John Shakespeare

John Shakespeare (c. 1530 in Snitterfield to Stratford -upon -Avon; buried September 8, 1601 in Stratford- upon- Avon ) was the father of William Shakespeare.

John Shakespeare - Contemporary usually written " Shakespeare " - was born in 1530 as son of Richard Shakespeare, a simple farmer from the village of Snitterfield, which lies a few kilometers north-east of Stratford- upon- Avon. Despite his humble origins, he reached later in life a respected position in society. By profession he was Glover ( glover ) and " whittawer " (ie, he produced things made ​​of soft white leather). For the first time on record in 1552 John Shakespeare was - for a Unrathaufen front of his house he paid a shilling penalty. In the following years he held a number of municipal activities: in 1556 he was " Borough Ale key", which was also responsible for the compliance of measurements and prices in the district except for the quality of the beer. Two years later he rose to the " constable ", that is, a sort of policeman on. From 1559 he took over the offices of the " affeeror " ( mediator ), the " burgess " (citizen representative), 1562 " chamberlain " ( city treasurer ) and was one of 14 aldermen ( alderman ). 1568 John Shakespeare finally "high bailiff " ( mayor) of Stratford, where he had not indeed get most tuners, but the only one appeared to investiture.

He improved his social position, especially by marriage (probably 1557) with Mary Arden, a daughter of Robert Arden, his lease Lord.

John and Mary Shakespeare had eight children, three of whom died at an early stage:

• Joan (1558-1569)
• Margaret (1562-1563)
• William (1564-1616)
• Gilbert (1566-1611)
• Joan (1569-1646)
• Anne (1571-1579)
• Richard (1574-1612)
• Edmund (1580-1607)

In the 1570s, John Shakespeare applied for a coat of arms for his family, but his request was rejected. 1596 then asked his son, William Shakespeare, then already a famous actor, playwright and London businessman, a coat of arms for his father. This was granted in 1599. It shows, among other things, the colors of the Arden family and the motto "non sans droict " ( " not without reason ").

As of 1576 it came to the severe economic crisis of Shakespeare: distressed sales and debt were the result, John Shakespeare did not go to the council, of which he was eventually ruled out in 1586. Perhaps William had to stop his schooling at this time.

Some hints in the sources are often interpreted in the sense that John Shakespeare adhered to Catholicism, although this was forbidden his time in England. His economic decline is associated with the intense persecution of Catholics of the 1570s and 1580s - years. The Catholics refused to attend the Anglican church, which is why the authorities did capture by agents churchgoers and increasingly imposed heavy fines. It seems that even Shakespeare did not go out in the 1570s - years in the church. The thesis of the crypto- Catholicism of the Shakespeare family is very controversial despite intensive discussion.

In the 18th century Shakespeare scholar Edmond Malone described him an existing document documenting that had been signed by John Shakespeare, in which he had declared his loyalty to the Catholic Church. The text of the declaration was a font of Cardinal Carlo Borromeo. The authenticity of the document is disputed, is now considered likely that it is a fake.