Evening star., 1913-12-07
SHAKESPEARE's DAUGHTERS.
Old Question-Could Susannah and
Judith Write Their Names?

Julia Marlowe In the New York sun.
1t is strange that almost all biographers
of Shakespeare dismiss his daughters, Su-
sannah and Judith. as being illiterate and
incapable of writing their own names. IL
comes as a shock to the modern mind that
neither Shakespeare's mother. Mary Ar
den. nor his wife, Ann Hathaway, was
capable of writing her name to a legal
document
In the case of Ann Hathaway there
might be some excuse. but that Mary Ar
den. daughter of distinguished family.
could not write her nsine is most surpris-
ing. However, Andrew Lang, in his post
humous work. Shakespeare Bacon and
the Great Unknown" points ont that the
daughters of several distinguished men of
the time were equally incapable.
There is much doubt, however, that this
can be said of Shakespeare's daughters,
SuSannah and Judith While there is no
doubt whatever to Susannah's ability
to write, there is some as to JudithS
/, There are in the Birthplace Museum of
Stratford excellent signatures of Susan
nah. which prove that she could write
with facility.
/ Were it fact that these two daughters
of the Bard of Avon were the illiterate
girls that they are SO often pictured. ii Is
rather surprising that each should have
1
ton.
When Susannah Shakespeare was twen-
ty-four years old. in June. 1871. she mar
ried Dr. John Hall. distinguished ply
sician, then residing at Stratford.. DIR.
Hall was one of the most eminent men OF
| the time in his profession. He was a
writer on medical subjects and practiced
as a physician in the noblemen's houses
in the neighborhood. DIR. Hall not only
built up an extensive practice. but was
elected burgess of the town, and in 1655
became the wears church warden
| When DIR. Hall died in 1875 his skill as a
ply ysician was fittingly recognized at his
burial. That he was a man OF distinction
and good family is proved by the coat of
arms on his grave in the chancel of Trim
ity Church. In his will he left his stud,
| books as we'll as his manuscripts to his
Son-in-law, Thomas Nash.
1 Now 1t seems incomprehensible that a
man of DIR. Halls distinction would have
married the iliterate daughter OF a stroll
ing player, as some writers would have Us
believe. That Mrs. Hall was a woman OF
some standing in the community is proved
by the fact that In 1912 Henrietta Maria
queen of Charles i, stayed three days
with Mrs. Hall at New Place. When sh,
died, on July IL. 1649 she was buried in
Stratford, and the following lines appear
above her grave:
Witty above her Sexe but that's not all:
Wise TO Salvation good Mistress Hall
Something of Shakespeare in that. but this
| Wholly OF him with whom shes now in blisse.
| Then, passenger. hast neer teare
To wepe with her that wept with all:
| That wept, yet set herself 10 chcrc
Them up with comforts cordial.
| Her Love shall live. her mercy spread.
When thou hast ne'er teare to shed.
OF what we know of Judith Shakespear,
we have good reason to believe that Sh'
was equally capable and brilliant WON
an. Judith in 1916. when thirty-one year.
old. married Thomas Quincy. vintner o
Stratford. Thomas QuineyS father wa
an old friend of Shakespeare.
That Thomas Quincy was a man of SOM
distinction in his town is proved 10y tn
fact that he acted as counselor from 161
to 1622, and became chamberlain i'm th'
latter year. The Quineys lived in hous
on Bridge street called the Cage. whici
liam Shakespeare extant vas written b.
the father to his son-in-laW. This lettc
/ can.be seen in the library at New Place.
Judith lived to be seventy-six years ole
and survived her husband, her children
, and all near relations. She died in 166
and was buried i'm Trinity Church.
The last of Shakespeare's descendant
was Elizabeth Hall. the only child of Su
sannah and DIR. Hall. She was born Feb
ruary II, zoos. and died in her sixty
fourth year in 1872.
Shakespeare's daughters were far from
being the illiterates that many have sup
posed.