Notes for: Benjamin Bodine

I am guessing that this must be the Benjamin Bodine mentioned in the 1850 Census of Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He was listed as being 57 years old. Another LDS record said a Benjamin Bodine had married a Holly Ent (in 1815 I think). There are two more family members listed in his household in the 1860 Census: Reading (age 14) and Sibilia (age 8).

1850 Census, Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey (p. 107).

Benjamin Bodine........57

Catherine.....................58

Cornelius.....................25

Lambert.......................16 [In Sandy Ridge?]

William.......................32 [William H.]

Catherine.....................25

Samuel R......................4 [son of William H.]

John..............................7 [son of William H.]

Info from Carol Morris says that Ben bought the farm (1843) in Stockton for William H. and his brother Cornelius. Only William carried on the farm, and it has stayed in the family ever since.

Later, Carol sent me this message:

Subject: Bodine Info for You

Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001

From: CarolM8606 at aol.com

Hi Dave

I just got this today and I think this Catherine is the one married to Benjamin, time frame is right. Let me know what you think. After theorizing on my Susan Ents' family I finally got it today. Because of the burial pattern at Sandy Ridge Cem. I hoped some clues would come from info on the oldest ENT in that string of stones. I can now say I descend from Valentine Ent, whose son John (1766-1850) is buried in the same line as my 4th gr grandmother Susan Ent Swallow. John's will, written 1832 mentions his 5 children Susan Swallow, Catherine Bodine, Peter, Thomas, Lambert and William. I know Thomas was in Lambertville, and Lambert left Lambertville and ended up in IL. William died intestate, Peter died in 1868 in Titusville but
neither Hunterdon or Mercer has a will for him. Catherine may be the wife of Benjamin Bodine.

Carol Reading Morris

Here is a picture of Benjamin's tombstone in Sandy Ridge Baptist Cemetery near Stockton in Hunterdon Co., NJ. It was sent to me by Brian Bodine. The tombstone reads, "Benjamin Bodine, Died Feb. 17, 1875, In the 82nd year of his age."

Here is some information from the Internet that applies to this family:

Bodine Farm Receives the New Jersey Agricultural Society's Century Farm Award

Wesley and Dee Bodine from Stockton were recently honored with the New Jersey Agricultural Society's Century Farm Award. This award is presented to a family whose farm has remained in that family for 100 years or more. The presentation took place at the Society's annual dinner at Forsgate Country Club in Jamesburg. Wesley Bodine operates Bodine Farm, located on Sergeantsville Road in Stockton. Wesley raises grain, hay and beef on approximately 650 acres.

The history of the Bodine Farm began when Benjamin Bodine cleared the 96-acre tract of land his father had purchased for him in 1843. Originally a dairy farm, Benjamin also raised some vegetables, pigs, chickens and peaches both commercially and for his own use. In 1996, 200 acres of the farm were preserved under the Farmland Preservation program.

Note from Dave: Benjamin's father died in 1801; so he wouldn't have been able to buy Benjamin that land in 1843; however, maybe he had bought it earlier and it later came into Benjamin's hands. Or, maybe I'm confused about who exactly did what here.