Harry was the second child and first son of John William, a Navy Yard blacksmith and Civil War veteran (Union), and Ellen Florence Mills Boswell. Harry's father was thirty years his mother's senior. This was the second marriage for John William Boswell, the first having produced at least seven surviving children (all boys) before the marriage ended in an acrimonious divorce. By the time Harry was just shy of eleven, there were three living sons in this second family (William F. Robey [Ellen's son by a previous relationship-he was listed as Boswell in the 1900 Census [not his name]), Harry, Benjamin and Matthew). Two sisters (Susan E. and Rosella) had died in infancy. Harry's father, who had developed cancer, stopped supporting the family. His mother, who had no means of supporting four children, relinquished Harry and his younger brother Benjamin (who was seven) to the Police Court (Children's Guardian)on May 23, 1896. Harry's record indicated he was healthy and of good character, but destitute and abandoned by his parents. His elder brother William, who was old enough to work and youngest brother, Matthew, a baby, remained with the mother (she went to live with her parents, William B. and Rosella Mills). In August of 1896, Harry and Benjamin were taken in by the William T. Collins family, fruit growers, in Milton, Sussex County, Delaware, where they worked as servants/farmhands.
By 1910, Harry had moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ostensibly for work.
Harry's WWI draft card indicated he had dark brown hair and hazel eyes was of medium height and weight with a ruddy complexion.
He married his wife, Lillian Gertrude (called Gertrude) Shaw in Delaware County on June 29, 1918. They were married until her death in 1949. Harry and Gertrude had one child, Phyllis, born in 1922. Harry lived in Parkside, Delaware County, PA for forty-seven years where he was a member of the Chester Baptist Temple. Harry's obituary (May 21, 1973 Delaware Cty. Times)reads that he retired in 1950 from FMC Corporation's American Viscose Division where he was employed for twenty-seven years as a painter.
Five years before his death, he went to live with his daughter, Phyllis, son-in-law, Frank and grandson, Douglas at 906 Flora Lane, Upper Chichester. He was living at that address at the time of his death.
By 1910, Harry had moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ostensibly for work.
Harry's WWI draft card indicated he had dark brown hair and hazel eyes was of medium height and weight with a ruddy complexion.
He married his wife, Lillian Gertrude (called Gertrude) Shaw in Delaware County on June 29, 1918. They were married until her death in 1949. Harry and Gertrude had one child, Phyllis, born in 1922. Harry lived in Parkside, Delaware County, PA for forty-seven years where he was a member of the Chester Baptist Temple. Harry's obituary (May 21, 1973 Delaware Cty. Times)reads that he retired in 1950 from FMC Corporation's American Viscose Division where he was employed for twenty-seven years as a painter.
Five years before his death, he went to live with his daughter, Phyllis, son-in-law, Frank and grandson, Douglas at 906 Flora Lane, Upper Chichester. He was living at that address at the time of his death.
Harry was the second child and first son of John William, a Navy Yard blacksmith and Civil War veteran (Union), and Ellen Florence Mills Boswell. Harry's father was thirty years his mother's senior. This was the second marriage for John William Boswell, the first having produced at least seven surviving children (all boys) before the marriage ended in an acrimonious divorce. By the time Harry was just shy of eleven, there were three living sons in this second family (William F. Robey [Ellen's son by a previous relationship-he was listed as Boswell in the 1900 Census [not his name]), Harry, Benjamin and Matthew). Two sisters (Susan E. and Rosella) had died in infancy. Harry's father, who had developed cancer, stopped supporting the family. His mother, who had no means of supporting four children, relinquished Harry and his younger brother Benjamin (who was seven) to the Police Court (Children's Guardian)on May 23, 1896. Harry's record indicated he was healthy and of good character, but destitute and abandoned by his parents. His elder brother William, who was old enough to work and youngest brother, Matthew, a baby, remained with the mother (she went to live with her parents, William B. and Rosella Mills). In August of 1896, Harry and Benjamin were taken in by the William T. Collins family, fruit growers, in Milton, Sussex County, Delaware, where they worked as servants/farmhands.
By 1910, Harry had moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ostensibly for work.
Harry's WWI draft card indicated he had dark brown hair and hazel eyes was of medium height and weight with a ruddy complexion.
He married his wife, Lillian Gertrude (called Gertrude) Shaw in Delaware County on June 29, 1918. They were married until her death in 1949. Harry and Gertrude had one child, Phyllis, born in 1922. Harry lived in Parkside, Delaware County, PA for forty-seven years where he was a member of the Chester Baptist Temple. Harry's obituary (May 21, 1973 Delaware Cty. Times)reads that he retired in 1950 from FMC Corporation's American Viscose Division where he was employed for twenty-seven years as a painter.
Five years before his death, he went to live with his daughter, Phyllis, son-in-law, Frank and grandson, Douglas at 906 Flora Lane, Upper Chichester. He was living at that address at the time of his death.
By 1910, Harry had moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ostensibly for work.
Harry's WWI draft card indicated he had dark brown hair and hazel eyes was of medium height and weight with a ruddy complexion.
He married his wife, Lillian Gertrude (called Gertrude) Shaw in Delaware County on June 29, 1918. They were married until her death in 1949. Harry and Gertrude had one child, Phyllis, born in 1922. Harry lived in Parkside, Delaware County, PA for forty-seven years where he was a member of the Chester Baptist Temple. Harry's obituary (May 21, 1973 Delaware Cty. Times)reads that he retired in 1950 from FMC Corporation's American Viscose Division where he was employed for twenty-seven years as a painter.
Five years before his death, he went to live with his daughter, Phyllis, son-in-law, Frank and grandson, Douglas at 906 Flora Lane, Upper Chichester. He was living at that address at the time of his death.
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