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shakespear, shakespeare, genealogy, family, history, family history, ancestry, sncestors
Lawrence Shakespeare
of Rowington
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Lawrence Shakespeare is documented over a long period
in Rowington, as confirmed in
'Records of
Rowington,' by J W Ryland. One of the earliest references to him is in
a 1543 Subsidy Roll. Chambers (Appendix
E, Page 363) informs us that he was 'of Lowston End' in about
1559. Between the years 1554 and 1562 he is recorded as leasing a property
called Hill Close. This is a clue to his descendants, for a Thomas
Shakespeare, presumably his son, had Hill Close after him down to 1587-8.
Chambers states 'this was not one of the Mousley End family, but an 'old
Thomas', traceable, apparently as a labourer, in 1585-6.' There is one other clue to Lawrence's identity, as he is surely the same man - for his name is unique - named as a cousin in the will of John Shakespeare (1575), Labourer, of Wroxall. He is here described as 'of Balsall.' Like many other records of the Shakespeares of this period this provides scope for confusion. The explanation is that he probably, like many of his kinsmen, held property in more than one village. The origin of Lawrence's unique Christian name is possibly that the parish church of Rowington, was, and still is, dedicated to St Lawrence. |
January 2005
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