Notes for: John (Jan) Bodine
John Bodine was born on January 22, 1763 and died on July 2, 1837 in Logan County, Kentucky. According to MBP, he moved to Logan County, Kentucky in 1795. He is buried in Kennerly's Cemetery near Lewisburg, Kentucky. He was married on August 11, 1799 in Nelson County, Kentucky by J. Ferguson (Marriage Register for Nelson Co., 1785-1859). His wife, Sarah Bailey, was the daughter of William. [Note by Robert P. Moore: This is probably either the William Bailey of Berkeley County, (West) Virginia, who married Elizabeth Harrison and has many descendants in the area of Nelson County, Kentucky or his son by the same name. Nelson County, Kentucky, Will Book C, page 519 records the will of William Bailey, who had sons William H., Thomas, and Andrew. No daughters are mentioned, but he does name three daughters of his son William H.: Sarah, Elizabeth, and Emily.] John Bodine's will (Logan County Will Book F, page 267) was proved on November 21, 1837.
In her study of the three John Bodines (who were at one very early time all in Nelson County, Kentucky at the same time), Mrs. Mary Ann Bodine Piper has called this John "John of Logan County." According to a story related by his descendants, he had an unfortunate accident while working with a gunsmith in Loudoun County, Virginia. A gun he was holding went off, wounding the smith, and young John, who was about 16 to 18 years old, was so frightened that he fled and went to North Carolina. There is a quite believable story that he ran through the countryside, living on berries and other food he could find. Some descendants believe this was when he was on his way to Kentucky some years later, but far more likely is that he wanted to escape apprehension, not knowing that the smith had recovered from his wounds. At any rate, he seems to have lived in North Carolina and to have moved from there to Kentucky after buying a farm in Logan County in 1795. There is a Kentucky Land Warrant in Book B2, page 352 which probably applies to this John (30 acres of land surveyed on November 14, 1832 on Wolf Lick Fork in Logan County). By that time, Cornelius had died (in 1781), and by 1790 his wife Idah was also dead. It seems evident that John returned to Loudoun County about the time her estate was administered in 1795, for store records in the possession of his descendants indicate his presence there.
After buying the Logan County farm on Wolf['s] Creek, he must have joined his brother Isaac in Nelson County, where he was married to Sarah Bailey. It is possible that John Bodine had been married previously. At any rate, a letter of his was discovered in which he explained how he had been caught in a relationship with an undesirable girl and had to pay her to be free of her demands. Some of the information on this line comes from Mrs. Edwin Yewell of Owensboro, Kentucky, a descendant of this John Bodine. Other information comes from Mary L. Feild of Flint, Michigan, as well as those mentioned below in individual lines. The North Carolina census of 1790 lists a John Bodine at Hillsborough.
From: Tyler
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023
Subject: Re: Logan Co KY
Sure thing. We live about an hour away but will try to take time and do that.
The home place was torn down around the 1950s but we have been working diligently to keep it nice and preserved. I've found a lot of glass jars and the rocks it used as a foundation are still there and the cellar structure.
From: Tyler
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023
Subject: Re: Logan Co KY
Sure, that is no problem at all. If I am able to find Mary E Bodine's grave again, I will send it as well.
From: Tyler
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023
Subject: Re: Logan Co KY
There are 3 that we have found, if the one in the picture with two are different. Pics attached.
I also know that there is a Mary E Bodine tombstone somewhere, as I have seen it before (we used to have hunting rights before we bought it) but that has been a while ago and I don't have it marked.
This cemetery is now all woods. My father and I have plans to put up a small fence around the area at some point.
From: Tyler
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2023
Subject: Re: Logan Co KY
We now own the land that their house was built on, and the cemetery is on. I assume Isaac A is not the one hurried there but instead a son of John?
From: Tyler
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Subject: Logan Co KY
Hello, I know this is a long shot but I was curious if your ancestors are the ones that lived in Logan Co, KY at the Bodine farm?
From Ronny Bodine:
In her study of the three John Bodines (who were at one very early time all in Nelson County, Kentucky at the same time), Mrs. Mary Ann Bodine Piper has called this John "John of Logan County." According to a story related by his descendants, he had an unfortunate accident while working with a gunsmith in Loudoun County, Virginia. A gun he was holding went off, wounding the smith, and young John, who was about 16 to 18 years old, was so frightened that he fled and went to North Carolina. There is a quite believable story that he ran through the countryside, living on berries and other food he could find. Some descendants believe this was when he was on his way to Kentucky some years later, but far more likely is that he wanted to escape apprehension, not knowing that the smith had recovered from his wounds. At any rate, he seems to have lived in North Carolina and to have moved from there to Kentucky after buying a farm in Logan County in 1795. There is a Kentucky Land Warrant in Book B2, page 352 which probably applies to this John (30 acres of land surveyed on November 14, 1832 on Wolf Lick Fork in Logan County). By that time, Cornelius had died (in 1781), and by 1790 his wife Idah was also dead. It seems evident that John returned to Loudoun County about the time her estate was administered in 1795, for store records in the possession of his descendants indicate his presence there.
After buying the Logan County farm on Wolf['s] Creek, he must have joined his brother Isaac in Nelson County, where he was married to Sarah Bailey. It is possible that John Bodine had been married previously. At any rate, a letter of his was discovered in which he explained how he had been caught in a relationship with an undesirable girl and had to pay her to be free of her demands. Some of the information on this line comes from Mrs. Edwin Yewell of Owensboro, Kentucky, a descendant of this John Bodine. Other information comes from Mary L. Feild of Flint, Michigan, as well as those mentioned below in individual lines. The North Carolina census of 1790 lists a John Bodine at Hillsborough.
The following letter, which is undated and unsigned, is attributed to John Bodine, surely before he married Sarah Bailey in 1799, in which he explained how he had been caught in a relationship with an undesirable girl and had to pay her to be free of her demands. The letter is transcribed verbatim and any insertions of punctuation to make the meaning better understood are noted in brackets [ ].
Gentlemen,
I hope you will consider this Business seriously[.] when I first came to live in that Neighborhood was unacquainted with the people I lived near ____ ____ as it is Common for young people to be talking Together[.] So it was the case with us which was Carryed on for some time untill My Friends well wishes came to know that I frequented that house[.] They sent for me & told me that Mr. Jones's Family of girls were under the character of being loose women[.] this was cause for me to _____ into the Business as it was a importance & upon Discussing with people who were total strangers to me I found her Character to be such that I determined never to have any Connection with any of the Family my reason was gentlemen you must know are generally of a Secret nature. Some of them I could prove by young women but mostly will not permit them to come to declare what they know[.] under these Conditions I was determined to be finally Clear of the Family & accordingly I went to see her & made her a full Compensation agreeable to her own desire & Took a Receipt in full which I am able to produce[.] now I hope gentlemen you will Consider that one atonement is sufficient for one Crime Especially when it was not designedly done & if we had it in our power to make one Contract we Certainly have to make another & as She was not Satisfied with the first She had a full Satisfaction Made at my Expense in the Second agreeable to her own acknowledgement[.] now if you Conceive gentlemen that She has a Right to a Second Compensation She may again with as much propriety Claim a third & soon agreeable to that Chain of Doctrine I must Continually _____ paying for one offence which I was Designedly brought into by them[.] now if you Conceive that I have a right to pay her any thing a Second time I want to know upon what premesis you will go must I because I was not Continuous enough to force her to go to law but paid her up without such rigorous Means now loose what I have paid her at different times and be as great a Sufferen as if I had never made her any satisfaction[.] I hope gentlemen you will consider my low Circumstance & inability & Conclude that if one of your own sons had been taken in as I have been you could not have Counseled them to have done More that what I have done. that was to make up the Matter pay her of[f] & be Clear of here [or her].
From Nelson County, Kentucky Marriage Records:
John Bodine AND Sarah Bailey, daughter of William Bailey, were married 1 Aug 1799 by Joseph Ferguson.
His wife, Sarah Bailey, was the daughter of William. [Note by Robert P. Moore: This is probably either the William Bailey of Berkeley County, (West) Virginia, who married Elizabeth Harrison and has many descendants in the area of Nelson County, Kentucky or his son by the same name. Nelson County, Kentucky, Will Book C, page 519 records the will of William Bailey, who had sons William H., Thomas, and Andrew. No daughters are mentioned, but he does name three daughters of his son William H.: Sarah, Elizabeth, and Emily.]
From Logan County, Kentucky Records:
1810 Logan County census: John BODINE 11010-31100
1812-1834 John Bodine on Logan County tax lists, last in 1834 owning 284 acres.
1820 Logan County census: John BODINE males 2(0-9), 1(10-15), 1(16-18), 2(16-26), 1(45-); Females 1(0-9), 2(10-15), 1(16-16), 1(45-).
1830 Logan County: John BODINE males 1(16-19), 1(60-69); females 1(5-9), 1(20-29), 1(50-59)
1840 Logan County: Sarah BODINE males 1(20-29); females 2(30-39), 1(60-69)
Burials in Kennedy's Graveyard, near Lewisburg, Logan County.
John Bodine born Jan. 22, 1763 died Feb. 7, 1837
Sarah Bodine born Apr. 16, 1776 died Feb. 12, 1846
From the family Bible of John Bodine (transcribed in The Kentucky Pioneer Genealogy and Records, Vol. 7, 1986 and compared to a copy of the original and found to be accurate):
John & Sarah Bodine were married Aug. 11, 1777.
John Bodine was born Jan 22, 1763.
Sarah Bodine was born April 16th 1776.
Cornelius Bodine was born April 11, 1800.
Abbey Bodine was born February 1st 1802.
Wm. Bodine was born March 19th 1804.
Ida Bodine was born Jan. 22, 1806.
Elizabeth Bodine was born Oct 3rd 1808.
Isaac Bodine was born February 22, 1811.
John Bodine Died Feb. 2. 1837.
Sarah Bodine Died Feb. 2, 1846.
The will of John Bodine of Logan County was written 29 Nov 1836 and named his wife Sally Bodine and children Cornelius Bodine, Isaac Bodine, William Bodine, Iday Bodine, Susan Stearman, and Elizabeth Edwards; granddaughter Ibbey Edwards; and appointed Cornelius Bodine and Isaac Bodine as executors. The will was proved 27 March 1837. [Logan County Wills, vol. F, p. 267]