Capt. Bailey Bodwell (1777-1856)

Son of: Nathaniel 1755

Bailey Bodwell erected a clothier's works at the village of Norway.. Bailey was commissioned Captain June 27, 1809. Capt. Bailey who was in command of the militia of Norway, Maine, began recruiting for the war of 1812. He was recruiting in the months of Sept and Oct 1812, mustered in November and served until January, 1813. In the early winter, the regiment marched to Burlington, Vt. In the following Spring, Capt. Bodwell returned home. Then the company defended Northern New York. From September 14 through November 5, 1814, the command defended Portland, again under captain Bailey. In October, 1815, a court-martial convened at Paris for the trial of Capt. Bodwell on charges prepared by Enoch Knight and several others, for certain irregularities while he was in the service. It is said that one of the charges against Capt. Bodwell was the fighting of a duel with another officer, while in the service in Burlington, Vermont.

Another source notes that "He had some trouble while in the Fourty-fifth Regiment at Burlington, and came home long before his company did. The court brought the Captain in guilty, and sentenced him to removal from office, and disqualification for holding any military office for one year." (History of Norway Maine, p. 241)

The first two-story house in Norway was erected by Bailey Bodwell. He also erected the first saw mill at the Steep Falls. He moved to Stoneham prior to 1856 and died of Typhoid Fever in Portland. (History of Norway, Maine)

"Our Honored Men", poem by Clifford L. Pike:

'Where Bodwell's men upon our northern bound,

In strong array the British Lion found;

Them held in check upon the Champlain's shore,

Till peace returns and cruel war is o'er.

BornDiedMarried Spouse
9 Dec 177725 Sep 1856 Nancy Partridge
Methuen, Ma.Portland, Me b. 1779

Children of Bailey and Nancy (Partridge) Bodwell

NameBirth Date Birth PlaceDeath Date Death Place
1.Nathaniel ABT 1800Norway, Me 1874Haulton, Me
2.Bailey 23 Feb 1803Norway, Me 24 Aug 1872Batavia, Ny
3.(Son)1804-1810 Norwary, MeAFT 1820
4. (Daughter)1804-1810 Norway , Me
5(Daughter)1804-1810 Norway , Me
6(Daughter)1804-1810 Norway , Me
7(Daughter)1804-1810 Norway , Me
8.Lavinia J.29 Feb 1820 Norway, Me?22 Jun 1894 Soneham, Me

01/09/97 08/02/97

[Return to The Bodwell Family Home Page]

Contact: bodwell@ptcpartners.com

Copyright (C) 1996, 1997 Donald J. Bodwell. All rights reserved