Anna Maria Keary

Malcolm Smith writes about Annie Keary.

While looking into the names of historical incumbents of the Rectors of All Saints and St James Church, Nunnington, I came across Annie Keary, a successful novelist. Further research showed that William Keary, a former army chaplain from County Galway in Ireland, was appointed to the church in 1847. He and his wife Mary moved into the Rectory with their children Annie Maria, Eliza Bartlett and three unnamed brothers.

Annie was born on the 3rd March 1825 at Bilton in Ainsty near Wetherby whilst her father was the rector at that village. Annie was a sickly child, in poor health and suffered slight deafness; however, she received a home education and quickly showed a propensity for the written word.

Records show that William Keary was a very busy man, and whilst positioned at Nunnington, he was also appointed as the Rector of Sculcoates near Hull. His tenure also coincided with social deprivation in the Yorkshire area and his poor health.

The Keary family finally left Nunnington and moved to Clifton near Bristol, where Annie started her writing career. In 1856, she published her first children’s book titled ‘Mia and Charlie Or, a week’s holiday at a Ryedale Rectory’. The book was based on Nunnington, and several references to locations in the village are identified.

Success as a novelist came with ‘Sidney Grey- A Tale of School Life’ in 1857 and was closely followed by ‘The Rival Kings ‘– a children’s book featuring rival children’s gangs.
Another notable publication by Annie Keary was ‘The Heroes of Askard -Tales from Scandinavian Mythology,’ which retold Norse myths for children—closely followed by three further books penned in collaboration with her sister Eliza.

Many more children’s books were followed by several of an educational, historical, and biblical variety, including ‘Early Egyptian History’ in 1861 and ’ The Nations Around’ in 1870. Adult fiction books commenced in 1859 with ‘Through the Shadows’ and her most famous novel ‘ Castle Daly ‘ in 1875.

Anna (Annie) Maria Keary died on March 3, 1879, at 9 Lismore Road, Eastbourne. Her death certificate shows her age to be 54 years and the daughter of William Keary, Rector of Nunnington, Yorkshire (Deceased). The cause of death is shown as Breast Cancer (2 years) and poisonous blood.

Malcolm Smith

Attributions and references

• Encyclopaedia Brittanica (1911) Volume 15
• Wikipedia
• Free Birth, Marriage and Death Registers.
• Ancestry.com
• Findmypast
• National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills).

Useful links

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