William Shakespeare (1564–1616) left school at 16, but how did he make his living? What is well documented in the register of the Worcester Diocese in Nov 1582 is his marriage licence. William was 18; Anne Hathaway was 26, and was apparently very keen to marry. They needed the Bishop's permission to marry without the customary saying of the banns 3 times. Just as well, because Anne delivered a full term baby girl Susanna 6 months later. Anne had 2 more children, twins Hamnet and Judith, all before William was 21 himself. Hamnet sadly died at 11.
Painted before Hamnet died in Aug 1596
In June 1607 Susanna married the prosperous Stratford physician John Hall. Her marriage to Hall must have greatly pleased Shakespeare who appointed the young couple executors of his will. In Feb 1608 Susanna had a baby girl. Shakespeare's granddaughter, Elizabeth Hall, was baptised at Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church.
By 1613 the young family bought Hall’s Croft, a newly built middle-class home in Stratford’s Old Town. Today their timbered Jacobean home is listed and open to the public, with a very special walled herb garden.
After William died in 1616, the Halls moved back into the Shakespeare family home, the very valuable New Place. They did so to provide company to the widow, Anne Hathaway Shakespeare, until she herself died 7 years later and was buried alongside William in Holy Trinity Church. Anne had not inherited New Place personally as it was assumed that the Halls would move in to look after their mother. With no male heir, William instead bequeathed the bulk of his large estate, including properties in Stratford-upon-Avon and London, to his older daughter Susanna.
Stratford-upon-Avon
If people believe Susanna’s reputation as a very intelligent woman, it is probable that she would have managed the printed work of both her father and husband, Stratford’s most celebrated men.
William’s only granddaughter Elizabeth, greatly loved by her papa, was both a direct and indirect beneficiary of his will. It stated that on Susanna’s death all that she had inherited from her father was to pass to either her male heirs, or, if none, to Elizabeth.
New Place, now Nash’s House Museum, is a grade I-listed museum that traces Stratford-upon-Avon’s history. New Place was ruined in 1759, but a memorial garden designed and looked after by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust still stands, with a Mulberry Tree grown from a cutting planted by the Bard himself. The Royal Shakespeare Co’s Theatre, which stages productions of the Bard’s work, is close by.
If people believe Susanna’s reputation as a very intelligent woman, it is probable that she would have managed the printed work of both her father and husband, Stratford’s most celebrated men.
William’s only granddaughter Elizabeth, greatly loved by her papa, was both a direct and indirect beneficiary of his will. It stated that on Susanna’s death all that she had inherited from her father was to pass to either her male heirs, or, if none, to Elizabeth.
New Place, now Nash’s House Museum, is a grade I-listed museum that traces Stratford-upon-Avon’s history. New Place was ruined in 1759, but a memorial garden designed and looked after by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust still stands, with a Mulberry Tree grown from a cutting planted by the Bard himself. The Royal Shakespeare Co’s Theatre, which stages productions of the Bard’s work, is close by.
Dr Hall left detailed records of his medical practice which amazingly revealed his own treatment for scurvy made from local grasses and plants high in ascorbic acid, 100+ years before James Lind's discovery regarding citrus fruit. When Susanna herself contracted scurvy, John's treatment was completely successful.
John Hall died suddenly in 1635 and was buried close to Shakespeare at Holy Trinity Church. Susanna died in 1649, at 66, and was also buried close to her parents William and Anne’s graves. The first stanza of Susanna’s epitaph says it all: “Witty above her sex, but that’s not all / Wise to salvation was good Mistris Hall.”
Elizabeth Hall lived a noteworthy life indeed. John and Susanna had ensured their daughter Elizabeth was well educated and saw that her handwriting was well formed and clear like that of her father. Happily Elizabeth also reached adulthood and met the son of Anthony Nash, William’s good friend and land agent.
In Elizabeth and Thomas Nash's courtship, she was 14 years his junior. Thomas had attended Oxford Uni and entered the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, one of four Inns of Court. He never practiced law but was already a comfortable business man when they married, in 1626. The young couple moved into New Place, and lived together happily.
in Stratford-upon-Avon
Nash died in 1645 and four years later Elizabeth married her second husband. John Barnard was an old Shakespeare family friend and liked the idea that Elizabeth could look after his large household of 8 children. They were married in Billesley, a rural parish west of Stratford-upon-Avon, chosen so the wedding might slip through the authorities’ net: note that Church of England’s marriage rites were banned during the Interregnum (1649-60)!
Barnard became a Justice of the Peace and accepted a knighthood from King Charles II in Sept 1661, making the Bard’s grand-daughter Elizabeth Lady Barnard. The Lord and Lady of the Manor both lived the remainder of their years in the midst of pastoral parkland at Abington Manor, John's sprawling estate in Northamps, with his 8 children.
Elizabeth herself had no children and was Shakespeare's last descendant. She died in 1670, at 62. She had entrusted her Stratford-upon-Avon properties, including New Place, to a man who sold it on her behalf. The large Barnard entourage moved out of Stratford-upon-Avon to Abington Park Manor. John Barnard’s country estate-museum now houses local history displays, art exhibitions and more.
William’s other daughter, Judith Shakespeare, had a sadder life. Unlike her sister's marriage to Dr Hall, Judith's marriage to wine maker Thomas Quiney in Feb 1616 led Shakespeare to endless scandal. Quiney did not receive the license necessary for a wedding during Lent before his marriage and thus the couple were excommunicated. Quiney was prosecuted for carnal copulation with the local woman Margaret Wheeler, who had died in March, along with Quiney’s baby. He confessed and was sentenced to perform public penance, soon commuted to a small fine and private penance. It was speculated that this scandal may have hastened Shakespeare's death; he died a few weeks later, after changing his will to protect Judith's inheritance from Quiney.
Thomas and Judith Quiney had 3 children: Shakespeare, Richard and Thomas. Shakespeare Quiney died in infancy and was buried in 1617; he never met his grandfather who had died only a year before. Richard and Thomas died from the plague within weeks of each other (aged 21 and 19) and were buried in 1639. With the death of her husband c1652, Judith was alone. She lived to 77, and was buried in Feb 1662. But there was no epitaph praising her wit & wisdom.
Barnard became a Justice of the Peace and accepted a knighthood from King Charles II in Sept 1661, making the Bard’s grand-daughter Elizabeth Lady Barnard. The Lord and Lady of the Manor both lived the remainder of their years in the midst of pastoral parkland at Abington Manor, John's sprawling estate in Northamps, with his 8 children.
Elizabeth herself had no children and was Shakespeare's last descendant. She died in 1670, at 62. She had entrusted her Stratford-upon-Avon properties, including New Place, to a man who sold it on her behalf. The large Barnard entourage moved out of Stratford-upon-Avon to Abington Park Manor. John Barnard’s country estate-museum now houses local history displays, art exhibitions and more.
William’s other daughter, Judith Shakespeare, had a sadder life. Unlike her sister's marriage to Dr Hall, Judith's marriage to wine maker Thomas Quiney in Feb 1616 led Shakespeare to endless scandal. Quiney did not receive the license necessary for a wedding during Lent before his marriage and thus the couple were excommunicated. Quiney was prosecuted for carnal copulation with the local woman Margaret Wheeler, who had died in March, along with Quiney’s baby. He confessed and was sentenced to perform public penance, soon commuted to a small fine and private penance. It was speculated that this scandal may have hastened Shakespeare's death; he died a few weeks later, after changing his will to protect Judith's inheritance from Quiney.
Thomas and Judith Quiney had 3 children: Shakespeare, Richard and Thomas. Shakespeare Quiney died in infancy and was buried in 1617; he never met his grandfather who had died only a year before. Richard and Thomas died from the plague within weeks of each other (aged 21 and 19) and were buried in 1639. With the death of her husband c1652, Judith was alone. She lived to 77, and was buried in Feb 1662. But there was no epitaph praising her wit & wisdom.
Abington Manor with the church of St Peter and St Paul (right)
Edwardian postcard, Wiki
Edwardian postcard, Wiki
This history follows Amanda Mabillard and Jenny Rowe, as closely as I could. Many thanks.