Senator Frederick A H Bodington b.1873
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Personal record
Frederick was born in Kenilworth,
Warwickshire UK. His parents took their family to America sometime between 1875 and 1880,
where two of their children were born. On the parents'
return to England in 1881 or 1882 three of the boys remained to spend
their lives in America, Frederick being one of those. He would have been
only 8 or 9 years old so it is possible that he returned to England and
then went out to America after childhood.
Frederick wrote three letters which have survived
and are reproduced here. The first was written on 14th January 1919 to
his sister. He had four sisters but it was probably Jane Mountford Bodington.
I deduce this because there is a reference to 'Alf' which is likely to
have been Jane's son Alfred. See
the letter.
The second letter was written on 18th March 1919
and addressed to his brother and sister. It is probably the same sister
as before, Jane Mountford Bodington, because it begins with a reference
to 'Alf'. This letter provides a most interesting insight into the difficulties
faced on the conclusion of a war, men returning to find work and finding
themselves unable to settle. He also expresses great home sickness with
a yearning to return to the UK. This letter alludes to the business the
family were in - they harvested ice during the winter. I presume that
this was then sold on to the fishing industry. He asks of 'Sid', 'Bud'
and 'Daisy'. It isn't clear who these were although he had a brother
Sidney. The other names are perhaps nicknames for other siblings. See
the letter.
The final letter was written on 30th September 1920.
Frederick is excited to report that he has become a Free Mason and a
Rhode Island State Senator. See
the letter.
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