Benjamin Shakespeare & Elizabeth Brettle,

of Woodside, Dudley

The 1861 census gives a birthdate for Benjamin of around 1812. One likely candidate indicated by current research is a brother of the Henry Shakespeare who emigrated to Australia. Both Henry (1811) and Benjamin (1813) were baptised at St Mary, Kingswinford, although their father, Joseph, lived at Netherton.

If this is the correct Benjamin, then for some curious reason he is not mentioned in the will of Joseph Shakespeare, who died in 1855.

Another possibility is the Benjamin born 1814 (although the 1861 census indicates a birthdate of around 1812 for Benjamin) son of Edward Shakespeare & Mary Boxley - Edward is known to have been living in Woodside, where Benjamin and many of his descendants lived.