Susanna Hall

Susanna Hall ("née" Shakespeare) (May 1583 – 1648), was the eldest child of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway.

Susanna was born merely six months after her parents' marriage; Shakespeare was 18, and Hathaway 26. Susanna was baptised on 26 May 1583. Her baptism took place in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon. Along with her brother Hamnet and younger sister Judith, she was raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. Like most women in seventeenth century England, Susanna and her sister Judith never received any education and did not learn to read or write (although as author Germaine Greer points out in her book "Shakespeare's Wife" Susanna was able to write her name - albeit shakily - on her marriage registration).

Susanna became betrothed to Dr. John Hall when she was 24. Hall had founded his own medical practice in Stratford around 1600 and by this time already had a thriving business, and was a respected citizen of the town. They were married on 5 June, 1607. Susanna gave birth to a baby girl in 1608, whom they named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was baptized on 21 February 1608 in Holy Trinity Church. They had no other children, and this was the only grandchild Shakespeare knew, as Judith's children were born after his death. A few years after their marriage, they were involved in a court case after Susanna was slandered by a young man named John Lane, who seems to have accused her of adultery.

When Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616, he left everything, except for a number of legacies (including £300 and a silver bowl to Judith), to Susanna and Dr. Hall, including the large manor New Place in Stratford.

Susanna died when she was 66 years old. She was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford next to her parents.

Shakespeare's family tree

Note:Judith Shakespeare had 3 children but none provided further descendants

External links

* [http://www.william-shakespeare.org.uk/children-william-shakespeare.htm Shakespeare's children]