In this document, we witness William Shakespeare’s parents, Mary and John, selling land. The record bears their marks or signatures, and is accompanied by a bond. Marks were the equivalent to signing important documents, and bonds (a promise of money or financial security) ensured the transaction was carried out (obliging those engaged in the deal to see it through). Both often used wax impressions to identify the individuals between whom the agreement was made.<br /> <br /> John’s mark is a cross (‘X’) and his seal shows the letters ‘I:S'. Mary’s mark is more elaborate – it may even be a signature – and her seal is that of a horse. Mary and John Shakespeare were typical people of middling status living in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon in the period: John was a glover who became mayor of the town, while Mary had come from a wealthy farming family just outside the town.<br /> <br /> The documents show that Mary had her own seal, separate from her husband’s. She also had a degree of literacy and was able to sign her own name, in comparison to her husband who used a cross as his mark. But signatures and marks only hint at levels of literacy: a person might still be able to read even if they could not sign their own name. Mary Shakespeare seemed able to do both. A lot of women living in Stratford at this time were involved in some business or trade, and they would have made profitable use of skills in reading and writing.
Signatures and seals of John and Mary Shakespeare (Conveyance document), 15 October 1579

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Signatures and seals of John and Mary Shakespeare

Signatures and seals of John and Mary Shakespeare (Conveyance document), 15 October 1579

In this document, we witness William Shakespeare’s parents, Mary and John, selling land. The record bears their marks or signatures, and is accompanied by a bond. Marks were the equivalent to signing important documents, and bonds (a promise of money or financial security) ensured the transaction was carried out (obliging those engaged in the deal to see it through). Both often used wax impressions to identify the individuals between whom the agreement was made.

John’s mark is a cross (‘X’) and his seal shows the letters ‘I:S'. Mary’s mark is more elaborate – it may even be a signature – and her seal is that of a horse. Mary and John Shakespeare were typical people of middling status living in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon in the period: John was a glover who became mayor of the town, while Mary had come from a wealthy farming family just outside the town.

The documents show that Mary had her own seal, separate from her husband’s. She also had a degree of literacy and was able to sign her own name, in comparison to her husband who used a cross as his mark. But signatures and marks only hint at levels of literacy: a person might still be able to read even if they could not sign their own name. Mary Shakespeare seemed able to do both. A lot of women living in Stratford at this time were involved in some business or trade, and they would have made profitable use of skills in reading and writing.

Object Type Conveyance document
Year 15 October 1579
Material Manuscript
Owned By SBT ER30/1 recto
Keywords reading; writing; processing; administration; education; literacy; legal; money/finance; securing; gender; manuscript; Stratford-upon-Avon
Image Credit Conveyance document, SBT ER30/1 recto, CC-BY-NC-ND; Image Courtesy of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

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