Blasted Bodycotes yet again!

[Anstey Nomad]

Hmm - Joseph Bodycote on the 1900 census gives his occupation appears to give his occupation as unemployed pedlar. Does this mean the farming was a short-lived diversion?

Off to find out about naturalisation papers.

[Shona]

While some have been touring the USA, I headed off to India - or FMP's recently added India Office records. You may have these, but it must be the same Joseph, the framework knitter in Leicester.

Joseph Bodycott, a private, married Elizabeth Beckwith, spinster of Fort William, at St John's Cathedral in Calcutta on 1 May 1820.

Joseph and Elizabeth had two children in India that I can find:

Charles, b 12 May 1821 and bpt on 10 June 1821 at Berhampore. Parents, Joseph Bodycote, private in the 17th Regiment of Foot, and Elizabeth.

Amelia Bodycote, bpt 8 Dec 1822 at Fort William. Parents, Joseph Bodycote, a private in the 44th Regiment of Foot, and Elizabeth.

[Anstey Nomad]

Yes Shona. I've got all that. I went to all the trouble of getting a copy of Joseph's marriage record in the hope of finding out who his parents were. No chance! That's another ongoing unresolved issue.

I am descended from Charles. We think that this Amelia died, hence the second Amelia (b 1827).

I've got Elizabeth Beckwith all the way through as well, but have not yet gone backwards.

One step at a time.

[kiterunner]

There is a Joseph Bodycote buried 7 Jan 1857 in Philadelphia but this burial record doesn't have any further information such as age etc:
Pennsylvania Church and Town Records on ancestry

[kiterunner]

Here are Joseph (the one born 1829) and Rebecca on the 1870 US census:

1870 US census
Kaskasia, Fayette, Illinois
Body Cote Jos 39 Farm hand born England
Rebecca 31 Keeping house born Illinois
Ann 7 born Illinois

[kiterunner]

There is a death registration for a Harriet Bodycoat Jan-Mar 1861 Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire. Too early for age to be shown on the death index. Have you ruled her out, Sheila?

[Anstey Nomad]

There is another Bodycote family over that way. I can't rule it out, but I would imagine she's one of theirs rather than one of mine.

Any road up, that's after Joseph emigrated, but if it is my Joseph's wife and he married Rebecca in 1865, then he isn't a bigamist. Damn - after all this lot have put me through, the least they could do was give me a bigamist!

[kiterunner]

I haven't found anything which actually has details of Joseph and Rebecca's marriage, Sheila, have you? As far as I can see, the public ancestry trees which say they married in 1865 have just got it from the 1900 census which shows number of years married as 35.

[Anstey Nomad]

Not going very far today I suspect. Roads are flooded and all sorts. Will get my head down. Thanks for your help so far.

[kiterunner]

The 1862 Philadelphia City Directory (on ancestry) has an entry for Bodycut Joseph, peddler, Miller bel Wistar (that's the address.) Unfortunately the earliest Philadelphia directory that they have is 1861 and there are no Bodicotes (of whatever spelling) in that one.