Thomas Quiney facts for kids

Thomas Quiney was born in 1589 and passed away around 1662 or 1663. He was married to William Shakespeare's daughter, Judith Shakespeare. Thomas worked as a vintner, selling wine, and also dealt in tobacco in Stratford-upon-Avon.

He held several important jobs in the local government of Stratford-upon-Avon. His highest role was being a chamberlain in 1621 and 1622. However, he also had to pay fines for some small mistakes he made.

In 1616, Thomas married Judith Shakespeare. Their wedding happened during a time when the church required a special permit, which they did not get. Because of this, Thomas was briefly not allowed to take part in church activities. Soon after the wedding, Thomas also faced questions about another person. Many experts believe that because of these events, William Shakespeare changed his will. He decided to give more to his other daughter, Susanna Hall, and less to Thomas.

Judith and Thomas had three children: Shakespeare, Richard, and Thomas. Sadly, Shakespeare Quiney died when he was only six months old. Neither Richard nor Thomas lived past the age of 21. After Judith's last child passed away, there were legal discussions about William Shakespeare's will. These discussions continued until 1652. It is thought that Thomas Quiney died in 1662 or 1663, but the records from that time are not complete.

Early Life and Family

Thomas Quiney was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was baptised on February 26, 1589, at Holy Trinity Church. His parents were Richard and Elizabeth Quiney.

Thomas had 10 brothers and sisters. One of his brothers, also named Richard, was a grocer in London. His sister Mary married Richard Watts, who was a vicar in Harbury. Another sister, Elizabeth, married William Chandler. There are no records that show Thomas went to the local school, King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon. However, he was educated enough to write short parts in French. He could also run a business and hold important jobs in the town.

Thomas Quiney's Businesses and Town Jobs

Thomas Quiney was a vintner, meaning he sold wine. He also sold tobacco. He rented a building called "Atwood's" to run his tavern. Later, he traded houses with his brother-in-law, William Chandler. Thomas moved his wine shop to a bigger house known as "The Cage." Records show he was still selling wine to the town of Stratford-upon-Avon as late as 1650.

Thomas was quite educated and knew some French and fancy writing. When he signed his accounts as chamberlain in 1621 and 1622, he added a French couplet. This was a short poem from a old story by Mellin de Saint-Gelais.

Thomas wrote: "Bien heureux est celui qui pour devenir sage, Qui pour le mal d'autrui fait son apprentissage". This means "Happy is he who to become wise, serves his apprenticeship from other men's troubles". However, his version had some grammar mistakes and didn't quite make sense.

Thomas was a respected person in Stratford. In 1617, he was chosen as a burgess (a town official) and a constable. In 1621 and 1622, he worked as a Chamberlain. When he signed his accounts for 1622–1623, he used fancy loops and swirls. But the town council said his accounts were "imperfect." Thomas was not at this meeting, but he was at a later one where the accounts were approved. This suggests he might have needed to explain them further.

Thomas's reputation had a few small issues. He was fined for swearing and for letting townspeople drink too much in his house. At one point, he was almost charged for selling bad or fake wine.

Marriage to Judith Shakespeare

On February 10, 1616, Thomas Quiney married Judith Shakespeare. The wedding took place at Holy Trinity Church. The assistant vicar, Richard Watts, likely performed the ceremony. He later married Thomas's sister, Mary.

The wedding happened during Lent, a time when marriages were usually not allowed. Lent in 1616 began on January 23 and ended on April 7. Because of this, the couple needed a special permit from the Bishop of Worcester. They did not get this permit.

Thomas was called to appear before the church court in Worcester. He did not show up by the date he was supposed to. The court decided to briefly prevent him from taking part in church activities around March 12, 1616. It is not known if Judith also faced this punishment. But it did not last long. By November of the same year, they were back in church for their first child's baptism.

Homes of Thomas and Judith

It's not clear where the Quineys lived right after they got married. Judith owned her father's small house on Chapel Lane in Stratford. Thomas had been renting a tavern called "Atwood's" on High Street since 1611. The Chapel Lane house later went to Judith's sister as part of her father's will.

In July 1616, Thomas traded houses with his brother-in-law, William Chandler. He moved his wine shop to the top floor of a house called "The Cage." This house was at the corner of High Street and Bridge Street. "The Cage" is the house most connected with Judith Quiney. In the 1900s, it was a restaurant for a while before becoming the Stratford Information Office.

"The Cage" also shows why William Shakespeare might not have fully trusted Thomas. Around 1630, Thomas tried to sell the lease for the house, but his relatives stopped him. In 1633, to protect Judith and the children, the lease was given to three relatives to manage. These were John Hall (Susanna's husband), Thomas Nash (Judith's niece's husband), and Richard Watts (Thomas's brother-in-law and the vicar who married them). Eventually, in November 1652, the lease for The Cage ended up with Thomas's oldest brother, Richard Quiney, who was a grocer in London.

William Shakespeare's Will

The difficult start to Judith's marriage, even though Thomas and his family were otherwise fine, has led to ideas about why William Shakespeare quickly changed his will. He first called his lawyer, Francis Collins, in January 1616. On March 25, he made more changes. This was probably because he was dying and worried about Thomas Quiney.

In the first part of the will, there was a gift for "my son-in-law." But "son-in-law" was crossed out, and Judith's name was put in instead. To Judith, he left £100 "to settle her marriage portion." He also left her another £50 if she gave up the Chapel Lane house. If she or any of her children were still alive three years after the will was made, she would get another £150. She would receive the interest from this money, but not the main amount. This money was clearly kept from Thomas Quiney unless he gave Judith land of the same value. In a separate gift, Judith received "my broad silver gilt bowl."

For most of his property, including his main house, "New Place", his two houses on Henley Street, and other lands around Stratford, Shakespeare set up a special inheritance plan. His property was left in a specific order:

• First, to his daughter, Susanna Hall.
• After Susanna's death, to her first son and his male heirs.
• Then, to Susanna's second son and his male heirs.
• Next, to Susanna's third son and his male heirs.
• After that, to Susanna's "fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh sons" and their male heirs.
• Then, to Elizabeth, Susanna and John Hall's first child, and her male heirs.
• After all of them, to Judith and her male heirs.
• Finally, to any other heirs the law would normally recognize.

This detailed plan usually suggests that Thomas Quiney was not meant to control Shakespeare's inheritance. However, some people think it simply means Susanna was Shakespeare's favorite child.

Thomas and Judith's Children

Judith and Thomas Quiney had three children:

• Shakespeare: Baptised on November 23, 1616, and buried on May 8, 1617. He was named after his mother's father.
• Richard: Baptised on February 9, 1618, and buried on February 6, 1639. The name Richard was common in the Quiney family; both his other grandfather and an uncle were named Richard.
• Thomas: Baptised on January 23, 1620, and buried on January 28, 1639.

Sadly, Shakespeare Quiney died when he was only six months old. Richard and Thomas Quiney passed away within a month of each other. Richard was 19 years old, and Thomas was 21. The deaths of all of Judith's children led to new legal issues. The inheritance plan from her father's will caused Susanna, along with her daughter and son-in-law, to make a new legal arrangement for her own family's inheritance. Legal discussions continued for another thirteen years, until 1652.

When Thomas Quiney Died

There is not much information about when Thomas Quiney died. It is thought that he might have passed away in 1662 or 1663. The church records for burials from that time are not complete. By this time, his nephew in London held the lease to "The Cage" house.

Images for kids

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  Facsimile of Quiney's couplet in French for the accounts of 1622–23.

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  Facsimile of Quiney's signature "with flourishes" from the accounts of 1622–1623.

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  Nash's House, standing adjacent to the site of New Place