Person:Joseph Dew (2)

Joseph Dew's origins have yet to be established. His first confirmed sighting is in 1767. On 19th April that year a woman called Ann Males had a son, Joseph, baptised at Codicote in Hertfordshire. The boy's baptism described him as "Joseph son of Ann Mailes & reputed of Joseph Dew".

Eight days later, Joseph married Ann Males. Joseph was described as being a widower of Water Thorp in Northamptonshire. It is not clear where this was meant to indicate as there is no parish with that name. The most likely possibilities would appear to be Thorpe Achurch (where the largest village in the parish is called Thorpe Waterville) or Thorpe by Water, which is actually in Rutland, but right on the border with Northamptonshire.

It is not clear what happened to Joseph after his marriage to Ann Males. She married again in 1769 in Codicote, describing herself as a widow, implying that Joseph had died. No burial has yet been found for him.