Annie Louisa was born on 17 Sep, 1874 in Handley, Towcester^a1, the fourth daughter of George Tew (1825–1908)★, an agricultural labourer, and Catherine Whitehead (1834–1917)★, a lacemaker. She was baptised as a child on 26 Oct, 1879 in Edgcote, Northamptonshire^b1. She is Stephanie's great grandmother.

Annie was recorded in the 1881 census in Handley^c1 with her father George, now a horsekeeper, mother Catherine and four siblings Tom, an agricultural labourer, Elizabeth Jane, a domestic servant, William and Ada Temperance.

By the time of the 1891 census she was living in Astcote, Pattishall^d1 with her father George and sister Mary.

On 18 Apr, 1896, at the age of twenty-one, she gave birth to a son, Samuel, the child of George Robert Lay. Samuel Lay died on 10 Apr, 1917 in France at the age of twenty.

Six years later, Annie gave birth to a son, Lewis Tew, on 16 Nov, 1902 in Greens Norton, Northamptonshire. Lewis died on 15 May, 1961 in Kingsthorpe at the age of fifty-eight.

At the age of thirty-four, she gave birth to a son, Bertie Herbert Tew★, on 17 Sep, 1908 in Greens Norton^a2. Bertie★ married Beatrice Mabel Rogers★ on 5 Aug, 1935^a3. He died on 21 Jan, 1961 in Northampton, Northamptonshire^e1 at the age of fifty-two.

She married Joseph Wyatt, a general labourer, on 27 Jun, 1912 at The Register Office in Northampton^a4 . They had two daughters.

• Mary Kate born on 17 Jan, 1913 in Northamptonshire, England. Died in the Jul-Sep quarter of 1982 in Northampton Registration District, Northamptonshire at the age of sixty-nine.
• Florence L born in 1916 in Northampton. Died in 1940 in Northampton Registration District at the age of twenty-four.

Annie died at the age of fifty-two on 18 Jun, 1927 at 17 Leicester Street, Northampton^a5

Timeline

1874

17 Sep

Born in Handley, Towcester^a1.

1879

26 Oct

Baptised as a child in Edgcote, Northamptonshire^b1.

1881

3 Apr

Recorded in the 1881 census living in Handley^c1.

1891

5 Apr

Recorded in the 1891 census residing in Astcote, Pattishall^d1.

1896

18 Apr

Son, Samuel Lay, born in Northampton, Northamptonshire.

1902

16 Nov

Son, Lewis, born in Greens Norton, Northamptonshire.

1908

17 Sep

Son, Bertie Herbert Tew★, born in Greens Norton^a2.

29 Sep

Occupation recorded as housekeeper (domestic)^a2.
Recorded as residing in Greens Norton^a2.

1912

27 Jun

Married Joseph Wyatt at The Register Office in Northampton^a4.
Recorded as residing at 10 St. George's Square, Northampton^a4.
Occupation recorded as charwoman^a4.

1913

17 Jan

Daughter, Mary Kate, born in Northamptonshire, England.

1916

Daughter, Florence L, born in Northampton.

1917

10 Apr

Son, Samuel, died at the age of twenty in France.

18 Jun

Recorded as living at 17 Leicester Street, Northampton^a6.

1925

27 Jan

Husband, Joseph, died at the age of sixty-seven at 17 Leicester Street^a7.

28 Jan

Recorded as living at 17 Leicester Street^a7.

1927

18 Jun

Died at the age of fifty-two at 17 Leicester Street^a5.

Other Information

Other names and variations

• Annie Louisa Tew^a1,b1,a4
• Annie Louisa Wyatt^a7,a4
• Annie Wyatt^a6
• Annie Tew^c1,d1

Research Notes

Annie Louisa Tew and George Lay's Relationship #

We believe that George and Annie met in Greens Norton when George returned to look after his mother after his father died in 1884. He is shown to be living alone with his mother in the 1891 census. Annie was 16 in 1891 and living with her parents in Pattishall, about three miles north. The Tews had been living for many years in the hamlet of Handley, a couple of miles south of Greens Norton. It’s possible that Annie was employed to help with domestic duties at George’s mothers’ house and the two started a relationship. George’s mother died in 1893 in Greens Norton and by April 1896 Annie was in Northampton with George at the birth of their son Samuel. Annie was 21 by this time, George was 48. Almost certainly their relationship was scandalous and they may have moved to Northampton to escape attention. The recording of Annie’s surname as Lay on Samuel’s birth certificate suggests that they may have been planning to marry.

There is no evidence though that they married and by the 1901 census Annie and George are still living together in Northampton with their son Samuel. However Annie and Samuel are shown as boarders with George and all three are listed as unmarried. Annie and Samuel’s surnames are recorded as Tew. In November 1902 Annie gave birth to her son Lewis in Greens Norton, where her parents and brother were now living. No father is recorded on Lewis’ birth certificate. Then, in September 1908, she gave birth to Bertie Herbert in Greens Norton, again with no father recorded. She is recorded as being a housekeeper at this time.

In the 1911 census Annie and George are shown living in the same house in Northampton with the three boys. Annie is recorded with the surname Tew and she is a housekeeper and boarder. The boys are all listed with the surname Lay and shown as the children of George. Confusingly Bertie Herbert is listed as a daughter. The house has two rooms. By this time Annie is 37 and George 65, still a jobbing gardener.

Our assumption is that Annie lived continuously with George between 1901 and 1911 but returned home to Greens Norton to have her two boys. This is in contrast to the birth of Samuel which occurred in George’s house and was registered by him. Annie was the informant for both Lewis and Bertie Herbert’s births. This is suggestive that George did not want involvement with the two boys.

In June the next year Annie married Joseph Wyatt, a 55 year old widower. They married at the register office and Annie is recorded as a spinster charwoman aged 37. Her address is given as 10 St. George’s Square. Joseph’s address is 9 St. George’s Square, the same address he can be found at in the 1911 census where he is shown living with his two sons and a daughter. One of the witnesses to the wedding was Mary Wakling, Annie’s sister.

At this time Samuel Lay would have just turned 16.

Our theory is that Annie and George started their relationship in Greens Norton and moved to Northampton together to avoid scandal when they discovered she was pregnant. At some point their relationship broke down and they came to an arrangement whereby George would support his son Samuel until the age of 16. Annie could remain living with them as his housekeeper. During this time she had one or two other relationships that led to the birth of Lewis and Bertie Herbert but George Lay is not the father of either. We feel that since he took responsibility for Samuel on his birth registration and the offer of support until age 16 then he would have continued this with the other boys if they had been his own children.

Annie left George’s house when Samuel turned 16 in April 1912 and moved with Lewis and Bertie Herbert to St. George’s Square and subsequently married Joseph Wyatt a few months later. She possibly knew of Joseph through George’s gardening work but we can’t tell how long for. Joseph’s first wife died in childbirth in 1906 so Annie may have helped him with housekeeping or child care after that event. Annie and Joseph went on to have two daughters, Mary Kate in 1913 and Florence in 1918.

There is no evidence that George Lay and Annie Tew had contact again. Their son Samuel died in the first world war and when, in 1919, Annie Wyatt filled out a form to claim Samuel’s effects and pension she recorded George as his father, address unknown. Annie listed herself, Lewis, Bertie Herbert, Mary and Florence as Samuel’s “full blood” relatives.

Joseph Wyatt died in 1925 age 66, Annie died in 1927 age 52 and George Lay died in 1930 age 82, still a jobbing gardener. All were still in Northampton.