Ward. In 1666[307] there appear in the Hundred of Witham
Thomas Shakesby and Edward Shakesby, a Samuel Shakespeare of the North
End of Hornchurch, and a Samuel Shakespeare of Harold's Wood Ward.

In the Hundred of Chafford, William Shakespeare, gent., of Langdon
Hills, appears among the collectors of the subsidies. It is possible
there may have been many more of the name assessed; but some of the
Rolls are lost and many are decayed in various ways. I have searched
several of the outlying registers without success, but others have found
the name in Romford, Barking, Hornchurch, Rawreth, and Rochester.

In the county where we find an early notice of the family the name
occasionally appears. Mr. J. M. Cowper, Canterbury, tells us that
"Judith filia Leonardi Shakespeare was baptized Feb. 27, 1596-7, at
Warehorne, Kent."[308] The name does not occur again. In Rucking, Kent,
February 24, 1599, John, son of Reginald Shakespear, was baptized, and
on May 30, 1600, Reginald Shakespeare was buried.[309]

Mr. W. J. Lightfoot, the transcriber, says that he is acquainted with
several other neighbouring parishes, and that the name does _not_ occur
in their registers--a statement which, curiously enough, Mr. French
reproduces without the "not."

George Austin and Margaret Shakespeare, of Biddenden, Kent, widow, were
married July 26, 1639.[310]

In the North, where the early Shakespeares were attached to land, they
seem to have survived and spread, as may be seen from the directories of
Northern towns to-day.[311] Ireland, too, owns Shakespeares, possibly
descended from the Thomas of Youghal.

FOOTNOTES:

[266] _Notes and Queries_, Second Series, vi. 285; Third Series, viii.
33. "George, descendant of Humphrey," etc. Mr. Dickenson tells me there
are many of the name in the parish of Bredon.

[267] By fine levied Hil. 1655, Shakespere conveyed tenements in
Inckbarrow, Worcestershire, _Notes and Queries_, Second Series, vii.
336.

[268] There is the will of John Shakespeare, of Newington Bagpath, Cook,
among the Gloucester Wills, Index Library, and in "The Shakespeares of
Dursley," by John Henry Blount, we find James Shakespeare buried at
Bisley, March 13, 1570; Edward, son of John and Margery Shakespeare,
bapt. at Beverston, September 19, 1619. Thomas Shakespeare, weaver, was
married to Joan Turner at Dursley Church, March 3, 1677-78, and of their
children, Edward was bapt. July 1, 1681; Mary, 1682; Thomas, 1685; and
Mary, 169