1. John Shakespeare was a mason in Dursley from 1704 to 1739;
and Thomas Shakespeare had a seat-place allotted him in 1739. Betty
Shakespeare received poor money from 1747 till 1754. Some still exist in
the adjoining parish of Newington Bagpath, and claim kindred with the
poet.

[269] Edward Shakespeare of Syresham, 1626-30; Thomas Shakespeare of
Litchborough, 1610-41 (Northamptonshire and Rutland Wills, Index
Library).

[270] _Notes and Queries_, First Series, vii. 405 and 546.

[271] A John Shakespeare of Finchhampstead, Berkshire, made his will in
1644. See Berkshire Wills.

[272] _Notes and Queries_, First Series, vii. 405 and 546.

[273] State Papers, Domestic Series, Jac. I., ix. 72.

[274] Lay Subsidies, Leicester, Goodlaxton, 39 Elizabeth, Wigston Parva,
134/235 and 134/254.

[275] Hist. Man. Com., vol. iii., Report 1872, p. 190.

[276] Ancient Records of Leicester, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Society, 1855,
and _Notes and Queries_, Third Series, v. 383.

[277] Admission Books, Staple Inn, vol. i., f. 58, and French,
"Shakespeareana Genealogica," 542.

[278] From the Register of St. Gregory by St. Paul's, London.

[279] "Dict. Nat. Biography."

[280] _Notes and Queries_, Fifth Series, viii. 386.

[281] See p. 15.

[282] Proved November 4, 1643, by his relict Elizabeth.

[283] _Notes and Queries_, Third Series, viii. 124.

[284] "Catalogue of Oxford Graduates," Clarendon Press.

[285] _Notes and Queries_, Second Series, xii. 469.

[286] French, "Shakspeareana Genealogica."

[287] _Notes and Queries_, Seventh Series, vi. 344. See "Liber Actorum,"
Bodleian Library.

[288] Somerset House, 88 Bruce, proved July 1, 1664.

[289] The Hearth Tax for Isleworth, 1666, 252/32, notes "Ralph
Shakespeare 2 hearths, Widow Shakespeare 1 hearth."

[290] Elizabeth Shakspere, of St. Werbergs, Derby, made her will 1558.
Pegge's "Collection for the History of Derbyshire" contains a sheet of
printed verses "on the death of the Rev. Mr. Shakespear" (Nichols's
"Col. Top. and Gen.," iii. 244).

[291] Wills of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

[292] See _Genealogical Magazine_, January, 1898.

[293] _Notes and Queries_, Fourth Series, iv. 275.

[294] Hampshire Marriage Licences.

[295] _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol. lxxvii., p. 280.

[296] Aubrey's "Natural History of Wiltshire," 1680.

[297] Manning and Bray's "Surrey," vol. ii.

[298] "Misc. Gen. et Herald.," Second Series, vol. ii. Register of
Todding