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Richard Shakespeare (1490 – 1561)^[1] was a native of Snitterfield, Warwickshire. He is believed to have been the father of John Shakespeare and thus the grandfather of William Shakespeare.^[1] Between roughly 1530 and 1560, Richard Shakespeare was a farmer in Snitterfield, four miles north-east of Stratford-upon-Avon. By his death, he owned his own land and had an estate valued at £38 17s.^[1]

Virtually nothing else is known about him except that he was given land for his services to King Henry VII of England. He farmed from around 1530 until his death in 1561 and has been recorded in the Stratford town records for his fines. His father was named John Shakespeare, and his grandfather was one Thomas Shakespeare. Richard Shakespeare's wife was Abigail Webb (1510-1595).

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Holden, Anthony (2000). William Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Genius. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0316518499.  

External links

• Richard Shakespeare at About.com
• Shakespeare's grandfather