Granny Boswell
Encyclopedia
Granny Boswell had a reputation as a witch in early-20th century Helston
, Cornwall
, United Kingdom
.
Of Romany lineage, she was born in Ireland
and later married Ephraim Boswell, known as the 'King of the Gypsies
'. From the 1860s onwards she lived in west Cornwall, mostly on the Lizard
, and ended her days at the Helston workhouse as a pauper. In his Seven Cornish Witches Kelvin Jones made much of her as a white witch or healer without giving any evidence for it. Contemporary sources state that Boswell was regarded as a nuisance by the local authorities and feared by many people in Helston as an ill-wisher.
Helston
Helston is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula approximately 12 miles east of Penzance and nine miles southwest of Falmouth. Helston is the most southerly town in the UK and is around further south than...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Of Romany lineage, she was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and later married Ephraim Boswell, known as the 'King of the Gypsies
King of the Gypsies
The title King of the Gypsies has been claimed or given over the centuries to many different people. It is both culturally and geographically specific. It may be inherited, acquired by acclamation or action, or simply claimed. The extent of the power associated with the title varied; it might be...
'. From the 1860s onwards she lived in west Cornwall, mostly on the Lizard
The Lizard
The Lizard is a peninsula in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The most southerly point of the British mainland is near Lizard Point at ....
, and ended her days at the Helston workhouse as a pauper. In his Seven Cornish Witches Kelvin Jones made much of her as a white witch or healer without giving any evidence for it. Contemporary sources state that Boswell was regarded as a nuisance by the local authorities and feared by many people in Helston as an ill-wisher.