The Shakespeares

of Rotherham, Yorkshire

This family begins with Thomas Shakespeare who, according to the 1851 census, was born about 1811/12 in Keresley - a connection with the other Shakespear family in Keresley has been found: Thomas was the son of Charles Shakespeare of Bulkington, and his wife Mary Millership. No baptism has been found for him, but the records of Moorgate Cemetery where he is buried are quite comprehensive and give his birthplace as Coventry and parents names as Charles & Mary Shakespeare. The same burial records give Thomas's full name as Thomas George Shakespeare. The identification of Thomas's parents is further confirmed by an apprenticeship record, from a transcript by the Coventry Family History Society. This records that in 1825 Thomas Shakespeare of Bulkington aged 13 was apprenticed to Charles Shakespeare, Weaver, (probably his father). His masters parish is given as Coventry, his fathers name Charles and parish St Michaels Coventry.

Thomas's children were all baptised in Coventry. His son William moved to Rotherham in about 1864, and is to be found there at the time of the 1881 census.

Information supplied by John Shakespear and Tracey Briggs