Notes for: Mary Ann Bodine

It is uncertain if this Mary Bodine is the daughter of James Bodine. Even her last name may not be Bodine, but the evidence does seem to point to the fact that it was. A letter in the pension file from a Mrs. Etha (probably Bodine) Burk shows that Etha is Mary Ann's sister. She wrote from Catoosa County, Georgia. This is also where Joel Longley was living. Joel Longley married a Nancy Bodine. The doubt about Mary's last name lies in the fact that Effie's last name is spelled "Boaine" in the marriage record (see below). This is probably supposed to be "Bodine." And there is always the possibility that Mary was a half-sister to Effie.

Doris Johnston wrote, "Mary Bodine had a sister, Effie Bodine, who (as Effie Burk) gave a sworn affidavit in 1854 (while living in Catoosa County, Georgia) that Mary was her sister, in support of Mary's pension application. William C. Longley was surety on the marriage of Effie Boaine (Bodine?) to John Burke in Montgomery County, Virginia on September 30, 1797. In 1854, Effie was 73 years old. Mary Ann and Effie were daughters of James Bodine."

I have the letter Doris mentions above, and the name appears to be Etha.

Doris also said, "From the information I've been given by other Bodines, the sisters were daughters of James Bodine, Sr. 1740-1800. James Bodine was born in Westmoreland Co., NJ, married in Burlington Co., NJ, though his wife's name is unknown. Their two oldest children born in Burlington Co. NJ were Mary Ann 1766, and Francis in 1768 (have had contact with descendants). Next were Hannah 1771 in Loudoun Co. VA, James Jr. 1772, Margaret (pr. abt 1774), Lydia (abt 1776), Henry, (abt 1778) and last Effie/Etha 1781."

She and William moved through some Virginia Counties before settling in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1800 (Pension applications). They later moved to McMinn County, Tennessee.

In March of 2000, Doris Johnston wrote, "I so often wonder where the Preston middle name in so many of our Longleys came from. We have several William Preston Longley's, Oliver Preston Longley, etc. I notice that Francis Bodine had a son Oliver P., which I bet was also Preston. Wonder if Mary Ann Bodine's mother or grandmother's maiden name was Preston? Since the last name of neither is known. We should watch for Prestons in NJ where they came from."