Granny Boswell
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Ann "Granny" Boswell (1813 – 16 April 1909) was a wise woman and healer, who had a reputation as a witch in Helston, Cornwall, UK.
Life
Ann Boswell was born in Ireland in 1813 of Romany lineage.<ref name="Museum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She married Ephraim Boswell, known as the 'King of the Gypsies'. From 1860, the couple lived in west Cornwall, mostly on the Lizard<ref>Jones, Kelvin I. (1998), Seven Cornish Witches, Penzance: Oakmagic Publications, Template:ISBN</ref> around Helston. The couple had 6 children<ref name="Museum" /> the first of whom, Love Unity Boswell, was born in 1861. Her husband worked as a variously a labourer, cane worker, and cabinet maker.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Boswell was known in the area for her work as a wise woman and healer, and would sell healing charms. She was known for her ability to heal sick cattle. Around 1900, A. H. Hawke took a portrait photograph of Boswell sitting smoking a pipe. Boswell was sent to Helston Workhouse for being drunk in public, and died there on 16 April 1909. Her funeral was attended by a large crowd including members of the Romany community, and she is buried at the Tregerest Methodist Chapel.<ref name="Museum" /><ref name=":0" />