Eliza Bosley

1832

Eliza was born on 1 October 1832 in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, and was baptised on 28 October of the same year.

Source: Lechlade parish records, Gloucestershire Archives

Her parents were James Bosley and Catherine Sley. Eliza was the fourth, and youngest, of their children:

• Harriet (b. 1826)
• William (b. 1828)
• Jane (b. 1831)
• Eliza (b. 1832).

1841

Source: 1841 Census, Gloucestershire, Lechlade, District 9 (HO 107/352/10)

There is no mention anywhere in the 1841 census for Lechlade of Eliza’s sister, Harriet. Harriet was alive at the time of the census, but died in November of that year. Eliza’s other siblings, William and Jane, died before 1841, in 1831 and 1833, respectively. So Eliza was the only child of the marriage of James and Catherine Bosley to survive.

1849

On 13 August 1849 Eliza married Francis Hewer at Lechlade.

1851

The 1851 census finds Francis and Eliza living in Lechlade.

Source: 1851 Census, Gloucestershire, Lechlade, District 2a (HO 107/1687 folio 175)

Although the enumerator has noted Francis as ‘Alfred’, this is clearly Francis and Eliza. Next door was Eliza’s grandmother, Hannah Bosley.

Source: 1851 Census, Gloucestershire, Lechlade, District 2a (HO 107/1687 folio175)

1852

Francis and Eliza’s first child, Elizabeth, was born at Lechlade on 12 March 1852.

1853

On 26 September 1853, Francis and Eliza’s second child, James, was born in Chalford. Francis’ occupation is listed on the birth certificate as ‘boatman’ and his residence as Chalford. James lived just a few short months and died on 28 January 1854 at Kempsford, Gloucestershire. The cause of death was given on the death certificate as ‘disease of the lungs, not certified’.

1855

Francis and Eliza’s third child, Emma, was born in 1855 and baptised in Chalford on 22 April of that year.

Source: Chalford parish records, Gloucestershire Archives

1857

Joseph, Francis and Eliza’s fourth child, was born on 4 May 1857 in Chalford and was baptised on 24 May the same year in Chalford.

Source: Chalford parish records, Gloucestershire Archives

1861

Francis and Eliza’s whereabouts at the time of the 1861 census are unknown. It’s seems likely that their base was Chalford as three of their children had been born there. However, the census for Chalford only gives the following:

Source: 1861 Census, Gloucestershire, Chalford, District 10 (RG 9/1773 folio 113)

It can only be assumed that the rest of the family were indeed on a boat somewhere and managed to evade the census enumerators. On the previous page, there is a John Ewer, possibly Francis’ brother.

1866

1866 saw Francis in trouble with the law. He was found guilty of stealing seven sacks of peas and sentenced to a year’s hard labour in Gloucester Goal. It is not known how Eliza and the children coped during those 12 months. More research is required, including the records of Stroud Workhouse.

1869

Francis and Eliza’s fifth child, Alice, was born in Chalford in 1869 and baptised on 3 October of that year in Chalford.

Source: Chalford parish records, Gloucestershire Archives

1871

The 1871 census reveals that the family were on a voyage again, but this time the enumerator caught up with them. They were moored on the canal at Rowley Regis:

Source: 1871 Census, Staffordshire, Rowley Regis, District 24 (RG10/2995 folio 150)

It is known from later evidence that Francis regularly went to Staffordshire where he picked up cargoes of coal to take back to Lechlade.

1881

The 1881 census finds Francis, Eliza, Emma and Alice living at Latton, Wiltshire. Francis was a coal merchant operating his business from Latton Wharf (also known as Cricklade Wharf) and employing two men. It is understood that he operated from the Wharf House, now Wharf Farm, which can be seen from the A419.

Source: 1881 census, Wiltshire, Latton, District 9 (RG11/2024, folio 14)

1891

In 1891, Francis and Eliza are still at Latton, where Francis continues to operate as a coal merchant. By now all their children are married.

Source: 1891 census, Wiltshire, Latton, District 3 (RG12/1558, folio 32)

1898

Eliza died at Latton on 21 October 1898 at the age of 66. I have not, as yet, identified the place of her burial, but it is possibly either Latton or Cricklade.