Capt. Eliphalet Bodwell (1738-AFT 1800)

Son of: James 1712

In August, 1757, the French and Indian War was in full tide. General Montcalm led a mixed force of French regulars, militia, and Indians in a successful assault on Ft. William Henry. Ultimately the defenders were paroled after savage treatment at the hands of the Indians. Eliphalet Bodwell was among the defenders of the fort. He served in Capt. Salonstalls’ Company from 7 Mar to 23 Oct 1757. The Defense and Surrender of Fort McHenry.

"Captain Eliphalet Bodwell was taken by the French at Ft. William Henry, but by running fourteen miles he got to the American lines at Ft. Edward, but lost all his clothes, taking off one garment at a time as he was running until he was naked." Source: Geneological and Personal History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Vol 1, p. 27

Another source shows Eliphalet in the service of Captain William Barron’s Company from April 11, 1760 to December 12, 1760. This company was probably part of the force holding Quebec at the time of the French surrender of Canada in September, 1760 at Montreal.

Eliphalet also served from 21 Jul 1761 to 6 December, 1761 in Capt Edmund Mooer’s Militia Company. (ibid)

DAR patriot index shows Eliphalet served as Captain from Massachusetts. A pay voucher for Abraham Annes of Methuen; private, is signed by Captain Eliphalet Bodwell, Colonel Edward Wigglesmith's Regiment for mileage from Albany home, dated Dec, 1776. Eliphalet also served as a 2^nd Lt. In Frye's Mass. Regiment. Colonel Frye's regiment was in the thick of the Battle at Bunker's Hill on June 17, 1775. (History of Essex County, Massachusetts, pp. 298-299)

Born	Died	Married	Spouse
8 Jul 1738	AFT 1800	24 Jul 1758	Hannah Barker
Methuen, Ma		Methuen, Ma	b. 29 Mar 1733

Children of Eliphalet and Hannah (Barker) Bodwell

	Name	Birth Date	Birth Place	Death Date	Death Place
1.	Abigail	17 Mar 1759	Methuen, Ma		Methuen, Ma
2.	Elizabeth	20 Jan 1761	Methuen, Ma
3.	Hannah	26 May 1762	Methuen, Ma	AFT 1790
4.	James	1 May 1764	Methuen, Ma	1853	Ingersoll, Ont
5.	Eliphalet	21 Jul 1766	Methuen, Ma	8 Feb 1847	Griffin Corner, Que
6.	Benjamin	12 Apr 1768	Methuen, Ma	AFT 1822
7.	Mehitabel	3 Jun 1769	Methuen, Ma	18 May 1853
8.	Andrew M.	12 Jun 1771	Methuen, Ma	25 Nov 1852	Sidney, Ny
9.	Judith	12 Apr 1773	Methuen, Ma	1852
10	Joab	26 May 1778	Mehtuen, Ma	1843	Glover, Vt

12/29/96
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