William’s father, John Shakespeare, was a member of the borough council of Stratford-upon-Avon. William was the third of eight children, though his two elder siblings did not survive childhood.

She had four children and outlived both her husband ... is part of Professor Steggle's work on an upcoming biography of William Shakespeare.

The next documented event in Shakespeare’s life is his marriage ... She was eight years older than him and their first child, Susanna, was born six months after their wedding.