James Bosley
1804
James Bosley was baptised on 20 March 1804 at Lechlade. His parents were Newman and Hannah Bosley.
Source: Lechlade parish records, Gloucestershire Archives
1824
He married Catherine Sley in Lechlade on 20 June 1824. Neither James nor Catherine could sign their names. The witnesses were John Walker and Elizabeth Keeble.
Source: Lechlade parish records, Gloucestershire Archives
James Bosley and Catherine Sley had four children, all born in Lechlade:
- Harriet (1826-1841)
- William (b. 1828-1831)
- Jane (b. 1831-1833)
- Eliza (b. 1832-1898).
Eliza was the only one of their children to survive to adulthood.
1828
James appeared in court in October of this year and was acquitted of theft.
On 2 September 1828, James Bosley was ‘charged on the oath of William Phipp of Lechlade farmer with having on the twenty ninth day of August now last past at Lechlade aforesaid feloniously stolen one sow pig and sixteen fowles the property of the said William Phipp’.
The details in the prison records are as follows:
12 James Bosly, age 22, of the parish of Lechlade.
Description: Light brown hair, dk grey small eyes which are very far in his head, pale complexion, long face, rather large nose, a scar on his right hand wrist, mole on his right arm, a mole on his left arm, several scars calf right leg, small mole right side his chin.
Read a little
Waterman
5’ 5”
The case was tried at the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions on 14 October 1828 and found to be ‘Not a true bill’ [i.e. there was insufficient evidence to form a judgement, therefore he was acquitted].
He was discharged on 17 October 1828.
His behaviour in prison was reported as ‘orderly’.
Others charged of same offence were all found guilty:
11 William Alder, 55, Lechlade, Waterman, 6-month sentence
13 Allen Wyatt, 20, Chalford, Waterman, 12-month sentence
14 Moses Smart, 26, Bisley, Waterman, 12-month sentence
Source: Gloucestershire Archives, Q/Gc 5/3 1825-1829
The above information suggests that James worked as a boatman on the Thames & Severn Canal since two of his co-defendants were watermen from the Chalford and Bisley area. Considering Francis Hewer’s life before 1849, it has been conjectured that he must have found work on the canal through his father-in-law, James Bosley, and that this is what ‘saved’ him from the life of crime and poverty which his mother and siblings endured.
1841
Source: 1841 Census, Gloucestershire, Lechlade, District 9 (HO 107/352/10)
There is no mention anywhere in the 1841 census for Lechlade of their first-born child, Harriet, who would have been about 15 at the time of the census. She died in November 1841.
1849
In February of this year, James and Catherine’s surviving child, Eliza, married Francis Hewer in Lechlade. James must still have been working as a boatman at this time as this is the occupation given for him on Eliza and Francis’ marriage certificate.
Catherine died and was buried in Lechlade on 4 April of this year.
Source: Lechlade parish records, Gloucestershire Archives
1851 and 1861
There is no mention of James Bosley in either the 1851 or 1861 censuses. This is not necessarily surprising as his occupation as a boatman may have meant that he was on a voyage and evaded the census enumerator on both occasions.
1864
James died, aged 60, in Faringdon Union Workhouse and was buried in Lechlade on 8 January 1864.
Source: Lechlade parish records, Gloucestershire Archives