Dr. Alexander Henry Boswall and Family

It will be the constant endeavour of Miss Boswall, to promote not merely the mental, and moral culture of her pupils, but also their domestic needs, happiness and comfort. Each young Lady to be provided with six towels a knife and fork, and a dessert spoon, which will be returned.

Dr. Boswall will give to the pupils advice gratis. A quarters notice, or an equivalency, previous to the removal of a pupil. Charlottetown,

June 26, 1843.

Nothing is recorded in the family history of the results of this advertisement. However, it is interesting to note that several advertisements of a later date had the wording changed from “inhabitants of Charlottetown and vicinity” to “Prince Edward Island and the neighbouring Colonies.” Alexander and his daughter Ann may have over estimated the ability of the Island’s early settlers to appreciate or to pay for instruction in these cultural activities.

It is known that Ann taught music in Charlottetown where she numbered among her students the children of the Lieutenant Governor. One can imagine this young lady who had experienced the advantages of an English boarding school finding herself in what must have seemed primitive conditions riding the eight and one-half miles back and forth to Charlottetown side saddle on horse back.

It has been acknowledged in the family that Alexander always had some what of an itchy foot, this has been attributed to the unusual circumstances of his birth. Alexander having been born at sea on HMS Cacafogo while crossing the Bay of Biscay. His mother taking passage back to England from Gibraltar with her husband, Robert who commanded the vessel.

Before setting up medical practice in England Alexander had taken a trip to China between the fall of 1822 and the spring of 1825. He was married in England in June of 1825 then between 1828 and 1832 spent five years as a medical officer in India.

By 1858 the urge to wander seemed to be upon him again as the Royal Gazette of October 11, 1858 contained the following advertisement.

At Dr. Boswall’s on Tuesday inst., furniture, cows, horses, grain, sheep hay, pigs, potatoes, turnips, sleigh, carts etc.

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Freehold of farm to be sold at auction at ten o’clock on Tuesday the 19’”, instant at residence of Dr. Boswall, St Peter’s Road, about 8 miles from city.

Valuable furniture, 8 milch cows, 1 ball, two years old, I heifer, 3 calves, 2 horses - 5 and 8 yrs old, I filly, 22 sheep, 2 rams, 7 pigs, 4 acres potatoes, 2 acres of turnips, 2 carts, 2 ploughs 1 box sled, lot wheat, barley, hay, oats and straw, 2 sets harrows, I jaunting sleigh and fur, 1 steel spring fly, 2 sets gig harness, 2 sets cart harness, a lot of back band traces, etc.

Also, freehold property consisting of] 70 acres of land, dwelling house and barns, etc.

Terms of sale £3, three months £10 and upwards. Credits of five months will be approved joint notes of hand.

In the eleven years since the advertisement of 1847 Alexander appears to have become seriously interested in farming. As at the same time he was conducting an extensive medical practice most of the farm work would have been done mainly by hired help. Albert and Harriet being the only two children still living with their parents at the time of the sale (Part of this property under the ownership of John Scott was still identified as Somerset Cottage in the 1880 Illustrated Historical Atlas of Prince Edward Island).

The reason for the sale? Alexander had signed on to be medical officer for the Brigantine Prince Edward where he would be responsible for providing medical care for one hundred emigrants leaving Prince Edward Island. The new colony of New Zealand was advertising 40 acres of land for 10 shillings for every adult over the age of 18 and 20 acres of land for 5 shillings for every minor child. A considerable advantage over Prince Edward Island where much of the land was still in the hands of absentee landlords.

A copy of a letter posted by Alexander to his wife Harriet from Simon Town, South Africa on March 8lh 1859 describes the voyage to that point. The shipping news of The Examiner of August 1859 contains a report of “the safe arrival of the brig. Prince Edward in New Zealand on May 13'“, 1859. All one hundred emigrants were in good health. Dr. A. H. Boswall was the ship’s medical officer.”

The sale of Somerset Cottage ended the land connection of the Boswall’s to the area served by