George Edward Bodle had been born in Brighton when the family resided there in the 1840’s when his mother had employed and become friendly with an Emily Haines. I understand the family were comfortably well off with young George eventually attending medical school, graduating and being licensed from the Royal College Physicians in Edinburgh, and a Surgeon, in 1866. This Haines’ family connection with the Bodles’ was the start of an association that was to eventually see Louisa get her opportunity in New Zealand in the employ of Dr Bodle.
Dr George and Eliza had initially lived in Middlesex where their daughter Annie was born in 1871. They then, I understand, moved to Devon, and in 1873 a son George Angus Bodle was born.
Dr George and his brother Robert must have come out to New Zealand after this time, without the family initially.
Auckland Star (New Zealand), Volume VII, Issue 1871, 15 February 1876, Page 2
Painful Accident.
"On Monday morning Inst, about ten o'clock, Mr Robert Bodle, of Papakura valley, was driving a horse and cart when the horse took fright at a sledge lying beside the road. In its course the wheel of the cart ran over the stump of a tree, throwing Mr Bodle out with great violence. His left foot getting entangled with the reins, he was dragged some distance, the boot was torn off, the skin and the muscles round the ankle much lacerated, and both bones fractured close to the joint. Toe sufferer is a brother of Dr Bodle, resident medical practitioner of Papakura, who upon seeing the nature of the accident brought his brother down to Auckland, and arrived at the Provincial Hospital about seven o'clock yesterday evening. Dr. Philson, upon examining the leg and consult. ing with Dr. Bodle, decided that nothing short of amputation would be of service, and the leg was at once removed, and upon making enquiries to-day, we learn that the patient is doing well".
Following this accident Dr George evidently returned to England for his family and they all made the move back to New Zealand in 1878 via the United States where they visited Ingram relatives. Unfortunately the pitfalls of sea travel were to befall the family when young 5 year old George Angus fell into the ship’s hatch during the voyage to New Zealand. Dr Bodle acting in his medical capacity as Ship’s Surgeon on the trip out could do little with his son unfortunately dying of his injuries 6 months later.
Dr George Bodle and Eliza with their three children arrived in Papakura, South Auckland, New Zealand that same year, and settled in Alfriston, as George had named it after his family’s original seat in Sussex. At the time of his return to England for the family and then the untimely death of young George Angus, the family was in the process of constructing a fine house on their property. Eliza’s mother who had accompanied them out to New Zealand was to occupy one of the front rooms.
By late 1881 with her mother aged 74, Eliza wrote back to England relatives asking if they knew of a reliable maid servant and nurse that would be prepared to come and live in New Zealand at their expense to care for her mother. It was with this simple request by the stroke of a pen that Louisa Haines (my great, great, grandmother) was to get her chance at having her ultimate dream come true; to travel to far flung places on the globe and then to hopefully marry the man of her dreams.
Now the interesting part regarding a Major Bodle late of HM 80th Regiment...
Marrriage Notice
Auckland Star, (New Zealand) Volume XVIII, Issue 95, 23 April 1887, Page 8
NUTTER-BODLE.-On 7th April 1887, at the residence of Dr. Bodle, Papakura Valley by the Rev. T. Norrie, Frederick Alexander, son of Frederiok Nutter, of Devonport, Auckland, to ; Grace, only daughter ot the late Major Bodle, of H.M. 80th Regiment.
I have ascertined that in May 1843 Seregeant Major Bodle had married an Anne Butler of Castlereagh St. Sydney, Australia (sister of James Butler of Williams St, Sydney) Anne evidently passed on (died) at her residence at Templemore, Ireland in 1867, by which time her husband is described as a Major late of HM 80th Regiment.
Question ...How was Grace, only daughter of Major Bodle related to Dr Bodle, Alfriston, New Zealand, and how / why did she arrive in New Zealand?
Don't know whether any of this helps or confuses the Bodle jig saw puzzle... Clint McInnes ( Posterity).