Capt. John Bodwell ( 1723 - ABT 1802)

Son of: Capt. Daniel 1693

In August, 1757, John served as clerk in Capt. Nathan Chandler’s Company that was part of a larger force sent to relieve Ft. William Henry. On August 9, 1757 the fort was captured by the French General Montcalm leading a mixed force of French regulars, Canadians, and Indians. Get the whole story at: The Fort William Henry Massacre. (Source: A List Of Men From Methuen, Ma. Who Served In Militia Units During The French And Indian War (1755-1763) by John M. Austin, May 1996.)

Methuen did fully its share in the American Revolution, sending 156 men on the first call in 1775 when there were only 1326 total inhabitants about that time, providing ammunition and supplies for the continental army, and taking in refugees from the British occupation of Boston. Methuen sent 2 delegates, John Bodwell and John Sargent, to the Essex Convention at Ipswich Sept. 6 and 7, 1774. Not counting the brief uprising of 1689, this convention is said to be the real origin of government independent of royal authority in the colonies, protesting the rulings of the English King and Parliament which violated the Charter of the Commonwealth. (“This Is Methuen,” by The League of Women Voters.)

DAR Patriot Index lists John as a Private and then Sergeant from Mass. Another list has him as a Private in the 9^th Massachusetts Regiment. Either John or his Son John 1752, turned out at the Alarm of April 19^th, 1775, Lexington and Concord, in the company of Major Samuel Bodwell. ( History of Essex County, Massachusetts, p. 298.)

Born	Died	Married	Spouse
27 Dec 1723	ABT 1802	22 Dec 1748	Elizabeth Messer
Haverhill, Ma		Methuen, Ma	b. 22 Dec 1720
		26 Apr 1788	Elizabeth Powers

Children of John and Elizabeth (Messer) Bodwell

	Name	Birth Date	Birth Place	Death Date	Death Place
1.	Molly (Mary?)	8 Oct 1749	Methuen, Ma	15 Sept 1796	Rollinsford, Nh
2.	John Jr. (Capt)	16 Jan 1752	Methuen, Ma	19 Nov 1811	Shapleigh, Me
3.	Nathaniel	23 Feb 1754	Methuen, Ma	12 Apr 1754	Methuen, Ma
4.	Nathaniel	31 Jan 1755	Methuen, Ma	14 Aug 1829	Augusta, Me
5.	Susannah	22 May 1757	Methuen, Ma	28 Dec 1762	Methuen, Ma
6.	Elizabeth	15 Apr 1760	Methuen, Ma
7.	Susannah	5 Dec 1762	Methuen, Ma	AFT 1800
8.	Sarah	5 Mar 1765	Methuen, Ma
9.	Alice	5 Jan 1768	Methuen, Ma
10.	Elisha	17 May 1770	Methuen, Ma		Shapleigh, Me
11.	Josiah	1 Aug 1772	Methuen, Ma	15 Sep 1813	Methuen, Ma
12.	Asa (Capt.)	1 Jul 1775	Methuen, Ma	ABT Aug 1807	Berwick, Me

Mary Bodwell married Ebenezer Ricker Apr 4, 1782 in Berwick, Me. ayres@connix.com
December 16, 1996 March 16, 1999

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