Sunday 17 November 2013


Another Manchester radical, Mrs Hannah Boswell was born Hannah Blakeley in about 1816 at Prestwich, Lancashire.  Her father was a Book Keeper.  She married in 1849.  Her husband was George Boswell an Omnibus proprietor with 2 live in omnibus coachmen.  In 1861 their address was Omnibus Office Clarence Terrace, Rusholme.  George Boswell died in 1863 leaving £800.  In 1866 she was probably running the coach business as her children were still quite young  On the Rushholme and Victoria Park Archive  http://rusholmearchive.org/a-tour-of-wilmslow-road  there is a photograph (taken by Helmut Petschler 1860-70) of a horse-drawn omnibus of the City Omnibus company that travelled through Rusholme on its way to Didsbury.  The omnibus seen in front of the Didsbury Hotel is presumably awaiting passengers for the return trip.  In the 1871 census she describes herself as a Coach Proprietress and in 1881 she still owns the business with her son George as manager, as she does in 1891.  When she died in 1900 Hannah left £1,450..6s..3d

1861 census Registration District: Chorlton Sub-registration District: Ardwick ED, institution, or vessel: 35 Household Schedule Number: 23 Piece: 2874 Folio: 92 Page Number: 5

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