:
(Page 278 and 279) The earliest representatives of the Bodine family were among the band of Huguenots who fled to America to escape religious persecution and located at New Rochelle, in Westchester County, N. Y. From thence they emigrated to Staten Island, and later to New Jersey. John Bodine, the grandfather of the subject of this biography was born in Cranberry, Middlesex County, N. J., about the year 1750, from which place he removed when a youth to Burlington County, and engaged in the active pursuits of life. He married and had children, - John, Stacy, Francis, Charles, Joel, Wilson, Jesse, Daniel, Samuel, Budd S., Susan (Mrs. Wright), Mary (Mrs. Moncrief), Abigail (Mrs. Hudson), Sarah (Mrs. Allen), and Lucy (Mrs. Fisher). These children were all born in the Wading River tavern, a popular resort, of which Mr. Bodine was for a period of forty years the respected landlord, and where his death occurred in 1820 or 1821. His son, Joel was born in 1795, and twice married, first to Miss Sarah Gale, to whom was born a son, Samuel, and second to Miss Phebe Forman, whose children were, John F., William H., Isaac E., Charles J., Alfred, Henry C., and one who died in infancy. Three of this number still survive. Mr. Bodine, 1824, made Philadelphia his residence, and in 1826 removed to Millville, Cumberland Co., N. J. In 1834 he repaired to Winslow, Camden Co., N. J., which place was for five years his home, when he chose Williamstown as a more permanent abode. His death occurred in Camden, in his eighty-fourth year. John F., his son, was born October 27, 1821, in Tuckerton, Burlington Co., and spent his youth in active employment when not enjoying the limited advantages of education there afforded. After two and a half years of service in the shop of a blacksmith, he entered a glass-manufacturing establishment, and at the age of seventeen was for three years an apprentice to the art of glass blowing. He then removed to Williamstown, and became assistant to his father, receiving, after attaining his majority, a salary for his services. At the age of twenty-five he had by industry and thrift accumulated the sum of six hundred dollars, with which a partnership was formed with his father and brother. This sum formed the nucleus around, which centered a large and successful business, that of hollow-ware glass manufacturing, with which a general store was connected, and continued until his retirement in 1882. Mr. Bodine was married in 1844 to Miss Martha, daughter of John Swope, of Williamstown, and had children, Emma (Mrs. Atkins), and Phebe (Mrs. Duffel). He married a second time to Miss Gertrude, daughter of Peter Boucher, of Columbia County, N. Y. Their children are Joanna (Mrs. Garwood), and Alice. In politics Mr. Bodine is a strong Republican, and has been actively identified with the political interests of the district and county. He filled offices of superintendent of schools and freeholder each for three years, and was in 1864 elected member of the State Legislature, where he served on the committees on Railroads and Corporations, having been chairman of the latter. He was in 1873 appointed one of the county judges and officiated for five years, after which he was elected to the State Senate for a period of three years, and chairman of the State Prison and Public Grounds Committees, also a member of the committees on Railroads and Canals, Lunatic Asylums, and Industrial School for Girls. Mr. Bodine is actively interested in the advancement of the religious interests of the village, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Williamstown. He is president of the Williamstown Railroad, which he was largely in building and director of the First National Bank of Camden. He is also identified with the Masonic order, and member of Brearley Lodge, No.2, of that order.
Here is a picture of a table that I found on sale on the Internet. The original owner was supposedly this John Bodine. It is from about 1790 and is described as a New Jersey walnut tavern table with a rectangular top over a frame with a single drawer resting on turned and blocked legs.
From Ronny Bodine:
John Bodine was baptised 27 Nov 1747 at Mr. Johnston's mill at the age of 6 weeks (Parish Reg. of Christ Church, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey) as the son of Francis and Abigail Burdoigne John operated an inn called "The Washington" at Little Egg Harbor for forty years and was also a prosperous farmer. During the Revolutionary War he served in the 1st Regiment of Burlington County Militia under Colonels Read and Somers, advancing from Private to Ensign and ultimately attaining the rank of Captain. His commission to Captain did not reach him until after the war, although issued before its close. He fought at the battle of Monmouth, 28 June 1778, and was at Valley Forge. John Bodine was a member of the township committee for Washington Township, Burlington County in 1803, 1804 and 1807.
Mary Elizabeth Sinnott in her "Annals.." p. 170 and the Samuel Tucker Bodine family bible state John Bodine died 26 March 1826, but clearly the year is incorrect as John Bodine did not compose his will until 1 Sept 1826. His will of 1 Sept 1826, wherein he described himself as a resident of Washington Township, was proved 3 April 1827, and therein names his wife, Ann Bodine, daughter Lucy Ann Bodine, and sons Daniel James, Joel, Wilson, Jesse, Budd and Samuel. Executors were his wife Ann and sons Jesse and Samuel (New Jersey Wills, 13693C). According to a biographical sketch of his grandson, John F. Bodine (1821-1883), contained in "History of the Counties of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland, New Jersey," p. 278 (Cushing, Thomas, M.D. and Charles E. Sheppard, Esq., Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1883), all of his children were born in the Wading River tavern.
***End of info from Ronny.
From: Frank Vogel [fvogel at wenonahschool.org]
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012
Subject: A question about Wading River
Good morning,
I was looking over your web page and found some notes regarding Mary Bodine, 1791-1859, in regards to Wading River. The information provided on the notes indicates that Mary was born in "Wading River Tavern". I would be interested to know if there could possibly be more than one "Wading River Tavern". I am the current owner of the "Wading River Tavern" ca 1770. The Taverns history has always interested me and I would like to know more.
Thanks!
Frank Vogel
Wading River, NJ