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Seeking Shakespeare

Brief Biographical Sketch

His game had witnessed the genius of England’s greatest poet and playwright, but official documents on the life of William Shakespeare is very little indeed, despite extensive searches for them in the last few hundred years. There are some entries in the church registers or other records, church, court documents, some of the legal proceedings, some details of the purchase of the property, a reference to the unpaid taxes, a few mentions of payments from the royal treasury for himself and his fellow actors, and his final will and testament, that is about all that has been found.

We know that William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and grew up in the heart of the English countryside, in the city of Stratford-upon-Avon in the county of Warwickshire in central England. His father, John, was engaged in trade with the gloves and the public functions in several capacities, eventually rising to senior bailiff in Stratford in1568, a similar situation today, the mayor of the town the country. His mother, Mary Arden, was the youngest daughter of Richard Arden, ardens was known and respected family of long standing in the county. Stratford Town’s records seem to indicate that John Shakespeare suffered financial failure by the time William was about fourteen years, however, seems to remain respected member of the group, until his death in 1601, by which time, in 1596, was granted the coat of arms, a symbol of honor and standing as a member of the English aristocracy, which allows you to add the word’Gentleman’male name of Shakespeare.

Existing records Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church, translated from the Latin language in use at the time show that William, son of John Shakespeare was baptized on the 26th april 1564th Although there is no record of the actual date of his birth, it is assumed that under normal procedures at the time, his birthday was probably a few days before the date of baptism 23rd April, the day that fit well with that of England’s patron saint, St George’s Day. It is also the date of Shakespeare’s death and fifty-two years later in 1616th

There is no evidence of William Shakespeare’s school, but it is assumed he attended the local grammar school, but did not go to university.

Only eighteen years after his baptism entries there any other official reference to William Shakespeare when he is 27 November 1582, after posting a significant bond damages, Bishop of Worcester office of the court granted a certificate authorizing the marriage between William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway of Shottery, a small village near Stratford. Hathaway and Shakespeare family were acquainted with the previous dealings with him. Anne was the eldest of eight children twice married Richard Hathaway, a farmer, who died the year before.