List of Non-literary References
to William Shakespeare of
Stratford-upon-Avon
Contents
Entries in the lists below contain the following information, in order:
- the year the document was written or printed, as near as we can tell
(or, if the precise year is not known, a range of most likely years);
- a description of the document;
- the date of the document, if known;
- Shakespeare's name as it appears in the document, with some context if
appropriate;
- if the document is handwritten, a note of that fact along with the
name of the writer, if known;
- if the document is printed, a note of that fact along with the name of
the printer and publisher, if known;
- a note of where to find a transcription of the document, including
volume and page number; for handwritten documents, this is
followed by a note of where to find a facsimile of the original, for
readers who wish to check transcriptions for themselves.
In some cases all we have is a transcription of a document known to have
been written earlier; in such cases the reference is listed under the year
when the extant document was written (as near as we can tell) with the
year of the original added in parentheses. For example, all the Stratford
Parish Register entries we have from before 1600 are transcriptions from
the now-lost original, made in 1600 (probably by the vicar, Richard
Byfield) because of a decree that all paper records be transcribed onto
more permanent parchment. Since it is the spelling of the name
"Shakespeare" in particular documents that is at issue here, and since we
have no way of knowing whether the transcription follows the original
entries in spelling, I have treated the pre-1600 Parish Register entries
as documents from 1600. Similarly, several of the printed literary
references were printed several years after they were actually written;
these are listed under the year they actually appeared in print, with the
probable date of writing added in parentheses.
The following abbreviations are used:
- EKC = E. K. Chambers, William Shakespeare: A Study of the
Facts and Problems (1930) (2 volumes; thus EKC I = volume I,
EKC II = volume II)
- HP = J. O. Halliwell-Phillips, Outlines of the Life of
Shakespeare (9th edition, 1890) (2 volumes, distinguished as with EKC).
- SS = Samuel Schoenbaum, William Shakespeare: A Documentary
Life (1975)
- SS2 = Samuel Schoenbaum, William Shakespeare: Records and
Images (1981)
- Wallace = Charles William Wallace, "New Light on Shakespeare"
(Part 2), The Times (London), May 1, 1914, p. 4.
1582 (Entry of License in the Bishop of Worcester's Register; Nov. 27)
"Wm Shaxpere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 41; facs. SS, 70)
1582 (Bond of Sureties; Nov. 28)
"William Shagspere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 41; facs. SS, 63)
1588 (Bill of complaint in Queen's Bench case of Shakespeare v. Lambert)
"Willielmo Shackespere"
"Willielmo Shackespere" (in same document, John's surname
spelled "Shackespere" (11x),
"Shackspere" (2x), "Shackspeare" (1x)
(handwritten) (EKC II, 35)
1594 (Record of payment to Chamberlain's Men; December 28)
"Will. Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 319; facs. SS, 136)
1596 (Writ for sureties of the peace by William Wayte; Michaelmas
Term)
"William Shakspere"
(handwritten) (SS, 146, with facs.)
1597 (Exemplification of Fine for purchase of New Place; Stratford; May 4)
"Willielmum Shakespeare"
"Willielmi Shakespeare"
"Willielmo Shakespeare"
"Willielmo Shakespeare"
"WIllielmus Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 95-96; facs. SS, 174)
1597 (List of tax defaulters, St. Helen's parish, London; November 15)
"William Shackspere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 87; facs. SS, 162)
1598 (letter from Abraham Sturley to Richard Quiney; January 24)
"Mr. Shaksper"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 101)
1598 (Noate of corne & malte; Stratford; February 4)
"Wm. Shackespere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 99; facs. SS, 179)
1598 (List of tax defaulters, St. Helen's parish, London; October 1)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 87; facs. SS, 162)
1598 (address of letter from Richard Quiney to Shakespeare;
October 25)
"Mr. Wm. Shackespere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 102; facs. SS, 180)
1598 (letter from Adrian Quiney to Richard Quiney; c. October 30)
"Mr. Sha."
(handwritten) (EKC II, 103)
1598 (letter from Abraham Sturley to Richard Quiney; November 4)
"Mr. Wm. Shak."
(handwritten) (EKC II, 103)
1598 (Chamber Account of Stratford; Christmas)
"mr. Shaxspere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 96; facs. SS, 179)
1598-9 (List of tax defaulters, St. Helen's parish, London)
"Willelmus Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 88; facs. SS, 162)
1599 (Inventory of property of Thomas Brend, whose son Sir Nicholas
owned the grounds on which the Globe stood; May 16)
"Willielmi Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (Wallace)
1599 (List of tax defaulters; Residuum London of Pipe Roll for 1598-9;
October 6))
"Willelmus Shakspeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 88; facs. SS, 163)
1600 (1564) (Baptisms, Stratford Parish Register; April 26)
"Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere"
(handwritten; probably Richard Byfield) (EKC II, 1; facs. SS, 21))
1600 (1583) (Baptisms, Stratford Parish Register; May 26)
"Susanna daughter of William Shakspere"
(handwritten; Richard Byfield) (HP II, 51; facs. SS, 76)
1600 (1585) (Baptisms, Stratford Parish Register; February 2)
"Hamnet & Judeth sonne and daughter to William Shakspere"
(handwritten; Richard Byfield) (EKC II, 3; facs. SS, 76)
1600 (1596) (Burials, Stratford Parish Register; August 11)
"Hamnet filius William Shakspere"
(handwritten; Richard Byfield) (EKC II, 4; facs. SS, 164)
1600 (List of tax defaulters; Residuum Sussex of Pipe Roll for 1599-
1600; October 6)
"Willelmus Shakspeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 88; facs. SS, 163)
1601 (Will of Thomas Whittington of Shottery; Worcester Probate
Registry; March 25)
"Mr. Wyllyam Shaxspere"
"Wyllyam Shaxspere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 42; facs. SS, 68)
1601 (Deed transfering the Globe and other Southwark properties
from Nicholas Brend to Sir Matthew Brown and John
Collett as security for a 2500-pound debt; October 7)
"Richard Burbadge and William Shackspeare gent."
(handwritten) (Wallace)
1601 (Updated deed for the above transaction; October 10)
"Richard Burbage and William Shakspeare gentlemen"
(handwritten) (Wallace)
1602 (Diary of John Manningham; March 13)
"Shakespeare"
"Shakespeare"
(handwritten; John Manningham) (EKC II, 212; facs. SS, 152)
1602 (Conveyance of land in Old Stratford by William and John
Combe to Shakespeare; May 1)
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
"William Shakespere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 107 (part); HP II, 17 (full); facs. SS, 189)
1602 (Copy of entry in Court Roll of Rowington Manor, relating to
Shakespeare's purchase of a cottage on Chapel Lane; September 28)
"Willielmi Shackespere"
"Willielmus Shakespere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 111; facs. SS, 191)
1602 (Foot of Fine for New Place; Michaelmas term)
"Willielmum Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 96; facs. SS, 175)
1603 (Warrant under Signet Seal for Royal letters patent creating the
King's Men; May 17)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (HP II, 82; facs. SS, 197)
1603 (Royal letters patent creating the King's Men; May 19)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 72; facs. SS, 197))
1603-1616 (endorsement on lease of property east of New Place;
Stratford)
"Mr. William Shaxpeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 96)
1604 (Shakespeare v. Rogers; note of hearing in Court of Record)
"Willielmus Shexpere"
"Willielmo Shexpere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 113 (part); HP II, 77 (full); facs.
SS, 182)
1604 (From Account of Sir George Home, Master of the Great Wardrobe,
for the Proceeding of King James through London on March 15,
1604; R.O. Chamberlain's Books)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 73; facs. SS, 199)
1604 (Survey of Rowington Manor; relates to Chapel Lane cottage;
October 24)
"William Shakespere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 112; facs. SS, 191)
1605 (Will of Augustine Phillips; May 4)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 73; facs. SS, 204)
1605 (Assignment of interest in lease of tithes from Ralph Huband to
Shakespeare; July 24)
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
"Shakespeare"
"William Shakespear"
"William Shakespear"
(handwritten; Francis Collins) (EKC II, 119 (part);
HP II, 19 (full); facs. SS, 193)
1606 (Survey of Rowington Manor; relates to Chapel Lane cottage;
August 1)
"Willielmus Shakespere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 112)
1608 (Deed transferring the Globe and other properties from
John Collett to John Bodley; November 11)
"Richard Burbadge & William Shakespeare gent"
(handwritten) (Wallace)
1608 (Arrest warrant for John Addenbrooke, related to suit by
Shakespeare; December 17)
"Willielmo Shackspeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 114)
1608 (Precept to empanel jury for Shakespeare v. Addenbrooke;
December 21)
"Willielmum Shackspeare"
(handwritten) (HP II, 78)
1608 (List of potential jurors in Shakespeare v. Addenbrooke; no date)
"Willielmum Shakespere"
(handwritten) (HP II, 78)
1609 (Precept to bind jurors to appear in court; February 15)
"Willielmum Shackspeare"
(handwritten) (HP II, 78)
1609 (List of jurors in Shakespeare v. Addenbrooke; no date)
"Willielmum Shackspere"
(handwritten) (HP II, 78; facs. SS, 183)
1609 (Precept to arrest Addenbrooke, related to suit by Shakespeare;
March 15)
"Willielmo Shackspere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 115)
1609 (Shakespeare v. Addenbrooke, Stratford Court of Record; June 7)
"Willielmus Shackspeare"
"Willielmo Shackspeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 115)
1610 (Fine relating to purchase of land in Old Stratford)
"Willielmum Shakespere"
"Willielmi Shakespere"
"Willielmo Shakespere"
"Willielmo Shakespere"
"Willielmo Shakespere"
"Willielmus Shakespere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 109)
1611 (Bill of Complaint for Chancery suit of Richard Lane et al. v.
Dominus Carewe et al.; relates to Shakespeare's holdings of tithes)
"William Shackspeare"
"William Shackspeare"
"William Shackspeare"
"William Shackspeare"
"Shakspeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 122; HP II, 25)
1611 (Contribution list for Highways Bill; September 11)
"Mr. William Shackspere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 153; facs. SS, 229)
1611 (Inventory of goods of Robert Johnson, late of Stratford; October 5)
"Mr. Shaxper"
(handwritten; Alexander Aspinall) (EKC II, 32)
1612 (Bellott v. Mountjoy, deposition of Joan Johnson; May 11)
"Mr. Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 90 (relevant part); facs. SS2, 27)
1612 (Bellott v. Mountjoy, deposition of Daniell Nicholas; May 11)
"Wm: Shakespeare"
"Shakespeare"
"Sh"
"Shakespere"
"Shakespe"
"Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 90 (relevant part); facs. SS2, 28)
1612 (Bellott v. Mountjoy, deposition of William Shakespeare; May 11)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 91; facs. SS, 212 and SS2, 30)
1612 (Signature on above; May 11)
"Willm Shakp"
(handwritten; William Shakespeare)(EKC II, 92; facs.
SS, 212 and SS2, 30)
1612 (Note in margin of second set of interrogatories in Bellott-
Mountjoy case; June 19)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (SS2, 39; facs. SS2, 31)
1612 (Bellott v. Mountjoy, deposition of Daniell Nicholas; June 19)
"Mr. William Shakespeare"
"Mr. Shakespeare"
"Shakespeare"
"Mr. Shakespeare"
"Mr. Shakespeare"
"Mr. Shakespeare"
"Mr. Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 93 (relevant part); facs. SS, 210 and
SS2, 32)
1612 (Bellott v. Mountjoy, deposition of William Eaton; June 19)
"Mr. Shakespeare"
"Mr. Shakespeare"
"Mr. Shakespeare" (crossed out)
(handwritten) (EKC II, 93 (relevant part); facs. SS2, 34)
1612 (Bellott v. Mountjoy, deposition of Nowell Mountjoy; June 19)
"Mr. Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 93 (relevant part); facs. SS2, 37)
1613 (Will of John Combe; January 28)
"Mr. William Shackspere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 127; facs. SS, 187)
1613 (Conveyance for Blackfriars Gatehouse; March 10)
(2 copies exist, one of which lacks the last mention of
Shakespeare's name)
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 154 (part); HP II, 31 (full); facs. SS, 221)
1613 (Signature on above)
"William Shakspe~"
(handwritten; William Shakespeare)(EKC II, 157)
1613 (Mortgage for Blackfriars Gatehouse; March 11)
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 157 (part); HP II, 34 (full); facs. SS, 225)
1613 (Signature on above)
"Wm Shakspe~"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 158)
1613 (Account of Thomas Screvin, steward to Francis Manners,
6th Earl of Rutland; for making an impresa; March 31)
"Mr. Shakspeare"
(handwritten; Thomas Screvin?) (EKC II, 153; facs. SS, 220)
1614 (Survey of freeholders in Oldstratford and Welcombe; September 5)
"Mr. Shakspeare"
(handwritten; Thomas Greene) (EKC II, 141; facs. SS, 231)
1614 (Articles between Shakespeare and William Replingham; related to
enclosure; October 28)
"William Shackespeare"
"William Shackespeare"
"William Shackespeare"
"William Shackespeare"
"William Shackespeare"
"William Shackespeare"
"William Shackespeare"
"Mr. Shakspeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 141; facs. SS, 232)
1614 (Diary of Thomas Greene; November 17)
"Shakspeare"
(handwritten; Thomas Greene) (EKC II, 142; facs. SS, 233,
and SS2, 76)
1614 (Diary of Thomas Greene; December 23)
"Mr. Shakspeare"
"my Cosen Shakespeare"
(handwritten; Thomas Greene) (EKC II, 143; facs. SS2, 78)
1615 (Diary of Thomas Greene; January 9)
"Mr. Shakspeare"
(handwritten; Thomas Greene) (EKC II, 143; facs. SS2, 80)
1615 (Diary of Thomas Greene; January 11)
"my cosen Shakspeare"
(handwritten; Thomas Greene) (SS2, 83; facs. SS2, 82)
1615 (Bill of Complaint in Bendishe, et al. v. Bacon; April 26)
"Willyam Shakespere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 159)
1615 (Answer to Bill of Complaint in Bendishe et al. v. Bacon; May 5)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 161)
1615 (Diary of Thomas Greene; September)
"W Shakspeare"
(handwritten; Thomas Greene) (EKC II, 143; facs. SS2, 86)
1615 (From Plea of Thomasina Ostler in suit of Ostler v. Heminges,
Coram Rege Roll 1454; October 9)
"Willelmum Shakespeare"
"Willelmo Shakespeare"
"Willelmo Shakespeare"
"Willelmo Shakespeare"
"Willelmus Shakespeare"
"Willelmus Shakespeare"
"Willelmus Shakespeare"
"Willelmus Shakespeare"
"Willelmo Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 58-63)
1616 (Cast list of Every Man In His Humour in Ben Jonson's Works)
"Will. Shakespeare"
(printed) (EKC II, 71)
1616 (Cast list of Sejanus in Ben Jonson's Works)
"Will. Shake-Speare"
(printed) (EKC II, 72)
1616 (Shakespeare's Will; March 25)
"William Shackspeare"
"William Shackspeare"
"William Shackspere"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 170; facs. SS, 243-5)
1616 (Signatures on above)
"William Shakspere"
"Willm Shakspere"
"William Shakspeare"
(handwritten; William Shakespeare) (EKC II, 171)
1616 (Burials, Stratford Parish Register; April 25)
"Will. Shakspere, Gent"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 8; facs. SS, 250)
1616-22 (Monument in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford)
"Shakspeare"
(engraved in stone) (EKC II, 182)
1617 (Estreats of Rowington Court Rolls; relates to Chapel Lane
cottage; April 18)
"Wm. Shakespere" (referred to as deceased)
(handwritten) (EKC II, 112)
1619 (Answer of John Heminges and Henry Condell in suit of Witter
v. Heminges
and Condell (Court of Requests); April 28)
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 52-57)
1622 (Indenture transferring the Globe and other properties
to Matthew Brend; February 21)
"Richard Burbage and William Shakespeare, gent."
(handwritten) (Wallace)
1623 (Anne Shakespeare's grave marker, Stratford)
"Anne wife of William Shakespeare"
(engraved on brass marker) (EKC II, 9)
1623 (Cast list in First Folio)
"William Shakespeare"
(printed) (EKC II, 77)
1624 (Deed assigning the use of the Globe to Sir Mathew Brend's
new wife Frances; March 12)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (Wallace)
1633 (Deed describing the properties of Sir Mathew Brend)
"William Shakespeare"
(handwritten) (Wallace)
1635 (John Hall's gravestone, Stratford)
"Will: Shakespeare, Gent."
(engraved on stone) (EKC II, 11)
1635 (Answer of Cuthbert Burbadge, Winifred Robinson, and William
Burbadge to Petition of Robert Benfield and Heliard Swanston
to the Lord Chamberlain; R.O. Lord Chamberlain's Books;
c. August 1)
"Shakspere"
"Shakspeare"
(handwritten) (EKC II, 66)
To Essay on the Spelling of Shakespeare's
Name.
To List of references to Shakespeare as Author/Poet/Playwright.
Back to Shakespeare Authorship home page.