Notes for: Mary ("Molly") Bodine
Jacob and Catherine had three daughters listed in the Orphan Court records. Only two daughters were mentioned in the 1810 to 1820 Censuses. One daughter, either Mary or Desire, had to be born after 1820. I think.
Joan Best said that in Jacob, Jr.'s probate papers the fourth child is listed as Molly. In her grandfather's probate papers she is listed as Mary. The handwriting is clear in both cases. A Mary Bodine signed a power of attorney with Caleb Thomas in 1838. Caleb was the administrator of Jacob, Jr.'s estate, so she thinks this is probably Jacob, Jr.'s daughter; although, she's possibly the wife of William, who was also Mary. Molly is a common nickname for Mary. This child was formally named Mary, but she seems to have gone by the name "Molly."
Joan Best wrote, "Heard from a William Bodine researcher today. She has found Mary Bodine buying and selling property. She signs a power of attorney to Caleb Thomas, the administrator of her father's estate, in the 1830's. It is my guess that she did not marry, but was a shrewd businesswoman." She also wrote, "I think Molly is the nickname for Mary. In 1838, Mary Bodine granted two Power of Attorneys to Caleb Thomas, the estate administrator. One of the other researchers has found Mary Bodine several times in regard to land transactions so she may not have married. I am sending for the Powers of Attorneys to see what they were about."
There is a Power of Attorney recorded for Mary Bodine in the Columbia County Deed books on April 13, 1838 (Book G, p. 423).
Here is a transcription of the Power of Attorney. It is from April 13, 1838, Linawe Co., MI. It was recorded in Columbia Co., PA on October 22, 1838.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: that I, Mary Bodine of the Town of Washtenaw and State of Michigan have made, authorized and nominated and appointed and by these presents do make, authorize, nominate and appoint Caleb Thomas of Jerseytown, County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania my attorney for me and in my name, to grant, bargain and sell all that certain tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the Township of Madison, County of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania adjoining lands owned by Daniel Welliver, Valentine Christian and others, containing one hundred and twelve acres be the same more or less, surveyed on warrant granted to John Boyd, July 1st, 1764, of which tract Jacob Bodine Jr. died seized or any part share and proportion thereof, and all such right, title, interest, claim and demand both in law and equity, as I may have in the same, for such sum and prices and on such terms as to him shall seem meet and for me and in my name to make, execute and deliver good and sufficient deeds and conveyances for the same and every part thereof, either with or without covenants and warranty, In witness hereof I have hereunto set hand and seal this thirteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight,
In presence of N. Walker.................................................Mary Bodine (seal)
Charles Hewit
State of Michigan )
County of Linawe ) SS
Personally appeared before me Mary Bodine known to me to be the person who executed the above Power-of-Attorney and acknowledged that she signed, sealed and delivered the same for all the uses and purposes therein written, as her own free act and deed, Given under my hand at Tecumash this twenty third day of April A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, at Tesumash.
....................................................................................Charles Hewit (J. Peace)
[Clerk's verification follows]
The following comes from Joan Best:
Catherine Bodine's dad is Evan Thomas! She is the sister of Prudence, who witnessed her signature. Prudence is married to Caleb Thomas. According to info on familysearch, Caleb is the great-grandson of Edward Thomas and Prudence is his granddaughter. Does that make them second cousins once removed? I have Evan Thomas' will, which just gives the first names of his children. But,by lucky chance [I say that because Caleb Thomas was the administrator of both Jacob Bodine, Jr's estate [his brother-in-law] and Evan Thomas' estate [his father-in-law] So when I sent for papers in which Catherine Bodine gives power of attorney to Caleb Thomas I thought it was about her husband's estate. One was, the other one was for her father's estate, and this time it is in her married name as heir of Evan Thomas.
Evan's children were: Mary Hendershot, Inon, Evan, Elizabeth, Catharine, Prudence, Rebecca, John. To each he gave 1/8.
In the 1830 census for Groveland, Livingston Co., NY we find John Thomas and Evan Thomas, probably Catharine's brothers, and William Hendershot, Sr. and Jr., perhaps one of them a spouse of May Thomas Hendershot.
In 1838 Catherine and her children gave power of attorney to Caleb Thomas so he could sell some more of Jacob, Jrs. land. The documents say where they lived in 1838. Catharine lived in Groveland and Desire in Genesco, both in Livingston Co. NY. Russell's share had been conveyed to Catherine. Philip Traxler and wife Prudence were living in Richland Co., Ohio and they had purchased William Bodine's portion. Mary Bodine was living in Washtenaw, Michigan [The same county as Russell] She signed in Teetmish, Linawe Co. Michigan.
I think that pretty much sews up and question concerning whether the NY Bodines are one and the same as Jacob, Jr's kids.
Evan Thomas will was submitted for probate in 1820. He doesn't mention a wife so she had probably predeceased him. So with both parents and husband dead, it made sense that Catherine and her teenagers would go to NY with her siblings. New land was being developed along a newly opened canal there. Catherine did not go to live with Prudence right away, apparently. I wonder if Desire and Mary ever married. And it looks like Russel/l had more children than Elizabeth. Several boys and at least one other girl, according to the census. Keep an eye out for them. Maybe his estate papers would give some clues, or an obit.
Joan