Who was Susanna Hall?
Susanna Hall was the oldest child of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, and the older sister of the twins Judith and Hamnet Shakespeare. She married the physician John Hall in 1607 and had one daughter, Elizabeth.
Questions about Susanna Hall
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was Susanna Hall born and when did she die?
Susanna Hall was born on the 26th of May 1583 and died on the 11th of July 1649, at the age of 66. She was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, next to her parents.
Who did Susanna Hall marry?
Susanna Hall married John Hall, a physician respected in Stratford, on the 5th of June 1607 at Holy Trinity Church. She was 24 and he was about 32. Their only child, Elizabeth, was baptised in 1608.
What was the 1613 slander case involving Susanna Hall about?
In June 1613, John Lane, Jr. accused Susanna Hall of adultery with the haberdasher Rafe Smith and claimed she had caught a venereal disease. The Halls sued Lane for slander at the Consistory court in Worcester, and Lane was found guilty and excommunicated.
What did Susanna Hall inherit from William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare left the bulk of his estate to Susanna Hall and her male heirs when he died on the 23rd of April 1616. The bequest included his house New Place, his two houses on Henley Street, and lands in and around Stratford.
How has Susanna Hall been portrayed in film and fiction?
Susanna Hall has been portrayed in Peter Whelan's 1996 play The Herbal Bed, Michael J. Ortiz's 2006 novel Swan Town, and the 2016 sitcom Upstart Crow. She also appears in the 2017 drama Will, the 2019 film All Is True, and the 2025 film Hamnet.