William Shakespeare's marriage license to Anne Whateley and the marriage bond to Anne Hathaway, an alternative theory

Date: 1582 [unknown]
Location: Worcester Cathedral, Worcester, Worcestershire, England
Surname/tag: shakespeare hathaway whateley hoare

An alternative theory on the name of Anne Whateley given on the marriage license to William Shakespeare and the name Anne Hathaway given on the marriage bond the next day at Worcester Cathedral.

Also when William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway went to Worcester Cathedral in 1582, Humphrey Hoare (1555-1638) had taken up positions at Worcester Cathedral as a Notarye Public, a proctor, a precentor and Church Chorister, and was also referred to as a 'Channter of the Quire'. This brings us on to another story, the possible connection between Humphrey Hoare and the character 'Humfrey Hower, in Richard III. (see Richard III Act 4. Scene 4. Faith, none but Humfrey Hower,)

There has been a lot of conjecture about why in the Bishop of Worcester's Register dated the 27 November 1582, the register records that a license was granted to William Shakespeare (abt.1564-1616) and Anne Whateley of Temple Grafton.

But then the next day a marriage bond was issued to William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway of Stratford-upon-Avon. Many scholars believe that it may be just a spelling mistake as the register may have been copied from the original.

Normally people would get married in the brides local parish church, and marriage banns would be read on three consecutive Sundays.

William Shakespeare was only 18 years old, therefore classed as under age, as the age for being an adult was 21. The other factor was that Anne Hathaway was 26 years old and about 3 months pregnant. The only other way to get permission to marry quite quickly was to get permission from the local Bishop, in this case the Bishop of Worcester was John Whitgift (1533-1604) who was Bishop of Worcester 1577-1583.

William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway travelled to Worcester Cathedral with two witnesses, and on 27 November 1582 there is an entry recorded in the Bishop of Worcester's register, that a license was granted to William Shakespeare and Anne Whateley of Temple Grafton. The entry reads.

“Item eodem die similis emanauit licencia inter Wm Shaxpere et Anna Whateley de Temple grafton.”^[1]

(Source - Shakespeare Documented. b716.093 BA 2648/10 (i), folio 43 verso and 44 recto)

The next day a marriage bond was issued to William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, saying that there was nothing to prevent the marriage taking place and that the Bishop would be safeguarded from any future objections.

The marriage bond^[2] is dated 28 November 1582 and reads -

Noverint universi per praesentes nos Fulconem Sandells de Stratford in comitatu Warwici agricolam et Johannem Rychardson ibidem agricolam, teneri et firmiter obligari Ricardo Cosin generoso et Roberto Warmstry notario publico in quadraginta libris bonae et legalis monetae Angliae solvend. eisdem Ricardoet Roberto haered. execut. et assignat. suis ad quam quidem solucionem bene et fideliter faciend. obligamus nos et utrumque nostrum per se pro toto et in solid. haered. executor. et administrator. nostros firmiter per praesentes sigillis nostris sigillat. Dat. 28 die Novem. Anno regni dominae nostrae Eliz. Dei gratia Angliae Franc. et Hiberniae Reginae fidei defensor &c.25.2

The condition of this obligation is such that if hereafter there shall not appear any lawful let or impediment by reason of any precontract, consanguinity, affinity or by any other lawful means whatsoever, but that William Shagspere on the one party and Anne Hathwey of Stratford in the diocese of Worcester, maiden, may lawfully solemnize matrimony together, and in the same afterwards remain and continue like man and wife according unto the laws in that behalf provided...

(Source - Shakespeare Documented. The Shakespeare marriage bond x 797 BA 2783)

There could be a possible alternative explanation for this, and to why her name was recorded as Anne Whateley, then Anne Hathaway the next day.

It was very unusual for a female, at that time at the age of 26 not to be married. My theory is that Anne Hathaway had previously married a member of the Whateley family who certainly held property in Henley Street at that time.

In 1504 There was a Release by William Pruddon, clerk, to Robert Hoore and Elizabeth his wife, late the wife of William Roose, of all his right in a messuage in Stratford on Avon, in a street called 'Henley strete,' which Pruddon formerly had with Thomas Clopton, esquire, Philip Whateley, and John Hannys of the gift of Thomas Goolde, lokyer. 1 October, 20 Henry VII. [Warwickshire] Reference

C 146/2669. (Source -The National Archives, Records of the Chancery, Ancient Deeds, Series C. C 146/2669)

(As we know William Shakespeare's father later bought a property in Henley Street.)

1534

Bond of obligation by Richard Hyll of Straford upon Abon 'plowghewryght', to Thomas Whateley, master of the Gild of the town of Straford, William Phillips, Thomas Taylour, Oliuer Lyghtfoute, Hugh Raynoldes, Henry Samwell, John Combes, Thomas Phillips and Henry Hyll, aldermen, and Henry Bedull' and Robert Honyate, proctors of the same Gild, in £6. 13s. 4d. to be paid in the feast of St. John the Baptist next following; to perform covenants in a lease of a tenement and garden in Henley strete, BRT1/2/565 With notarial mark of R[oger] E[gynton]

Seal of red wax, circular. A squirrel. [? IES]VS ME(RCI ?]

Dated 26 November, 26 Henry VIII 1534

(Source - Document held at Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust, English, Latin, 10 by 4¼ inches. BRT1/2/564)

There are many more documents relating to the Whateley family at that time, and as we can see they also held property in Henley Street.

I think that there is a good possibility that Anne Hathaway had been previously married to a member of the Whateley family, which is why she gave her name initially as Anne Whateley, then corrected it the next day to Anne Hathaway.

(More to come)

Sources

1. ↑ Entry in the Bishop's register concerning the marriage of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway https://shakespearedocumented.folger.edu/resource/document/entry-bishops-register-concerning-marriage-william-shakespeare-and-anne-hathaway
2. ↑ The Shakespeare Marriage Bond https://shakespearedocumented.folger.edu/resource/document/shakespeare-marriage-bond

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