Anna Maria Bennett facts for kids

Anna Maria Bennett (around 1750 – 12 February 1808) was a Welsh novelist who wrote books in English. Some people also knew her as Agnes Maria Bennett. Her most famous book is Agnes de-Courci (1789), which is a story told through letters.

Anna worked as a housekeeper for Admiral Thomas Pye. They had two children together, and one of them became the well-known actress Harriet Pye Esten.

Anna Maria Bennett's Life

Anna was likely born in Merthyr Tydfil in Glamorgan, Wales. Her father, David Evans, worked as a customs officer or a grocer. She married Thomas Bennett, who was either a customs officer or a tanner. They moved to London together.

Anna later left her husband and found a job in a shop that sold supplies for ships. There, she met Vice-Admiral Thomas Pye. He invited her to live at his home in Tooting, Surrey, where she became his housekeeper.

Anna and Thomas Pye had two children: Thomas Pye Bennett and Harriet Pye Bennett. Harriet became a very famous actress, and her mother, Anna, helped her learn and start her acting career.

Thomas Pye passed away in 1785. Around the same time, Anna's first novel, Anna: Memoirs of a Welch Heiress, was published and became very popular. When Pye died, he left his house in Suffolk Street to Anna.

Anna's daughter, Harriet Pye Esten, first performed in Bath and Bristol. Later, she moved to Dublin to act. In 1789, while in Dublin, Harriet and Anna arranged a formal separation with Harriet's husband, James Esten. Anna paid off her son-in-law's debts in exchange for his agreement. Anna's last book, Vicissitudes Abroad, caused a lot of discussion. She passed away in Brighton.

Anna Maria Bennett's Books

Anna Maria Bennett wrote several novels during her life:

• Anna: or Memoirs of a Welch Heiress, published in 1785
• Juvenile Indiscretions, published in 1786
• Agnes de-Courci: a Domestic Tale, published in 1789
• Ellen, Countess of Castle Howel, published in 1794
• The Beggar Girl and he Benefactors, published in 1797
• De Valcourt, published in 1800
• Vicissitudes Abroad, published in 1806

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