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Largely due to the efforts of previous writers it is
possible to produce a fairly complete catalogue of Adam's descendants down
to the early 1500's. This has come about due to the desire of these
authors to establish the origins of the 'Bard of Avon.' That they failed
in their quest is the subject of
another section, but what it does mean it that there is a wealth of
records now available in printed form which would be difficult to
otherwise obtain without considerable time, money, and a
comprehensive knowledge of the medieval latin required to read these
documents. Useful as they are, it must be realised that these are not
primary sources, merely the authors interpretation of ancient documents:
for example, 'Records of Wroxall' can be shown to contain inaccuracies in
it's transcriptions. But......without considerable effort redoing this
work would be very difficult, and on the whole such books provide us with
a great deal of useful detail - at least it is an easier matter now to
check individual queries against the source should questions of accuracy
arise. Who was Adam?
A number of writers (probably drawing from each
other) tell us that the earliest Shakespeare yet found in Warwickshire was
Adam Shakespeare, the son of one 'Adam of Oldenitche', who acquired land
by military service, and suggest that this is the origin of the surname.
Henry Norris, who wrote his
book on Baddesley Clinton in 1897, has quoted that he had found Shakespeares in
an early court roll of Baddesley Clinton as early as 1389. This as far as is
known the earliest reference to the name in Warwickshire.
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The IGI |
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The IGI,
without, as usual, giving sources has several references to Adam Shakespeare and
Baddesley Clinton:
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Adam born
about 1360, 'of Baddesley', son of Adam.
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Adam (presumably
same person as above) born Nov 1365, died 1414
Several
children of Adam & Alice Shakespeare are listed:
| Name |
Date
Born |
Place |
| Ralph |
abt 1342 |
'Baddesley' |
| John |
about 1340 |
'Baddesley' |
| John
(another reference) |
abt 1396
and died 1460 |
Baddesley Clinton
'of Rowington' |
Another entry on the IGI
mentions Johanna born about 1369, daughter of Adam (or Adrane) and Alice (or
Adrain) Shakespeare, of 'Balsale.'
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It seems that these IGI entries have their source in earlier works, such as
that of Norris, or E K Chambers.
Chambers (App. E) cites sources
which give a continuous record of land ownership by Adam and his descendants.
Chambers
writes:
| Balsall. Adam of Oldediche,
a farm in Balsall, was father of Adam of Baddesley Clinton (1389).
Richard and Alice Shakspere de Woldiche of the Guild of Knowle died c.
1457. Thomas and Alice Shakspere joined the G. in 1486. Alice joined the
Guild in 1511-12 and paid for the soul of Thomas. Baddesley Clinton. Adam Shakespere, son and heir of Adam
of Oldediche, held, and probably then acquired, land on the manor by
military service in 1389. He ob. 1414, leaving a widow Alice and son John,
a minor, who held the land in 1425 and 1441. Probably his sons were Ralph
and Richard, who held Great Chedwyns in 1465. Ralph's wife was Joanna. He
was alive on 17 Apr. 1493 but dead by 14 Apr. 1496, when his land was
divided between Robert Huddespit and Robert Rakley, husbands of his
daughters Elizabeth and Isolda. On 14 Dec. 1506 Elizabeth was a widow, and
held some of the land which was Adam's in 1389. Johanna
Schakespere joined the Guild of Knowle in 1464, and the next enrolment is of Ralph
and Isabella Schakespeire, who paid for Johanna's soul. These entries give
no place of abode, but the date fits for Ralph of Baddesley Clinton.
Wroxall. Almost the next Guild of Knowle entry in 1464
to Ralph's is for Richard and Margery Schakespeire of Wroxall, probably Ralph's
brother. In 1503-4 is the entry 'Orate pro anima Isabella Shakspere
quondam priorissa de Wraxale'. There may be some error of date, since
manor courts were held for Isabella on 17 Apr. 1501 and 3 Nov. 1507.
She may very well be the widow of Ralph of Baddesley Clinton. The earliest Shakespeare on the manor records is
Elizabeth Shakspere, whose copyhold was forfeited for irregular alienation
in 1417. Richard and Margery alone bridge a gap to 1504-5 when
land late of Robert Hutsped of Hatton was
conveyed by William Shakespere of Wroxall and John Shakespere of Rowington
to charity trustees for Wroxall. They were probably executors of
Hutsped, and possibly sons of Richard and Margery. In 1515, on the other
hand, a conveyance was taken for Wroxall charities by William Shakespeare of Rowington and others.
Evidently the two places were closely connected. A William Shakespere,
not necessarily the same as in 1504-5, with a wife Agnes and a son whose
name is lost, took a copyhold for their three lives in 1530.
William is traceable, sometimes as Shakespere, on this holding to 1542. He
is an archer in a muster roll of 1536-7, and is on the subsidy rolls for
1542-4 as late as 10 Mar. 1546.
It is reasonable to identify him and his wife with the William and Agnes
Shakspere, who joined the Guild of Knowle in 1526-7.
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