Shakespeare's will
This will of 'Wllm Shackspeare of Stratford upon Avon in the countie of warr [Warwickshire] gent' is dated 25 March 1616.
William Shakespeare is the world's most famous playwright. He wrote poetry as well as more than 30 plays, but none of his manuscripts or personal papers have survived. The National Archives has over 50 documents about him or his family in legal cases, or about him as an actor and businessman.
The will is special because Shakespeare signed it 3 times. There are only 3 other known examples of his signature anywhere. The will is a standard legal document, written by a lawyer, with no touching last words for Shakespeare's family and friends.
He was clearly a man of some means by the time of his death. He left the bulk of his estate to his elder daughter, Susannah Hall. He left £300 to his younger daughter, Judith. He gave his wife, Anne Hathaway, his second-best bed. Beds and other pieces of household furniture were often the sole bequest to a wife. It was common practice for the best things to go to the children and the second best to the wife.
Shakespeare died a month after this will was written, having caught a fever at a 'merry party' thrown by fellow writer, Ben Jonson. He was buried in Stratford upon Avon church.
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