Notes for: Samuel Bodine
This Samuel Bodine was supposedly born on July 8, 1787 in Rockingham Co., VA. Back in 1971, a researcher in Harrisonburg, Rockingham Co., VA looked for proof of Samuel's birth in that county's records and in the "Chalkleys Records" of Augusta County, but the researcher could find no proof of the birth. She said there are no birth records before 1862 except the few available from church records. This comes from correspondence between Miss Elizabeth D. Madill of Monogahela, PA and the researcher, Mrs. Marguerite B. Priode. Miss Madill said that Samuel was born in "Rockingham Co., east of the mountains."
In her correspondence in the files at the Rockingham County Heritage Center in
Dayton, VA, Miss Madill said that John is buried in the Bodine-Boydston
Cemetery on Samuel's first farm in Wayne Co., OH. Samuel was buried there,
too. Miss Madill said that John, Sr. was born in New Jersey. He fought as a
private in the American Revoution with the Eastern Pennsylvania forces. She
says that according to a family sketch that recently came to her, John had six
children by his first wife, who then died as well as all of those six
children. He then married Nancy Fedrow (nee Wood). Nancy was a widow who had
six children of her own and then had six more children by John. She says John
lived only a short time in Virginia and then moved to West Virginia. From
there, in about 1800, he settled in Greene Co., Whitely Twp., PA where he
bought a farm. In 1824, his son Samuel took him to Wayne Co., OH. He died
there in 1836.
When I looked at the marrriage abstracts in Rockingham Co., VA, one says John
married a Nancy Lirow in --, --, 1789. She was a widow. Bond was put up by
Henry Ewin. It also says John married a Nancy Fulerton in --, --, 1789. She
was the widow of Reuben Fulerton (source: VA Historic Marriage Register,
Rockingham Co. Marriages 1778-1850). Another book of abstracts called
Marriages in Rockingham Co., VA, 1778-1816, says John Bodine married Nancy
"Lirow? wd. (See Fulerton)." Bond was Henry Ewin. From the looks of it,
Nancy's last name must have been hard to read in these records. The
researcher, Mrs. Priode, must have found a clearer record where it gave
Nancy's last name as Fedrow and her maiden name as Wood.
Samuel H. Bodine, this Samuel's son, listed his father as born in Pennsylvania
and his mother as born in New York in the 1880 Census of Sharon, Medina Co.,
OH. Since the birth place of this Samuel was in an area that was part of both
Virginia and Pennsylvania, it is understandable that Samuel H. Bodine, his
son, would have said his father was born in Pennsylvania. However, I'm not
sure why he said his mother was born in New York.
The following info was sent to me. It came from
"http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Hardin/HarLiberty.htm". It gives the birth
place of this Samuel Bodine. I have underlined the important passage.
From the History of Hardin County Ohio. I think this may be on pages 990 and
991 concerning Liberty Township.
REV. A. C. BARNES, A. M., was born in Summit County, Ohio, September 9, 1835.
His father, Denison Barnes, was born in Hampden Co., Mass., September 6, 1801,
and with his parents emigrated to Ohio in the spring of 1815 stopping one year
in Trumbull County, and the 1st day of April, the following year, found them
putting up their log-cabin on the ground in Summit County, Newton Township,
which has now been the home of father and son for sixty-seven years. The
parentage still further back on the paternal side were born of the sturdiest
New England stock, and can be traced, in earlier times, to a, descent from a;
united English, Welsh, and Irish origin. His grandfather, on the maternal
side, Samuel Bodine, was born in Rockingham County, Va., and his ancestry on
both sides is traced from New Jersey and Maryland to Holland and Germany.
Samuel Bodine, having settled with his little family on the State line between
Pennsylvania and Virginia, in 1817, moved to Wayne County, Ohio, in which
county he lived until he died at the age of eighty-four years. Grandfather
Barnes died at the age of eighty seven years. Nearly all of the ancestry on
both sides raised large families and were, almost without exception, possessed
of great tenacity of life. Many of them reaching eighty, ninety, and the
maternal great-grandmother one hundred and one years. The childhood of our
sketch was passed on the farm, going to the district school in winter, with
hard work on the farm all the rest of the year. Commenced his college course
at Baldwin University, Berea Ohio, at the age of sixteen, and often teaching
alternate years, and working at home during the intervals, graduated in the
classical course at the age of twenty-three. All his ancestry, so far as we
have knowledge, embraced the Arminian form of theology, and were stanch
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch was
happily converted to God while at the University, at seventeen years of age,
under the labors of Rev. Liberty Prentice. From a child, his thoughts had been
turned toward the Christian ministry; but as he grew to manhood he conceived a
great aversion to being led out in that direction. After his graduation, to
escape the call to the ministry, he spent two years in the South and West,
teaching and circulating books, in which, financially, he was very successful,
but all the while harassed by the conviction that he ought to preach. At last,
yielding to what he felt to he the order of Providence, he entered the
traveling of Methodist Episcopal Church at the session of the Central Ohio
Annual Conference, held in Kenton September, 1861. He was married, March 16,
1861, to Miss Harriet P. Gee. of Geauga County. Ohio, with whom he had studied
side by side in the University, both graduating in the same class. On February
1866, while stationed at Wapakoneta, she joyfully passed to the land of
eternal light and song, leaving her husband with two babies, one three years,
and the other three weeks old. About one year after, he was married to Miss
Jane E. Thrift, of Kalida, Ohio. During his pastorate, he has served four
charges one year each, four charges two years each, and three charges three
years each, coming to Ada and entering upon the pastorate here last September.
The conference year thus far has been quite prosperous, sixty having been
already received into the church, twenty-seven being heads of families.
So, according to the article above, Samuel Bodine was born in Rockingham
County, Virginia. The Fox Genealogy book says he was born in Greene County,
Pennsylvania. The 1850 and 1860 Censuses of Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio say he
was born in Virginia. Greene County was a disputed area between Virginia and
Pennsylvania; so he could have been born in Greene County when it was actually
a part of Virginia. The evidence based on primary sources seems to show he was
born somewhere in Virginia. The article above would pinpoint that area to
Rockingham County. For now, anyway, that seems to be where he was born.
The 1850 Census of Wayne County, Ohio (Samuel Bodine) also gives Mary's birth
place as Maryland.
Here is some census info that Joan Best sent me.
1810 Census: Greene Co., Whiteley Twp.
Sam'l Bordoyn: 1m, 2f under 10; 1f 10-16; 1m, 1f 16-26 (born abt. 1784-1794)
Note: This census does not match the info we have on Samuel exactly. The dates
for the man and woman are okay. Nancy would have been under 10 and Sarah would
have been the female 10-16. However, they should not have had a male under 10
(Joseph was about 12) nor another female between 10-16. We could say that the
female under 10 later died, but it's hard to believe, though it is possible,
that they got Joseph's age mixed up. There is enough margin for error here,
though, to lead me to believe that this census entry is for this Samuel
Bodine.
And here is some more 1810 Census info from near Greene County, PA.
1810 (Fayette Co., PA - just east of Greene Co.)
Samuel Boden, Minallin Twp.: 1m, 3f under 10; 1f 26-45; 1m 45+ (born before
abt. 1765).
Note: I'm not sure who this Samuel "Bodine" would be. The info almost matches
this Samuel Bodine, but he was no where near 45 in 1810. There is also an
additional female under 10 years of age. All the other info matches. Is he
this Samuel's uncle or did the census taker make a mistake in giving Samuel's
age?
1820: Wayne Co., East Union Twp., OH
Samuel Bodine: 1m, 4 f under 10; 1 m 10-16; 1 m, 1f 26-45 (born abt.
1775-1794).
Note: This census accounts for all his children except for Sarah. I believe
this entry is for this Samuel Bodine.
1830: Wayne Co., East Union Twp., OH
Samuel Bodine - Wayne Co. East Union Twp
1m under 5; 1m 1f 5-10; 1m 2f 10-15; 1 f 15-20; 3 f 20-30; 1m 1f 40-50 (born
abt. 1780-1790).
Note: This census accounts for his children except for Joseph. He had married
by 1825 and must have moved away. I'm sure this entry is for this Samuel
Bodine.
His father could be the John Bodine born in 1741 in Hunterdon County, New
Jersey. This is what I had earlier from some information passed on to me, but
it seems to have a lot of uncertainties.
Dianna Alaniz said, "I have census records for Samuel from 1820 to 1860. The
1850 one says he was born in VA, wife Mary was born in Maryland, Jane born in
PA and Levina born in VA. Doesn't sound feasible for the two children so the
census taker may have it wrong. In the 1860 Census, it was just Samuel and
Lovina with Samuel being born in VA and also Lovina. Lovina never married
after her father died."
Greene County, Pennsylvania was an area disputed by both Virginia and
Pennsylvania at one time. So Samuel could have been born in Greene County
while it was actually considered a part of Virginia. That part of Virginia did
not become West Virginia until around the Civil War.
Samuel's grandson, Allen, married a Rathbun. The Rathbuns were from Cayuga
County, New York. This is stated in History of Wayne County, Ohio.
The birth dates for his children come from an article in "Pioneer Heritage,"
v. 5, issue 2 (winter 1968), p. 134. This is a transcript of some pages taken
from a Bible that Samuel Bodine once owned. In 1968, it was in the possession
of a Mrs. Arthur Brown. It gave his birth and death dates; his wife Mary Fox
Bodine and her birth and death; her father and his birth place as well as the
fact that he was a soldier in the Revolution; and it also listed all eleven of
his children and their birth dates. Brett M. Bodine made this valuable find.
Dianna Alaniz said that in the Bible records, there is no mention of a first
wife as the mother of Joseph. It just shows all the children. It does seem
like there would have been some record of a marriage in this Bible as long as
Joseph was included.
One information source says that Joseph Bodine's mother's name was Martha
_________ and that she was born abt 1755. This was based on the 1830 US
Federal Census on Baughman Township in Wayne County, Ohio. There must be a
mistake with this somewhere. Maybe 1755 is really 1785. Neither do I see how
the 1830 Census would have anything about Joseph's mother if she was already
dead in 1815.
T. A. Bodine says that a Mrs. Sole states in her family records that Samuel
Bodine was born in 1787 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. However, he feels this
would be incorrect since John Bodine is still located in Hunterdon County, New
Jersey. It would have been very difficult for a pregnant woman to make such a
hazardous journey in 1787.
Dianna Alaniz wrote: In 1820, Samuel was in East Union Twp, Wayne Co, OH age
26-44 with 1 son under 10, 1 son 10-16, 4 daughters under 10, 1 dau 10-16 and
one female 26-44. In 1830, he was still in East Union with: 1 male 0-4, 1 male
5-9, 1 male 10-14, 1 male 40-49, 1 female 5-9, 2 females 10-14, 1 female
15-19, 3 females 20-29 and 1 female 40-49. In 1840, still in Wayne Co, OH,
with 1 male 10-14, 1 male 15-19, 1 male 50-59, 1 female 15-19, 4 females
20-29, 1 female 40-49. In 1850, They were living in Wooster, Wayne Co, OH.
Samuel was age 63, b. VA and Mary was 64, b. Md. Jane age 29, PA and Levina
age 25, PA were still at home. In 1860, Samuel was in East half of Wooster,
Wayne Co, OH at age 72, born in VA with daughter Lovina age 30, born VA who
had land valued at $1500 and property at $300.
The book on the Fox family says that Samuel bought at least 140 acres of land
in Wayne County, Ohio. In 1830, he purchased 120 acres in the SE/4 of Sec. 3
of East Union Township. That cost $240. On December 21, 1838, he bought
another 20 acres of land from the SE/4 of Sec. 3 at a cost of $280.
The "History of Wayne County, Ohio," by Ben Douglas, published in 1878
mentions Samuel Bodine on page 616. He was in East Union Township. Methodist
services were sometimes held in his home (as well as other homes) until the
Ebenezer Methodist church was built.
The following comes from the Orrville Courier crescent, Orville, Ohio, March,
1905:
There is a little cemetery in East Union Township, about 3/4 mile north of
Milbourn School. Here was erected about 1822 or 1823, probably the first
church in this section a Methodist Church as all these settlers the
Boydstones, Bodines, Thomases being Methodist, of hewed logs. In this little
graveyard are some old stones.
Bodine Sr., d. Dec. 24, 1836 95 yrs (he would have been born in 1741)
Samuel Bodine. d. Apr. 30, 1872 84 yrs 9 mo 23 da
George Boydstone. d. Nov. 18, 1825 88 yrs (he would have been born in 1737
In the book History of Wayne County, Ohio (p. 823?), it says that the
Boydstones (or Boydstons) came to Wayne County from Greene County,
Pennsylvania. That would be the same area that the Bodines had come from.
In the cemetery inscription book there is an explanation that accompanies the
cemetery listing in which a DAR regent searched for the cemetery to place a
Revolutionary War marker on the grave of ____ Bodine in 1972 (info from Dianna
Alaniz).
J. Berdine said that he found some Bodines married to Fox's from Greene
County, Pennsylvania. He also thinks Samuel Bodine is a Berdine. The Fox woman
he married is related to the Berdines. She is the daughter of Joseph Fox, all
out of Greene County. A Charles Fox has done a fine job on the Fox family and
there are lots of Bodines, Burdines, and Berdines in it. The Bodines moved to
Smithville in Wayne County, Ohio. Charles Fox, in his book, says that Samuel
and Mary left Greene County in 1815 and moved to Wayne County, Ohio, arriving
there on August 10, 1815. This information is reported under "Smithville News"
in the Wayne County Republican newspaper of August 7, 1896.
From: oto at comporium.net
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008
Subject: additional info on Samuel Bodine (b1787) and daughter Lovina
My paternal great grandmother was Myrtle Carpenter Shook. Her maternal great
grandparents were Samuel Bodine and Mary Fox. She wrote an "autobiography" and
I though you might be interested in what she wrote about the Bodines. It's
nothing earth shaking, but it tells a little more about their lives. The
section is below. Hope you enjoy it.
Bonna Shook
"Smithville was not entirely new to us, for as I have said, we spent the first
two months of our married life here, however, the old school had been done
away with. Far back of this, my Great grandfather, Samuel Bodine, had come as
a very young man from Connecticut to the wilderness east of town, where he
made a clearing and built a log cabin. His wife with her baby in her arms
rode horseback all the way. She came with a company of friends till there
stopping place left her to follow the blazed trail through the forest to her
new home in the clearing. Great grandfather was a blacksmith by trade, and
great grandmother blew the bellows while he forged the metal. They made their
own knives and forks. The handles were horn. They worked very hard. Finally
they built a large frame house. They had eleven children. The were pioneer
Methodists. Their home was the preaching place of the early Methodist
preacher, as well as his lodging and boarding place, whenever he happened to
be in that section. Was it always smooth sailing for this pioneer couple? I
should say not. At one time when they had built a new barn and had it filled
with grain and hay for the winter, when it burned to the ground, so they had
to begin all over again. The prospered, so they were the first family in that
section to own a carriage or a set of china dishes. I remember of hearing my
grandmother tell of the wonderful meetings held around that family altar with
neighbors and friends. In time they retired and moved to Wooster, where Great
grandmother died. Then Great grand father and his spinster daughter, Lovina,
came back to Smithville. After his death, she being by herself, was thought to
be rather queer, which the following circumstance will prove. She, as long as
she was able, was to be found in her accustomed place at church. One time when
there was a new preacher, a young man, who wished to be very nice to everyone,
said to her as he was shaking hands with her, "And how are you, Mother?" As
quick as a flash she replied, "I ain't nobody's mother." She also seemed to
have a fear that someone would enter her house, so she piled tables and chairs
against the door as soon as it began to get dark, so that even if nieces came
to see her it was with difficulty that they made themselves known and gained
admittance. This was my background in Smithville."
***End of info.
Following is Samuel Bodine's will. In November of 1999, Dianna Alaniz
uncovered this in the Wayne County, Ohio Will Records 1871-1875, p. 92.
First Page:
The Last Will and Testament of Samuel Bodine deceased At the Probate Court
within and for the County of Wayne and State of Ohio On the 25th day of June
A.D. 1872 By and before John K. McBride judge of said Court and at the Probate
Offices ___ in said County the following proceedings were had to wit:
{Journal E 361 J.P. 5_ Will of Samuel Bodine Deceased} The Last Will and
Testament of Samuel Bodine deceased was this day produced in open Court and
admitted to Probate. Thereupon came William Parsons one of the subscribing
witnesses to said Will who in open Court on oath testified to the due
execution of said Will and if appeasing to the Court that H. C. Johnson the
other witness to said Will has removed from the County of Wayne and State of
Ohio. Thereupon came S. R. Bonewitz and filed his affidavit that he is well
acquainted with the handwriting of said H. C. Johnson and that he was present
and saw said H. C. Johnson sign his name as such witness and that his
signature as such witness is the genuine signature of said H. C. Johnson.
Thereupon the testimony of said witness having been reduced to writing and by
said Witnesses severally subscribed and filed with said Will and the Court
being satisfied from said testimony that said Will was duly executed and ___
___ and that at the time of executing the same the said Testater was of full
age of sound mind and memory and not under any restraint. Whereupon it is
ordered by the Court that said Will and testimony be recorded and that ___
Testamentary issue to James Bodine the Executor named in said Will and it is
further ordered that he enter into Bvond with ___ Stutzman, J. M. Flickinger,
J. _ Paul and E. H. Gilbert as sureties in the final sum of _____ and dollars
and ____ ___ according to law. Thereupon came said James S. Bodine and ___ his
Bond which is hereby approved. it is further ordered that John Zimmerman, John
Bowman and John Willaman ___ they are hereby appointed appraisers of the ____
estate of said Testator.
John K. McBride, Probate Judge
The Last Will and Testament of Samuel Bodine deceased and the proof thereto
attached are in the records and figures following to wit:
I Samuel Bodine in the County of Wayne of the State of Ohio being of sound and
disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and Testament
in manner and form following: That is to say
First I give and bequeath my farm in East Union Township to my seven children
below named share and share alike to each of them and their heirs to wit, To
my sons John Bodine, James Bodine and Samuel H. Bodine and my daughters Sarah
Davis, Nancy Freeman, Eliza Stirk and Elizabeth Ancberger.
Second I give and bequeath to my daughter Lovina Bodine, all the household
furniture now in my possession which she may desire to retain to her own use.
Third To my grandson Elmore Farr(?) son of my daughter Mary I give and
bequeath one hundred dollars to be paid when he comes of age together with the
interest thereon after my decease and also the proceeds of a note which I now
hold against his father together with the interest accruing thereon.
Fourth To the heirs of my son Joseph Bodine deceased I give one hundred
dollars payable after my death.
Fifth It is my will that my personal property undisposed of at my death be
sold at public or private
Second Page:
sale at the option of my Executor and together with the money and notes
which I may have at my death when all shall have been reduced to money that
the same be divided equally among my seven children first above named or the
heirs of their bodies the expenses incurred for my funeral having first been
defrayed.
It is also my will that my Son Samuel H. Bodine have as his own and for
himself and his heirs whatever of personal property I left at the farm on any
morning to town (?) and which may now remain in his possession.
I do make and constitute that my son James Bodine the Executor of this my last
will and Testament to carry out and execute any above expressed wishes.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 31st
day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
fifty-eight.
Samuel Bodine
Signed sealed published and pronounced by the said Samuel Bodine as his last
will and testament have hereunto subscribed our names. William Parsons (Int
Rev H. C. Johnson Witnesses Stamp 2__)
The State of Ohio Wayne County ss
Personally appeared in open Court William Parsons one of the subscribing
witness to the Last Will and Testament of Samuel Bodine deceased who being
duly sworn according to law deposes and says that he was personally present
and saw the said Samuel Bodine subscribe said Will and heard him publish and
declare the same to be his Last will and Testament that the said Testate at
the time of executing the same was of full age and of sound mind and memory
and not under any restraint and that they subscribed said Will in his presence
as Witness and at his request
William Parsons
Sworn to and subscribed before me in open Court this 25th day of May A.D. 1872
John K. McBride Probate Judge
The State of Ohio Wayne County ss
This day came S. R. Bonewitz was duly sworn says that he is well acquainted
with the hand writing of Henry C. Johnson Whose name is signed as a Witness to
the Will of Samuel Bodine that he saw the said Johnson subscribe his name to
said Will that the same was done in Affiants Office in the City of Wooster on
the 31 day of August A.D. 1858 that the said H. C. Johnson is now deceased.
S. R. Bonewitz
Sworn before me this 25th day of May 1872
John K. McBride, Probate Judge
The following was found by Ronny Bodine and sent to me. I would not trust it
much since it seems to have a lot of inaccuracies. Some parts of it might be
accurate but would need research to confirm. In general, the research seems to
be poorly done.
From: The Courier-Crescent (Orrville, Ohio) of Wednesday, 24 Nov 1971.
Since the celebration of the bicentennial of the United States has
already begun, I wish to commend the Courier-Crescent for space given to
further an appreciation of local and national history.
After Miss Mary Studer published my desire to correspond with descendants
of our ancestors, I have almost completed the family tree. Names of those to
whom we are indebted are too numerous to
mention except Miss Alta Bartel, granddaughter of James Bodine, who sent me
the family sketch. This obviously was the work of Miss Elizabeth Freeman of
Ashland. That it is authentic has been proved by the fact that I recently
procured a copy of the marriage license of John and Nancy Bodine, our third
great grandparents, from Harrisonburg, Va.
John Bodine Sr., after selling his farm in Greene County, Pa., moved to
Canaan Township, Wayne County, Ohio, in 1824. His daughter, Ann, (Mrs. Thomas
Eldridge) accompanied him. Does anyone know whether his daughter, Mary (Mrs.
Boltus Wiggins) accompanied him or whether his wife, Nancy, died
before the family's migration to Wayne County, Ohio?
John Bodine Sr. is buried in the Boydston-Bodine Cemetery in East Union
Township. Inscribed on the memorial still legible in the 1950's (See Dr. Anna
Yoder's Scrapbook in the Wayne County Library, page 4) 1741-1836. His son,
Levi, and family did not go with the father to Ohio, but through the years
their name has been corrupted to Berdine." Now I am trying to trace those
descendants, who live in Waynesburg, Pa.
Samuel Bodine, oldest son of John, moved, in 1815 with his family to
Wayne County, East Union Township, where he bought his farm from George
Boydston in 1824 (see II - 452). In 1828 (Vol. 22-353) he added another 120
acres to his farm. Again in 1847, he bought lots 186, 187 and 188 in Wooster
from George Brimble; also see Vol. 43, 609, concerning the transactions with
George Wilcox
and wife in Wooster. Therefore it was in Wooster that Samuel's wife, Mary Fox
Bodine, and their daughter, Jane, died in September 1851. Both are buried in
the family plot (N.E. Quarter, Sec. 4, Range 12, Twp. 16, S. E. corner of
aforementioned farm). Methodists, please note that four churches in Wayne
County began at this corner or roughly in this area. Samuel became a group
leader and had quarterly meetings in his barn that lasted for two days. (See
Dr. Anna Yoder's Scrapbook).
After his wife's death, Samuel and his daughter, Lovina, moved to
Smithville (see "Pioneer Homes of Wayne County") where the father had
purchased a large red brick house of Federal design on what was originally Lot
1. He died April 30,1872 and was buried in the family plot. The stone is still
legible but is no longer upright.
His immediate family of 11 children were: Joseph (married Elizabeth
Thomas), Nancy (Mrs. John Freeman), Jane, Lovina, John (married Esther
Freeman), Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Arnsberger), Eliza (Mrs.
Henry Stirk), James (married Elizabeth Brenneman) and is buried in Crown Hill
Cemetery, Orrville; Mary Ann (Mrs. George F. A. Tarn) predeceased her father;
Samuel (married Mary Taylor).
To compound the difficulties in tracing the Bodines, several Bodine
families immigrated directly from France to Wayne County, Ohio, about 1860.
This I discovered when I received Joseph's Civil War Record, because a Joseph
D. Bodine also served in the Union Army. These families should not be confused
because our line is descended from John Bodine who appears in the census of
Staten Island in 1694. A staunch Huguenot, he fled from France to England,
where he married his second wife, Esther Bridon daughter of Francois Bridon.
(Baird: Emigration of Huguenots, Vol. 1, and History of the Huguenots in
America, Vol. 1.)
Although the Lewis Freeman and his wife, Ann Noe, lines have been traced
by certified genealogists and are voluminous, I shall try to be brief. Lewis's
branch of the Freemans has been traced to 1639 in America. Ann Noe's goes back
to 1663 when Pierre Noue arrived in America with other Waldensians in 1663.
Among Lewis's ancestors is Judge Henry Freeman of Middlesex County, New
Jersey, and a
sergeant in the Colonial Wars.
Lewis Freeman and his family moved from New Jersey to Greene County,
Pennsylvania. In 1834 the family moved to Wayne County, Ohio. There he bought
his property in Township 16, Range 12, Northwestern quarter containing 160
acres (Deed Vol. II, p. 640).
Their children were as follows: Anneliza (Mrs. John F. Simpkins),
Benjamin Noe, MD, (married Compton); John (married Nancy Bodine), Lewis
(married Christanna Garrel), Edgar (married Mary McFann), both he and his son
were merchants in Wooster; Harriet (Mrs. Ephraim Seargent), Esther
(marriecl John Bodine); Sarah (marriea John H. Ray), Fanny (married James
Clubine).
Nearly all of the family is buried in the Old Cemetery in Orrville. Nancy
rests in the Boydston-Bodine plot (we have a picture of her headstone), but
her husband, John Freeman, is interred somewhere in Michigan. Esther and her
husband, John Bodine, were buried in the Bodine plot in Pleasantville, Pa.
They are our great grandparents. As can be seen at Lewis Freeman's grave in
Orrville, he fought in the War of 1812.
Several months ago I sent to the Wayne Co. Wooster Library a pamphlet
entitled "Colonial Families of America" by Frances M. Smith and Frank Allaben,
published by the Genealogical Company, 3 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. on the
Freeman Family. This contains the coat-of-arms attributed to Henry Freeman of
Woodbridge, N.J. Because the company had only two copies, I shall try to
reorder. In this booklet are listed the descendants (of Wayne County) from
Judge Henry; but because I became ill, further work was halted.
The Bodines, Freemans, and Noes eventually settled in New Jersey until
they, like all pioneers, moved westward. The greatest heritage or sense of
American spirit that parents can give their children is the
knowledge of the accomplishments and perseverance of their forefathers. Let's
begin to celebrate the bicentennial at home.
Miss Eliubetb D. Madill
450 Carson Street
Monongahela, Pa. 15063