Dame Anne Carey (Carew)

In the centre of the quire pavement at Westminster Abbey is the gravestone of Dame Anne Carey (or Carew). When the black and white paving in this area was laid down in 1676 her grave was not disturbed. The coat of arms on the stone show her husband's arms (seemingly those of Crewe) impaled with her own The Latin inscription can be translated:

Anne, daughter of Nicholas Hyde Kt., Chief Justice of England, wife of Ross Carey (who, deserving most highly of his country on the expedition to Rhe, and being adorned with the title of Knight Banneret, yet further adorned that title), is buried here. Once Britain was restored to Charles, once Charles was restored to Britain, Anne joyfully yielded up her soul on 23 August in her 50th year and year of salvation 1660.

Her father Nicholas (died 1631) was a son of Laurence Hyde and was born at Wardour Castle, Wiltshire. As well as a lawyer and politician he became a director of the Virginia Company. His wife was Mary (Swayne). Anne and three sons survived him. Her husband had been knighted for his services during the memorable expedition to the Isle of Rhe in France. He died 28th February 1641 and was buried at St Andrew's Holborn in London, where the parish register calls him an Irish gentleman.