Shakspere and the Combses




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Shakspere and the Combses

The Combes Genealogy ... by Josiah H. Combs

There were some large and flourishing Combs families in Warwichshire Co, EN in Shakspere's time. Some of them lived at Stratford-on-Avon, and had various dealings with the bard. There were Combses at Stratford as early as the late fourteenth century. A number of stories bearing on the relation of the Combses with Shakspere have come down to us, based supposedly on the records of the time, and on word of the literary critics. One cannot vouch for their authenticity, but some of them are perhaps true. In his last will and testament Shakspere leaves his sword to "Mr. Thomas Combe." (This is the Thomas who lived with his brother William, at Welcombe [Manor, Warwickshire, EN]). The will is dated March 25, 1616.

... An indenture now in the Stratford Museum shows that in Stratford, in 1602, Shakspere purchased a hundred and seven acres of arable land from William and John Combe, for a consideration of three hundred and twenty pounds. The vendors affix their signatures as "W Combs" and Jo Combe." The records also show that Shakspere purchased from John and William an additional hundred and twenty-seven acres for a hundred pounds; also another tract of twenty acres. In 1614, the year of John's death, Shakspere, a close friend of this family, opposed the Stratford Corporation, which opposed the efforts of William and Thomas Combe (brothers) to enclose certain common lands at Welcombe, a village near Statford.

The relationship of the Warwickshire Combses is somewhat confusing. Touching upon such names as William, John and Thomas, Miss Marchette Chute, in her Shakespeare of London (1949), has made some research. This is how Miss Chute lines them up: the older William, who with John sold the land to Shakspere, was a prominent lawyer of Warwickshire, and later the high sheriff. John was his nephew, the usurer, and subject of the famous epitaph; he was a wealthy bacheler, and lived at Welcombe. The younger William, and his brother Thomas, of the celebrated enclosure litigation, were nephews of John. One Thomas, who died around 1608, names a son William in his will. I assume that this older Thomas is the father of brothers William and Thomas. The John in question had two brothers, George and John, believe it or not.

ABOVE: The monument in the noth east corner of the chancel consists of an altar tomb recessed in thickness of the wall and thereon a recumbent alabaster effigy of John Combe, dressed in a long gown. The work was that of Gerard Janssen who also was responsible for Shakespeare's monument on the north wall of the chancel. Dugdale in his Diary records under the year 1653 that "Shakespeare's and John Combe's monuments at Stratford super Avon made by one Gerard Johnson". In the hollow above the effigy is an inscription as follows.

HERE LYETH INTERRED YE BODY OF JOHN COMBE ESQR WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE YE 10TH DAY OF JULY A DNI 1614 BEQUEATHED BY HIS LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT TO PIOUS AND CHARITABLE USES THESE SUMES INOVING ANVALLY TO BE PAIED FOR EVER VIZ. XXS FOR TWO SERMONS TO BE PREACHED IN THIS CHURCH. SIX POVNDES XII & 4 PENCE TO BUY TEN GOVNDES FOR TEN POORE PEOPLE WITHIN YE BORROUGH OF STRATFORD & ONE HUNDRED POVNDES TO BE LENT UNTO 15 POORE TRADESMEN OF YE SAME BORROUGH FROM 3 YEARS TO 3 YEARES CHANGING YE PTIES EVERY THIRD YEARE AT YE RATE OF FIFTIE SHILLINGES P. ANUM YE WCH INCREASE HE APPOINTED TO BE DISTRIBUTED TOWARD THE RELIEFE OF THE ALMES PEOPLE THEIRE. MORE HE GAVE TO THE POORE O STRATFORDE TWENTY.. (This part of the inscription was never finished). John Combe was a friend of Shakespeare and left him a legacy of {6 a year.