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Richard Shakespeare
Weaver, of Rowington
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This Richard is quite possibly the Richard mentioned in
the will of John, son of John & Joanna, of Rowington, in 1546, among his
brothers and sisters (named as such) but not here specifically referred to
as a brother. Other authors, notably Chambers have taken the Richard in
the will to be Richard, 'Bailiff of Wroxall.' There are a number of similarities
between the two Richard's, however, as both died around the same time (the
Bailiff disappears from the records in Wroxall around 1559, and Richard
Shakespeare, Weaver, of Rowington, died in 1561. It seems both (if they
are distinct) also had
wives named Alice, and at least one family in Wroxall - possibly the
Bailiff's descendants - followed the same trade of weaver. It should here
be remembered that the Rowington weaver appears in records in Rowington
during the period that his namesake appears in Wroxall. However, it should
also be considered that Richard 'the Bailiff' is also extensively
recorded in Haseley/ Hatton during this time, including a specific
reference to him being resident there, so it is equally possible that he
held property in Rowington during this same period. It is interesting to
note that the will of John Shakespeare of Rowington, which mentions
Richard, does make reference to 'all the rest of my brothers and
sisters in Hatton.' One overiding fact which points to them being two
different individuals is that the 'Bailliff's' wife was Alice Wodham,
while the wife of Richard 'the Weaver' appears to have been Alice Reeve
(as stated by Fripp), and the facts for the 'Bailiff' fit with him being
the son of John & Eleanor, of Wroxall. So on balance, the arguments
appear to be in favour of them being two different individuals, in spite
of the similarities. It is important to note that in the case of Richard, and also that of John (married to Joanna) of Rowington, that Fripp (Shakespeare's Haunts', pages 68-69) makes an error in the identification of their father, stating him to have married twice - making his second wife Eleanor (later Cox) - and having a son, Anthony, by this second marriage: Chambers rightly points out that Joanna was still alive - and in fact outlived her husband - so he could not have been married to Eleanor, who was in fact the wife of a different John. In 1548 Richard held land in Back Lane, Church End, called 'Le Hilles.' In 1551-2 he leased 'Les Tyinges.' His will of 1560 was proved by John Shakespeare and Richard Saunders, and mentions his brothers-in-law, John and William Reeve. He was succeeded by his son, another Richard. This Richard succeeded to both the copyhold and the lease, which he held in 1561 and is still recorded as occupying as late as 1604-6. He died in 1613 and was succeeded by a third Richard, who died in 1614, barely a year after his father. This Richard, and his wife Elizabeth (who made her own will in 1614) had the following children:
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