...That your petitioners father, lately died intestate living a widow Viz. Catharine Bodine and ______ thirteen children _____ this petitioner and Lea, Margaret, Abraham, Nicholas, Mary since intermarried with James Watson, Elizabeth since intermarried with Daniel McIntyre, Amy since intermarried with James Best, Desire since intermarried with Jacob Lilly, Martha since intermarried with John Beers, Rachel since intermarried with Thomas Girton, Catharine since intermarried with William Girton and Jacob Bodine who is _____ deceased leaving five children Viz William, Russel, Prudence, Mary, and Desire Bodine all of whom are in their minority and have a guardian appointed to wit John Funston.
Note: The "petitioner" is James Bodine, a son of Jacob Sr. He is the administrator of the estate. The underlined spaces stand for words that were not readable.
We therefore see that Jacob and Catherine Bodine had five children: William, Russel, Prudence, Mary, and Desire. We know that William's birth date is probably July 11, 1803. Further research shows that Russell was born about 1807 in Pennsylvania (see census data further below). Prudence was born in 1811. This is important because of something else that comes up in Jacob Bodine, Jr.'s administration papers. In the papers of August 2, 1817, it says that Jacob and Catherine had five minor children, four under the age of fourteen. Since we know William's birth date, we know that he turned fourteen on July 11, 1817. He must be the oldest child since all the others would be under fourteen except for him. However, this is made perfectly clear in the administration papers of August 15, 1817 where it says that William is the one child who is not under fourteen (see abstracts just below). All this would also match the birth years for Russell (1807) and Prudence (1811). We do not know the dates for Mary/Molly or Desire, but they do appear to be the youngest of the five children by the order in which they are listed. I have about 150 William Bodines in my data and he is the only one whose dates would fit this scenario.
Here are the pertinent parts from the administration papers:
2 Aug 1817 from Caleb Thomas
"that the said intestate lately died leaving a widow and five minor children, four under the age of fourteen,"
15 August 1817
The petition of Catherine Bodine widow & relict of Jacob Bodine Jr late of Derry Township deceased
Humbly herewith
That said Jacob lately deceased intestate leaving a widow, your petitioner, and five minor children, to wit, William, Russell, Prudence, Molly, & Desire, the four last of whom are under the age of fourteen years.
Petitioner prays to the Court to appoint guardian of these persons & estates
[?]her
Catharine X Bodine
Mark
William Bodine above named prays your honor to allow him to choose a guardian of his person and estate
[?]
William Bodine [his actual signature]
This comes from Joan Best:
Catherine Bodine's dad is [probably] 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
In the 1810 Census of Derry Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, there is a listing for two Jacob Bodines. One of these is Jacob Sr. and the other is Jacob Jr. In Jacob Jr.'s household, there are the following people listed:
2 males under 10
1 male 16-26
2 males 26-45
1 female 16-26
This would match the fact that Jacob Jr. had only two children born by 1810: William in 1803 and Russell in 1807. Catherine would be the female and Jacob Jr. would be one of the three older males, but it is not certain which one he was.
The following census data shows the close relationship between the movements of William Bodine and his brother, Russell Bodine.
We do not know where William was at the time of the 1820 Census. He would have been 17, Russell 13, and Prudence, 9. They were probably with relatives or working for someone else.
In 1830, William is listed in the Census of Genesco Township, Livingston County, New York.
1m, 1f : under 5
1m, 1f: 20-30
On the same page of the census is Russell Bodine
1 m. under 5
1m, 1f: 20-30
Note from Joan Best: I understand that Genesco is next to Groveland Township where the Eagle, Traxler and other families that I listed in a prior message, lived.
William Bodine is next found in the 1840 Census of Genesee Township, Genesee County, Michigan. [On the same page is found Abraham Bodine. Abraham may be William's cousin, son of James ... we will have to wait for more info on James Orphan Court papers]. Russel is in nearby Washtenaw County.
William Bodine:
1m under 5
1m, 1f: 5-10
1m, 1f: 10-15
1m, 1f: 30-40
Abraham Bodine:
1m under 5
1f: 5-10
1m, 1f: 30-40
In Washtenaw County, Michigan:
R. Budine
1m 5-10
1m 10-15
1f 20-30
1m, 1f: 30-40
In the 1840 Census above, Russell and his wife are 30-40. Then there is the woman living with them who is 20-30. Joan Best thinks this could be one of Russell's younger sisters, who would have been in this age category at this time. We're not sure who the children were, but this may indicate that Russell had other children besides Elizabeth who was found in the 1850 and 1860 Censuses. This is something to keep in mind.
William is next found in the Census of Vienna Township, Genesee County, Michigan:
William Bodine, 47, $700, NY
Mary Bodine, 45 or 43, NY
Oscar, 21, NY
Mortimer, 19, NY
Sarah, 16, NY
Oakley, 10, Mich.
Ellen, 6, Mich.
In 1850 in Flint Twp., Genesee Co., MI:
Albert Bodine, 19, farmer
He is probably a hired hand. He is one of three farmers in the household of Thomas B. Bigole.
In 1850 in Manchester Twp., Washtenaw Co., MI:
Russel Bodine, 43, wheelwright, Penn
Esther 31, NY
Elizabeth 4, Mich
In 1850 in Bridgewater Twp., Washtenaw Co., MI:
Sarah Bodine, 19
She is in the household of Moses Bartlett, 30, NY and Ann Bartlett, 30, Ireland.
William is in the 1860 Census of Vienna Twp., Genesee Co., MI:
William Bodine, 57, farmer, 2000, 500, Pennsylvania
Mary, 45, New York
Akley, 20, farm labor, --, 100, Michigan
Ellen, 18, Michigan
1860 Census of Madison Twp., Washtenaw Co., MI:
Russel ?. Bodine, 52, wagonmaker, 500, 100, Penn
Esther, 51 [sic], NY
Elizabeth, 13, Mich.
Note from Dave: Russell's middle initial is very hard to read. It may be and "H" or a "Y," but I don't think it is a "V." It needs comparing to more of the census than I have seen in order to figure it out.
On the next page of the census:
Oscar Bodine, 31, Lumberman, 3000, 700, New York
Cornelia, 25, Conneticut
Wilmina, 3, Michigan
Estelle, 8/12, Michigan
On this same page:
Mortimer Bodine, 30, Sawyer, ___, 750, New York
Mariah, 24, New York
Albert, 4, Michigan
Note: This data from the censuses shows two birth places for William. The 1850 Census says NY, and the 1860 Census shows Pennsylvania. Russell is shown to have been born in Pennsylvania in both the 1850 and 1860 Censuses. The error seems to be in the 1850 Census for William. It should have said Pennsylvania. Somebody must have reported this incorrectly to the census taker.
Here is some info that Joan Best sent me:
In Oak Grove Cemetery, Manchester, Washtenaw Co., MI
Bodine, Elizabeth, 1846-1905
Bodine, Russel 1802-1875
Bodine, Esther 1809-1902
Note from Joan: Russel's birth date must have been misread. The state record, which I will send, says he was 67 when he died. A 1807 birth date correlates with all the other records. I suspect the 7 was misread as a 2. Nice if we could find someone to go read it. Maybe the stones will give full dates.
I found Russel in the Genealogical Death Indexing System - Michigan [www.mdch.state.mi.us]
Russell Bodine
dod 28 May 1875
Manchester, Washtenaw Co. MI
67 years old
Dropsy
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Occ. Wagon Maker