When was Mary Shakespeare born and where did she live?
Mary Arden entered the world around 1536 in Wilmcote, Warwickshire. Her father Robert Arden was a gentleman farmer within the larger Arden family.
Questions about Mary Shakespeare
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the parents of Mary Shakespeare and what was their social status?
Her father Robert Arden was a gentleman farmer and part of a junior line within the larger Arden family. The wider clan held significant status in their local region and maintained Catholic faith community practices.
What year did Mary Shakespeare marry John Shakespeare and how old were they?
The union occurred in 1557 when Mary was twenty years old. Her husband John Shakespeare was approximately twenty-six years old at that time.
How many children did Mary Shakespeare have and which ones survived to adulthood?
Mary bore eight children over the course of her life but high infant mortality rates claimed several young lives before adulthood could be reached. Only Joan who lived from 1569 to 1646 and William who was born between 1564 and 1616 are confirmed survivors among the listed offspring.
When did Mary Shakespeare die and what records exist about her personal thoughts?
Mary Shakespeare died in September 1608 at an age beyond seventy years old. No personal letters or diaries from her hand have ever been found by historians.