Boswell
Introduction
The Boswell family is a prominent and historic Romanichal (English Gypsy) family, recognized for centuries as one of the largest and most influential Traveller clans in the UK. Known for, in some cases, "King of the Gypsies" titles, they are famously associated with horse trading,, metalworking, and traditional, nomadic, wagon-dwelling life, with prominent figures including "Granny" Ann Boswell and the family behind the Gordon Boswell Romany Museum.
Key Historical Figures and Details
Granny Boswell (Ann Boswell): A renowned 19th-century Cornwall-based Romani woman (often dubbed "Gypsy Queen") known for healing, fortune-telling, and her feisty nature, who died in 1909.
Ephraim Boswell: Husband to Ann and known in his time as a "King of the Gypsies".
Sylvester Boswell: Author of The Book of Boswell, which documented the traditional, nomadic Romany way of life.
Gordon Boswell: Runs the Gordon Boswell Romany Museum in Lincolnshire, which preserves extensive artifacts of Romany culture, including wagons and traditional tents.
Cultural Significance
Influwnce: The family was so well-known that in some areas, particularly in older Nottinghamshire dialect, "bos'll" was used as a term for Travelers in general.
Occupation: Historically involved in horse dealing and, at times, in trades like cane work.
Presence: They are well-documented in the Midlands and, for a time, South Shore, Blackpool.
Honorary Royalty
The Boswells, alongside families like the Lees, have frequently been associated with the, often honorary, title of "King of the Gypsies" in various regions.