Edmund Shakespeare (bef. 1580 - bef. 1607)

Born before 3 May 1580 in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Ancestors

Died before 31 Dec 1607 at about age 27 in London, England

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Biography

Edmund Shakespeare was born in Warwickshire, England.

Edmund Shakespeare was the eighth and youngest child of John Shakespeare, glover, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, and his wife Mary Arden.^[1]

He was baptised on 3 May 1580 at Holy Trinity, Stratford, and entered in the parish register as "Edmund sonne to m^r John Shakspere."^[2][3] He was possibly named after his uncle, Edmund Lambert.^[1]

He followed his brother William to London and became a professional actor in one of the playing companies. Almost nothing is known about his theatrical career, which suggests it was not especially noteworthy.^[1]

He possibly fathered a son out of wedlock in 1607. Edward, the child, was probably baptised at St Leonard, Shoreditch, on 12 July 1607.^[4] He died in infancy and was buried at St Giles, Cripplegate on 12 August 1607.^[1] He is described in the register of burials as:

Edward, sonne of Edward Shackspeere, Player : base borne.^[5]

Edmund died at age 27 and was buried in the church of St Saviour, Southwark, on 31 December 1607.^[6][7] The parish church's monthly accounts record:

Dec. 31. Edmund Shakespeare, a player, buried in the church. with a forenoone knell of the great bell ..... 20^s[5]

It was an expensive funeral and ten times the cost of a simple burial in the churchyard. It is speculated that his prosperous brother William might have paid for the burial.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} S. Schoenbaum, William Shakespeare A Compact Documentary Life, Oxford University Press, 1977, pages 28-9. Internet Archive (accessed 21 Apr 2020)
2. ↑ Richard Savage, The registers of Stratford-on-Avon, in the County of Warwick, Baptisms, 1558-1652 , London: privately printed, 1897, page 30. Internet Archive (accessed 21 Apr 2020)
3. ↑ 'Parish register entry recording Edmund Shakespeare's baptism', 3 May 1580, Shakespeare Documented, Folger Shakespeare Library (accessed 21 Apr 2020)
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line]. Entry for Edward Shakesby, 12 Jul 1607, baptised (accessed 21 Apr 2020); citing London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P91/LEN/A/001/MS07493. Ancestry Record 1624 #7319410. Free Ancestry Image.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} J. P. Collier, Memoirs of the Principal Actors in the Plays of Shakespeare, London: Shakespeare Society, 1846, pages xiii-xvi. Google Books (accessed 21 Apr 2020)
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line]. Entry for Edmond Shakespeare, 31 Dec 1607, burial (accessed 21 Apr 2020); citing London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P92/SAV/3001.Ancestry Record 1624 #3023542. Free Ancestry Image.
7. ↑ 'Parish register entry recording Edmund Shakespeare's burial', 31 Dec 1607, Shakespeare Documented, Folger Shakespeare Library (accessed 21 Apr 2020)

See also:

• Wikipedia: Edmund Shakespeare