The Shakespeares of Little Packington

Much of the information in this section comes from John Shepherd, who converted the derelict and disused Church of St Bartholomew at Little Packington into a dwelling. More information on this restoration and the history of Little Packington and it's people can be found on his website, now administered by his son Iain.

Further details came be seen in the sections on the Parish Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, and also in the Wills associated with Packington, together with records of the Church Seating Plan and a List of Churchwardens. See also the Manorial Records.

The Shakespeare Memorial in St Bartholomews Church

Near the south door is an eighteenth-century marble wall monument to four generations of the Shakespeare family (right). While the church was out of use, vandals damaged the memorial. The Shakespeare Arms, urns, and bird crest are now in fragments, as is the winged skull at the base. photograph courtesy National Monuments Record (Interestingly, this family seems to use the same Coat of Arms as that granted to the Poets family as do the family at nearby Fillongley - both of these families consistently use the name George - unusual at this period - as does the family at Arley, where later members of the Fillongley family lived)

The monument in 1941 The inscription reads: Near this place was Interred GEORGE SHAKESPEARE of PACKENTON PARVA Gent. THOMAS SHAKESPEARE Gent. And GRACE his Wife. THOMAS SHAKESPEARE Gent. and MARY his wife. Which Mary was Daughter of WILLIAM LAPETH Gent. They had issue Two Sons and Two Daughters, THOMS, GEORGE, MARY and GRACE. GEORGE SHAKESPEARE He Departed this Life The 27th of May 1725 Aged 43. By whom this Monument was Erected In a pious regard to the Memory of his Great Grand Father, Grand Father, Grand Mother, Father and Mother, Brother and himself, 1726

The Shakespeare memorial today

The monument in Little Packington Church, supplemented with information from the Parish Registers, gives the following 'Family Tree':

Supplementary information from other sources adds a few details to this as follows:

George, at the head of this 'tree' is almost certainly the George Shakespeare who married at Gnosall, Staffordshire:

• married 29 August 1628, Gnosall, George Shakespeare of Little Parkingstone and Joyce Forster [Source: 1987 excerpt from Staffordshire Marriage Index]

'Little Parkingstone' is most likely Little Packington - Gnosall was quite some distance away, situated midway between Stafford and Newport in Shropshire!: no other records of Shakespeares have been found in this area at this period.

It will be noted that George had a granddaughter named Joyce.

Although the age given on the monument at Fillongley does not quite agree, George Shakespeare, bapt 1658 at Little Packington, son of Thomas & Grace, is probably the George Shakespeare recorded on the monument in Fillongley Church, and ancestor of subsequent generations there.

Revised September 2004