Bodell, James, 1831-1892 (Person)

SummaryEnglish-born soldier, businessman, writer, and mayor of Tauranga (1888–89). He enlisted in the 59th Regiment in 1848, served in Ireland and Hong Kong, and left the army in 1854, the year he married Sarah Mackinay and emigrated to Tasmania, later working the Victorian goldfields. In 1863 he volunteered for the Waikato Militia and, during the Waikato campaign, witnessed the siege and fall of Ōrākau (April 1864). He married Jane Munro in Hamilton in January 1866 and settled in Tauranga the same year, becoming an auctioneer, carpenter, and storekeeper. He served on the Borough Council (1882–89) and as mayor in 1888. In 1882 he built the Bellevue Temperance (Private) Hotel at the corner of Wharf Street and Cameron Road, and established Bradgate Villa and an auction mart nearby. He wrote reminiscences from 1881 to 1891, published as A Soldier’s View of Empire in 1982. He died of apoplexy on 23 September 1892 while on his way to choir practice at Trinity Church, Tauranga.SourcesTe AraReminiscences of James Bodell (1831-1890)Bodell's Auction Mart and Bradgate VillaTauranga Photographers: James Bodell: Tauranga Historical Society Blog (August 2015)Bodell’s Bellevue Private Hotel: Tauranga Historical Society Blog (September 2019)Marriage registration 1866/5890, Jane Munro married James Bodell on 19 January 1866.

Photographs

Record of the Mayors of Tauranga

James Bodell

Bodell's Auction Mart c.1880s

Bradgate House c. 1890s

Munro family's spider buggy

Archive Items

Letter from James Bodell to Harry Harston, 19 Feb 1889

Archive Collections

Reminiscences of James Bodell (1831-1890)

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 21-1856

Usage

Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesLicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Bodell, James, 1831-1892 (Person)

Personal Information

First Name(s)JamesSurnameBodellDate of Birth1831Place of BirthNottinghamshire, EnglandDate of Baptism3 July 1831Date of Death23 September 1892Place of DeathTauranga, New Zealand

Partner

PartnerSarah MackinayDate Married3 Oct 1854Place of MarriageEngland

Partner

PartnerJane MunroDate Married19 Jan 1866.Place of MarriageMrs Munroes house, Hamilton

Relates To

Start here:Domain Hotel, 1882-1969 (Place)

Admin

Type of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | People

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Bodell, James, 1831-1892 (Person)