John Shakespeare

For the 1942-born musician and songwriter, see John Carter (musician)

John Shakespeare (c. 1530 – September 1601) was a glover, farmer and alderman in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was the father of William Shakespeare. As with his son William, only a limited amount is known about John Shakespeare's life. It is possible, although not certain, that he was the son of a Mr. Richard Shakespeare of Snitterfield who was given land for his services to King Henry VII of England.

John Shakespeare was a very successful man during the early part of his career. On October 2, 1556, he purchased a large house in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, which would later be the birthplace of William. He also married Mary Arden, one of the Ardens of Warwickshire, a local gentry family. It is not known when they married, but a date around 1557 is assumed as there is a baptismal record for a "Joan Shakespeare, daughter to John Shakespeare" dated September 15, 1558. The Shakespeares had eight children: Joan (1558), Margaret (1562-63), William (1564-1616), Gilbert (1566-1612), Joan (1569-1646), Anne (1571-79), Richard (1574-1613), and Edmund (1580-1607).

By 1564, John was an alderman, a member of the Common Hall of Stratford, and it was in this year William was born. In 1568 John was appointed High Bailiff. However, John later seems to have fallen on hard times. He was recorded as among several local men who stayed away from Church services for fear of being arrested for debt. Because of this, he eventually lost his position as an alderman. Records suggest that he was also prosecuted for illegal dealing in wool. Such illicit trade would have been profitable to his glove business by avoiding the middleman. He is mentioned in the local records in 1597 when he sold some property to George Badger, a draper. Shakespeare was buried on 8 September 1601.

In the eighteenth century, a tract signed by John Shakespeare, and promising to remain a Catholic in his heart, was found in the rafters of the house on Henley Street. It was seen and described by the scholar Edmund Malone. Though it was subsequently lost, a very similar copy of the formulaic text came to light in the twentieth century which showed the original to be very likely genuine, except for the first leaf which had been forged by John Jordan.