Shakespeare's family
of the Society of Archivists and Autograph Collectors_, No. I., June,
1895.
CHAPTER II
THE LOCALITIES OF EARLY SHAKESPEARES
We find the name occurs in widely scattered localities from very early
times. Perhaps a resembling name ought to be noted "in the hamlet of
Pruslbury, Gloucestershire,[10] where there were four tenants. This was
at one time an escheat of the King, who gave it to his valet, Simon
_Shakespeye_, who afterwards gave it to Constantia de Legh, who gave it
to William Solar, the defendant." If this represents a 1260
"Shakespere," as there is every reason to believe it does, this is the
earliest record of the name yet found. This belief is strengthened by
the discovery that a _Simon Sakesper_ was in the service of the Crown in
1278, as herderer of the Forest of Essex,[11] in the Hundred of
Wauthorn, 7 Edward I. Between these two dates Mr. J. W. Rylands[12] has
found a Geoffrey Shakespeare on the jury in the Hundred of Brixton, co.
Surrey, in 1268.[13]
The next[14] I have noted occurs in Kent in the thirteenth century,
where a John Shakespeare appears in a judicial case, 1278-79, at
Freyndon.
The fifth notice is in the north.[15] The Hospital of St. Nicholas,
Carlisle, had from its foundation been endowed with a thrave of corn
from every ploughland in Cumberland. These were withheld by the
landowners in the reign of Edward III., for some reason, and an inquiry
was instituted in 1357. The jury decided that the corn was due. It had
been withheld for eight years by various persons, among whom was "Henry
Shakespere, of the Parish of Kirkland," east of Penrith. This gives,
therefore, really an entry of this Shakespere's existence at that place
as early as 1349, and an examination of Court Records may prove an
earlier settlement of the family.
There was a transfer of lands in Penrith described as "next the land of
Allan Shakespeare," and amongst the witnesses was William
Shakespeare,[16] April, 21 Richard II., 1398.
In the "Records of the Borough of Nottingham,"[17] we find a John
Shakespere plaintiff against Richard de Cotgrave, spicer, for deceit in
sale of dye-wood on November 8, 31 Edward III. (1357); Richard, the
servant of Robert le Spondon, plaintiff against John Shakespere for
assault. John proves himself in the right, and receives damages, October
21, 1360.
The first appearance yet found of the name in Warwickshire is in 1359,
when Thomas Sheppey and Henry Dilcock, Bailiffs of Coventry, account for
the property of Thomas Shakespere,[18] felon, who had left his goods and
fled.
Halliwell-Phillipps[19] notes as his earliest entry of the name a Thomas
Shakespere, of Youghal, 49 Edward III. (1375). A writer in _Notes and
Queries_[20] gives a date two years later when "Thomas Shakespere and
Richard Portingale" were appointed Comptrollers of the Customs in
Youghal, 51 Edward III. (1377). This would imply that he was a highly
trustworthy man. Yet, by some turn of fortune's wheel, he may have been
the same man as the felon.
In Controlment Rolls, 2 Richard II. (June, 1377, to June, 1379), there
is an entry of "Walter Shakespere, formerly in gaol in Colchester
Castle."[21] John Shakespeare was imprisoned in Colchester gaol as a
perturbator of the King's peace, March 3rd, 4 Richard II., 1381.[22] At
Pontefract, Robert Schaksper, Couper, and Emma his wife are mentioned as
paying poll-tax, 2 Rich. II.[23]
The Rev. Mr. Norris,[24] working from original documents, notes that on
November 24 (13 Richard II.), 1389, Adam Shakespere, who is described as
son and heir of Adam of Oldediche, held lands within the manor of
Baddesley Clinton by military service, and probably had only just then
obtained them. Oldediche, or Woldich, now commonly called Old Ditch
Lane, lies within the parish of Temple Balsall, not far from the manor
of Baddesley.
This closes the notices of the family that I have collected during the
fourteenth century. The above-noted Adam Shakespere, the younger, died
in 1414, leaving a widow, Alice, and a son and heir, John, then under
age, who held lands until 20 Henry VI., 1441. It is not clear who
succeeded him, but probably two brothers, Ralph and Richard, who held
lands in Baddesley, called Great Chedwyns, adjoining Wroxall. Mr. Norris
says that no further mention of the name appears in Baddesley, but one
notice of the property is given later. Ralph and Joanna, his wife, had
two daughters--Elizabeth, married to Robert Huddespit, and Isolda,
married to Robert Kakley. Elizabeth Huddespit, a widow, in 1506 held the
lands which Adam Shakespeare held in 1389.
The family of Shakespeare appears in the "Register of the Guild of
Knowle,"[1] a semi-religious society to which the best in the county
belonged:
1457. Pro anima Ricardi Shakespere et Alicia uxor
ejus de Woldiche.[25]
1464. Johanna Shakespere.
Radulphus Shakespere et Isabella uxor ejus et
pro anima Johannae uxoris primae.
Ricardus Schakespeire de Wroxhale et Margeria
uxor ejus.
1476. Thomas Chacsper et Christian cons. sue de
Rowneton.
Johannis Shakespeyre de Rowington et Alicia
uxor ejus.
1486. 1 Hen. VII. Thomae Schakspere, p aiaei.
Thomas Shakspere et Alicia uxor ejus de
Balsale.
Mr. Yeatman has studied the Court Rolls of this period. It is to be
wished he had published his book in two volumes, one of facts and one of
opinions. He says that the earliest record of the Court Rolls of
Wroxall[26] is one dated 5 Henry V. (1418). It is a grant by one
Elizabeth Shakspere to John Lone and William Prins of a messuage with
three crofts. (The same Rolls tell us that in 22 Henry VIII. Alice Love
surrendered to William Shakespeare and Agnes his wife a property
apparently the same.)
In 1485 John Hill, John Shakespeare and others, were enfeoffed in land
called "Harveys" in Rowington, and John appears as witness in 1492 and
1496.[27]
There were Shakesperes at Coventry and Meriden in the fifteenth century.
John Dwale, merchant of Coventry, left legacies by will to Annes Lane
and to Richard Shakespere, March 15, 1499.[28]
Among the "foreign fines" of the borough of Nottingham,[29] Robert
Shakespeyr paid eightpence for license to buy and sell in the borough in
1414-15. The same Robert complains of John Fawkenor for non-payment of
the price of wood for making arrows. And French[30] tells us there was a
Thomas Shakespere, a man at arms, going to Ireland on August 27, 18
Edward IV., 1479, with Lord Grey against the king's enemies.
John Shakespere, a chapman in Doncaster,[31] paid on each order 12d.
Among the York wills, John Shakespere of Doncaster mentions his wife,
Joan, 1458. In the same year Sir Thomas Chaworth leaves Margery
Shakesper six marks for her marriage.[32]
In 1448, William Shakspere, labourer, and Agnes, his wife, were legatees
under the will of Alice Langham, of Snailswell, Suffolk.[33]
A family also belonged to London. Mr. Gollancz told me of a certain
"William Schakesper" who was "to be buried within the Hospital of St.
John of Jerusalem, in England," in 1413.[34] On reference to the
original, I found there was no allusion to profession, locality or
family. He left to an unnamed father and mother twenty shillings each,
and six shillings and eightpence to the hospital. The residue to William
Byrdsale and John Barbor, to dispose of for the good of his soul; proved
August 3, 1413. There was also a Peter Shakespeare who witnessed the
deed of transfer of the "Hospicium Vocatum le Greyhounde, Shoe Alley,
Bankside, Southwark, February 16, 1483."[35]
FOOTNOTES:
[10] Coram Rege Roll, St. Barthol., 45 Henry III., Memb. 13, No. 117.
_Notes and Queries_, 5th Series, ii. 146.
[11] Fisher's "Forest of Essex," p. 374. _Notes and Queries_, 9th
Series, ii. 167.
[12] Records of Rowington.
[13] Coram Rege Roll, 139, M. 1, 52-53 Hen. III.
[14] Roll of 7 Edward I.: "Placita Corone coram Johanne de Reygate et
sociis suis, justiciariis itinerantibus in Oct. St. Hil. 7 Edward I.,
_apud_ Cantuar." See also _Notes and Queries_, 1st Series, vol. xi., p.
122. Mr. William Henry Hart, F.S.A., contributes a note on the subject
and gives the entry.
[15] _Notes and Queries_, 2nd Series, vol. x., p. 122.
[16] _Notes and Queries_, 6th Series, iv. 126.
[17] "Records of the Borough of Nottingham," by Mr. W. Stevenson.
[18] See Dr. Joseph Hunter's MSS., Addit. MSS., Brit. Mus. 24,484, art.
246.
[19] In Shakespeare's "Life," prefixed to the folio edition.
[20] _Notes and Queries_, J. F. F., 2nd Series, x. 122; see "Rot. Pat.
Claus. Cancellariae Hiberniae Calendarium," vol. i., part i., p. 996.
[21] _Notes and Queries_, 5th Series, i. 25.
[22] Close Rolls, 4 Richard II.; _Notes and Queries_, 7th Series, ii.
318.
[23] _Yorksh. Archaeological Journal_, vol. vi., p. 3. Lay-Subsidies,
206/49, Osgodcrosse, West Riding.
[24] _Notes and Queries_, 8th Series, vol. viii., December 28, 1895;
"Shakespeare's Ancestry," by the Rev. Henry Norris, F.S.A.
[25] Mr. W. B. Bickley's "The Register of the Guild of St. Anne at
Knowle," 1894. Mr. Bickley, in the _Stratford-on-Avon Herald_, November
9, 1895, shows that "Woldiche," "Oldyche" and "Oldwich" are the same,
being a farm in the hamlet of Balsall, in the parish of Hampton in
Arden, and about three miles from Knowle.
[26] Mr. Yeatman's "Gentle Shakespeare," p. 135.
[27] Mr. J. W. Ryland's "Records of Rowington."
[28] Proved May 26, 1500, Somerset House; Moone, f. 2.
[29] Stevenson's "Transcript of Records of the Borough of Nottingham."
[30] French's "Shakespeareana Genealogica," p. 350, and 39/48 "Ancient
Miscellanea Exchequer," Treasury of Receipt, Muster Roll of Men at Arms
going with Lord Grey. At Conway, 18 Edward IV., August 24.
[31] Records of the House of Grayfriars. _Yorksh. Archaeological
Journal_, vol. xii., p. 482.
[32] _Notes and Queries_,6th Series, iv. 158.
[33] "Camden Soc. Publ.," 1851, _Notes and Queries_, 6th Series, vi.
368.
[34] Commissary Court of London Wills, Reg. II., 1413, f. 12.
[35] The deed is preserved at Cordwainers' Hall.
CHAPTER III
LATER SHAKESPEARES BEFORE THE POET'S TIME
In the sixteenth century there were Shakespeares all over the country,
in Essex, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Nottingham,[36] but chiefly in
Warwick.
There the family had spread rapidly. But it is only the first half of
the century that concerns us at present. There have been Shakespeares
noted in Warwick, Alcester, Berkswell, Snitterfield, Lapworth, Haseley,
Ascote, Rowington, Packwood, Beausal, Temple Grafton, Salford, Tamworth,
Barston, Tachbrook, Haselor, Rugby, Budbrook, Wroxall, Norton-Lindsey,
Wolverton, Hampton-in-Arden, Hampton Lucy, and Knowle.[37]
Most students, recognising Warwickshire as the ancestral home of the
poet's family, exclude the town of Warwick from the field of their
consideration, and select the Shakespeares of Wroxall, partly because
more is known about them, and partly because what is known of them
suggests a higher social status than is granted the other branches. From
the "Guild of Knowle Records" we learn that in 1504 the fraternity was
asked to "pray for the soul of Isabella Shakespeare, formerly Prioress
of Wroxall,"[38] that the name of Alice Shakespere was entered, and
prayers requested for the soul of Thomas Shakespere, of Ballishalle, in
1511; and in the same year Christopher Shakespere and Isabella, his
wife, of Packwood, Meriden, are mentioned. The name of "Domina Jane
Shakspere" appears late in 1526. She is often spoken of as another
Prioress. Now, it is important to notice that Dugdale mentions neither
of these ladies. He records that D. Isabella Asteley was appointed July