The Bosley Family
Mr Alan Bosley, a butcher in Harwell until 1975, gives this account of his family:
"The Bosley family, I have learnt, originated from France some two hundred years ago, when two brothers and their wives and eight sons escaped from the French revolution. They walked from the coast and eventually got to Shaw, near Newbury, where they found work in the brick fields, and from there they have spread to many parts of England and all over the world.
My grandfather, Mark, was landlord of the Travellers’ Welcome at East Hagbourne; he used to act as postman, and walked to Steventon to take the outgoing mail, and bring back the incoming mail. He had six children, William, Alfred, Ernest (my father), Frank, Sibel and Maud. My aunt Sibel and her family emigrated to Australia about fifty-nine years ago. Mark and his family moved to Harwell about one hundred years ago, when he set up a butcher's shop which was carried on by my father, and then by myself until I retired in 1976."
Mr Bosley's house and shop are now part of the Hengest Gate estate.
Comments
- Jane Wolsey -
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:36:44 -0500
- Jenny Bosley -
Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:58:08 -0500
- Michael Kenneth Bosley -
Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:00:36 -0600
Add A CommentI am descended from Elizabeth Bosley, the sister of Mark Bosley described in this Bosley Family article. Elizabeth and Mark were the children of Benjamin Bosley and Mary Ann Smallbone and it was Benjamin who was the landlord of the Travellers' Welcome Inn. After working as a saddler (1841) and a carrier (1851), Benjamin became landlord of the Travellers' Welcome some time between 1851 and 1861 where he remained until his death on 26 July 1885. Following his death, his grandson, Joseph Bull, son of Elizabeth, took over the running of the Inn (shown working for Benjamin in the 1881 census and as Head of household and Licensed Victualler in the 1891 census). As some of Mark's children were born in East Hagbourne between 1876 and 1880, it is possible Mark returned to help hia father for a few years but he was certainly a butcher in Harwell in 1871, in Milton, Berks, in 1881 and back in Harwell in 1891.
In relation to Alan's comments about having learned that the Bosley family originated from France some two hundred years ago, having escaped from the French revolution, I am somewhat puzzled. I think a family myth has been perpetuated here! Bosleys, including ancestors of Benjamin and Mark, can be traced back in Hagbourne parish records until at least the mid 1600s and a Griffinus Boslee was baptised on 20 October, 1596, in Welford, Berkshire. Other 'Bosleys' were baptised in nearby areas, including Thatcham, around that time.
I have to agree with the comments made by Jane. For two years now I have been researching the family history of myself and my husband, from census and birth/marriage/death records. My husband is Doug Bosley son of the late Doug Bosley and Hilda Bosley of Harwell.
Alans story of the brothers and familys escaping the French Revolution does seem to be a myth or some family tale that had been told. Mark Bosley was indeed a Butcher in Harwell, he was the son of Benjamin and Mary Ann, Benjamin being the landlord of the Travellers Welcome in Hagbourne. Mark married Louisa Read and they had six children. William Joseph 1871-1939 Alfred Read 1973 - unknown, Ernest Mark 1875-1947 Louisa Maud 1876 - Unknown, Mary Elizabeth 1878 - 1957 and Frank 1879-1962.
William married Elizabeth Wood and was the father of William Gordon Bosley (known as Gordon), being well known for the fruit orchards. Gordon died in 1980.
Alfred married Emma Greenaway, and still has decendents in Oxfordshire area today.
Ernest Mark married Sarah Ann Hillier (known as Annie) and he was the father of Alan, along with Ernest, John (Jack) local bookmaker in Didcot died 2000. Douglas and Ben both farmers in Harwell. Douglas died in 1989 and Ben in 1980.
Louisa Maud yet to discover what happened to her, and anyone who has information, I would be grateful.
Mary Elizabeth, who Alan calls Sibel. She did sign herself Sib on letters and post cards, why I do not know, perhaps it was a pet name or nickname. She married a William Coe, who was in the Dragoon Guards and they spent time in India where two of her daughters were born. After coming out of the army the were living in Blewbury with 3 daughters. In 1925 they emigrated to Australia on the Orama. They set up home there, and there are still decendents there today. Mary Elizabeth died in 1957.
Frank married Beatrice Brewer and set home home in the Wantage area, and again there are still decendents today. Frank died in 1962.
Most of them are buied in Harwell Cemetery.
I guess Alan did not have the facility of computer and internet so was not able to check things out like I can today.
Thank you for posting such an interesting account of the earlier Bosleys. I am son of Kenneth Joseph Bosley who was a son of Frank and Beatrice (nee Brewer). I have been doing some work on the family tree and it is so good to have all these extra new facts or old ones confirmed.
We have a what seems like a myth om my wife's side of the family. (Peal). We are trying to trace why in the 1900 century they were certain there was a link with Sir Robert Peal but we also have records which seem to state the family was entrenched well away from his family area. Still we keep looking.
We live at Byfield, Northants, NN11 6UX (44 Banbury Lane) and our 3 children still live in Oxford or local area and we are in touch with quite a few other Bosleys.
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