Nicholas Shakespeare

of Wroxall

Although there are records of four (possibly five) different individuals of this name, only one had a direct connection with Wroxall. This was the son of Robert Shakespeare, weaver, who died in 1565 - Nicholas is named as his son in his will. It is quite clear that all of the later Shakespeares in Wroxall descend from this particular Nicholas: virtually all of the entries in the Wroxall parish registers relate to this Nicholas and his descendants, the odd exceptions being isolated females for whom no connection can be established, and the burials of William Shakespeare (Nicholas's uncle - who seemingly left no children) and his wife. Among these descendants can be included Mordecai Shakespeare, later of Aston. Mordecai's origin in Wroxall can be established through his mention (as godson) in the will of Eleanor Thompson. We are not aided here by the near 40 year gap in the parish registers, but it is fairly safe to assume that Mordecai's father was one of Nicholas's sons - but which one cannot be established with any degree of certainty.

This Nicholas is probably the same one as mentioned in the will of John Shakespeare, labourer, of Wroxall, who left him a suit. Admittedly the Nicholas in this will could be either an uncle or a cousin, but definitely not a brother - that this is so can be shown by the fact that the other two Nicholas's alive at this date can be seen to both have brothers named John, and therefore cannot be this John's brother, although some close relationship can be inferred from the name. Chambers is INCORRECT in his summary of this John's will in stating that this Nicholas is John's brother - the will actually gives NO relationship. However, it must be remembered that neither of these Nicholas's had any direct connection with Wroxall. Balanced against this must be the fact that John (labourer) does name a cousin, Lawrence, who was resident in Rowington. Assuming that Nicholas was John's nephew is a useful point in confirming the relationship as brothers of John (the labourer), William (who IS named as his brother in the will) and Robert, the weaver: William was the overseer of his will. These were the only three recorded Shakespeares of this generation resident in Wroxall. Here we may look at another possibility, which is the suggestion that Richard 'the Bailiff' of Wroxall was the father of these three brothers - he was the only male Shakespeare resident in Wroxall of the correct age to be their father: this would, indeed, make the earlier Nicholas's John's ( the labourer) uncle and cousin respectively, if Chambers placement of Richard in the genealogy is correct (there is a slight doubt). He is known to have been married - his wife was named Alice - but the names of his children are not recorded.

Although it is reproduced elsewhere on the site here is Chambers reconstruction:

This Nicholas, unless we are missing another, intervening namesake (who would be his son, or possibly grandson) in Wroxall, seems to have lived to advanced old age, for his burial is recorded in 1645 - remember he appears in his fathers will in 1565, which would place him well in excess of 80 years of age.

It is useful here to look at the other Nicholas Shakespeares, as they form a useful part of the reconstruction of the Shakespeare family as a whole. We are aided in this reconstruction by the tremendously useful pedigree recorded by E K Chambers (see above). The relationships he gives are very convincing, being based on wills and property records which show the descent of various properties through succeeding generations. Modern research since Chambers' time adds a few details.

Chambers records two of the other Nicholas's, both of them of an earlier period than the Wroxall one detailed above. The eldest, Nicholas (i) seems to have lived at Haseley, although the will of his brother John also suggests Hatton. The younger Nicholas (ii) seems to have had several children, although research to date has only the IGI as an indicator. This includes references to two baptisms at 'Bussell'  of children of a Nicholas Shakespeare:

• Nicholas 16 Jan 1579, died 23 Oct 1655. (This seems to be the Nicholas whose will is preserved at the PRO - see also Anthony Shakespeare of Budbrook) - the IGI gives his father's name as Nicholas, who would presumably be Nicholas (ii).

• Thomas 8 Sept 1593, died 21 Sept 1606.

'Bussell' seems to be an American interpretation of an Elizabethan spelling of the place name, which could be Balsall or Beausale. The Nicholas who died in 1655 was the last bearer of the name until modern times - his connection with Budbrooke is interesting because this is also where Anthony Shakespeare was to be found over a century earlier.