Anne Hathaway

Hathaway, Anne (Hathaway, Anne, 1555 (1556) -1623) - the wife of William, married to him 27 November 1582 Married had three children - Susanna and twins Judith and Gamneta.

Anna was born in a family of landowners Shotter - settlements in the vicinity of Stratford-upon-Avon, but lived in Hyulende, Elizabethan farmhouse built. This house was bought by her brother, from the end of the XVIII century. it is known as Anne Hathaway's Cottage. She was the eldest daughter in the family, and on it lay the care of younger children. Anna was eight years older than William - a year of marriage he was eighteen, she was - twenty six. This union was unusual: in the sixteenth century, married women younger than themselves. We do not know whether she could Anne Hathaway read and write. It is unlikely that anything could push it to the training, at least 90 percent of the female population of England at that time were illiterate. Anna was married at the time of the fourth month of pregnancy. While premarital cohabitation was not uncommon, the main thing was to hold a ceremony engagement and wedding could be postponed "for later". Stratford their neighbors got married in the same way. Anne Hathaway's father left 6 pounds 13 shillings and 4 pence - an amount equal to the annual earnings of a blacksmith or a butcher that was enough for her dowry. On the relationship between Shakespeare and his wife virtually nothing is known. Apparently, Anna lived in Stratford, while William worked in London, although he did not leave his affairs in his native city, and probably from time to time to come home. William moved to London almost immediately after giving birth to twins, what made him such a move to leave his family is unknown. In his will, he had almost no mention of his wife, but Anna Shakespeare and so was entitled to one-third of its assets, and therefore there was no particular reason to mention it in an official document, he has attended one piece. Afterthought, added in the second version of the will, is: "I ​​leave my wife his second best bed and other furniture." This detail was the cause of much discussion in the center of which turned out to be the burning question: why Shakespeare did not leave his wife "best" bed. In fact, "the best" bed in a house is usually meant for guests. "The second best bed" was the one who used a couple, and most likely of all to consider it as evidence of their union. According to the formulation of a cultural historian, the marriage bed was a "marriage, fidelity, self-perception," and was "a very important subject in the house." This bed is, in fact, could be a family heirloom with farm families Hathaway in Shotter. The fact that he added this item to a will after further reflection, points to his good intentions. It is unlikely that he would at the last minute to humiliate his wife, although some biographers playwright tend to treat it as a mockery. Interestingly enough, however, that, referring to his wife, he did not feel the slightest need to use traditional probate of the phrase "loyal" or "beloved"; he did not need the conventional sentimentality or did not like it. He also appointed his wife executrix and instead left everything in the hands of his daughter. Therefore, we can assume that Anna Shakespeare could be at that time in some ways dysfunctional. Anne died August 6, 1623 and is buried in the church of St.. Trinity with her husband. The inscription on the tombstone states that she died "at the age of 67 years." This is the only surviving reference to the date of her birth.