King Henry VIII separated the Church of England from the Catholic Church in 1533 and decreed marriage between first cousins legal, leading to perhaps the most complex family tree ever!
Technically, William Shakespeare has no direct descendants. However his mother is our 13th great grand aunt, sister to our 13th great grandmother. Thus his maternal grandparents (Robert & Mary Webb Arden) are our 14th great grandparents. On his father's side his, John Alexander Webb is his Great Grandfather and also our 15th Great Grandfather. Richard Webb came to America in about 1629. He is Beatrice Scofield Syska's 9th Great Grandfather and William Shakespeare's 2nd Cousin.
ARDEN FAMILY OF ENGLAND
The Arden Family takes its name from the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire and can trace it's male lineage back to the Anglo Saxon time period prior to the 11th century Norman Invasion.
Ralph De Arden (1373-1421) m. Sibell DeBelgrave - 18th GRGR
Robert De Arden (1413-1451) m. Elizabeth Clodshale - 17th GRGR
Walter De Arden (1441-1502) m. Eleanor Hampden - 16th GRGR
Thomas Arden (1469-1546) m. unknown - 15th GRGR
Robert Arden (1506-1556) m. Mary Webb and Grace Arden (1514- ) m. Henry Webb - both are my 14th GRGR
Mary Arden (1537 - ) m. John Shakespeare (Mary is my 13th great grand aunt)
Margaret Arden (1538-1608) m. Alexander Webb. - 13th GRGR
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John Arden ( -1526), apparently inherited the Arden family's primary estate at Park Hall, Castle Bromwich. John Arden had fallen in love with Alice Bracebridge (a distant cousin), but his father, Sir Walter disapproved. John was kidnapped & taken to bracebridge Hall. Arbitrators appointed by King Edward IV, at the request of Sir Walter, permitted the marriage but ordered Richard Bracebridge to give Sir Walter his best horse for trespassing during the Kidnapping. In 1502 John Arden inherited Park Hall in Castle Bromwich, while his younger brother, Thomas (1469-1546) settled at Wilmcote near Stratford upon Avon.
WEBB FAMILY OF ENGLAND
Sir John Alexander Webb (1484-1516) - 15th GRGR
Henry Alexander Webb (1510-1544) m. Grace Arden and Mary Webb (1512-1550) m. Robert Arden - 14th GRGR
Sir Alexander Webb Sr. (1534-1573) m. Margaret Arden - 13th GRGR
Sir Alexander Webb Jr. (1559-1629) m. Mary Wilson - 12th GRGR
Richard Webb (1594-1676) m. Grace Wilson - 11th GRGR
- Mary Webb (1512-1550) married Robert Arden (1506-1556) and had 2 daughters.
- Mary Arden Shakespeare (1537-) who married John Shakespeare and gave birth to William . - see below
- Margaret Arden Webb (1538-1608 ) who married Sir Alexander Webb Sr. and whose descendants emigrated to America - see below
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| Mary Arden Home |
- Abigail Webb Shakespeare (1515- ) married her first cousin, Richard Shakespeare in 1532 and had 2 sons- John and Henry.
- John Shakespeare also married his first cousin Mary Arden (1537 - ), daughter of Robert Arden & Mary Webb (Abigail's sister), in 1557. They had eight children including William Shakespeare.
- Sir Henry Alexander Webb (1510-1544): Presumably named after King Henry, he was an usher in the Privy Council of Queen Regent Catherine Parr (King Henry's 6th wife), who granted him lands and privileges for his service. Henry married Grace Arden (1514- ) (daughter of Thomas Arden) and had three children: Alexander, Agnes and Robert.
- Sir Alexander Webb Sr. (1534-1573) also married his first cousin, Margaret Arden (1538-1608) who was the daughter of Robert Arden.
- Sir Alexander Webb Jr. (1559-1629) married Mary Wilson (1561-1629) emigrated to America abt 1629 with their family including Richard Webb (1594-1676) (my 11th gr gr)
Just discovered a connection to these Webbs through a Sarah Webb married to Rev. Samuel Arnold. She would have been a great granddaughter of Alexander and Mary (Wilson) Webb. Amazing stuff.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are also related through Alexander & Mary Webb as I imagine a many Americans are. It is a fascinating family tree. Good luck with your search.
DeleteAlexander webb 1534 is my 13th great grandfather unfortunately they practiced incest so gross
DeleteHaha. This has to be the most difficult genealogy knot to explain. These four people, who are either Grandma-aunts or Grandpa-uncles. I don't even know what that makes William. My once-removed,double,double...double-cousin? Being that we share the same Aunty Grandma. Anywho, it is nice to see posts from some family o/. I'm a grandkin of Christopher Webb. Richard Webb's little brother.
ReplyDeleteNathan, it is indeed a complex family tree. Richard Webb (brother of Christopher) is my 11th great grandfather which makes William shakespeare my first cousin 14x removed, if that helps.
DeleteNathan, Are any of your ancestry from Gilmer County, WV area? My Great Great grandmother Mary C. Webb 1854-1890. From what I gathered, William Shakespeare's grandmother's were both Webb sisters. This was sort of a common thing back in that day in England to interbreed.
DeleteI just discovered my connection. I'm a direct descendant to Sir Alexander Webb, Jr and Sr. I was shocked to say the least. My Great Great grandmother was Mary C. Webb born in Gilmer County, WV.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to this crazy life! Lol. I have the whole WEBB family tree on Ancestry.com
DeleteMy tree is open to the public. All is welcome. You can even join me on Facebook. Its under Rebecca Webb. Just make sure to remind me who you are?! Lol
My direct line is Sir Alexander Webb,Sr. who had a son Alexander Webb, Jr. who had a son, William Micajah Webb who had a son, Giles Webb, Sr. who had a son, John William Webb who had a son, John Webb, Jr. who had a son, Jonas Webb, Sr. who had a son, Jonas Webb, Jr. who had a son, Nutter Webb who had a son, LaFayette "LaFay" Webb, who had a daughter Mary C. Webb who was my Great Great Grandmother.
ReplyDeleteMary Webb married Robert Arden and Abigail married Richard Shakespeare. Of the first marriage Mary Arden was born and of the second marriage John Shakespeare was the issue. These cousins, Mary Arden and John Shakespeare married and were the parents of William Shakespeare, the poet.
ReplyDeleteAbigail married Richard SHAKESPEARE about 1532. Richard was born in 1512 in Stratford, Warwickshire, England. He died in 1561 in Stratford, Warwickshire, England.
Richard Shakespeare married Abigail Webb and they had a son, John Shakespeare who married Mary Arden, the youngest child of Robert and Mary Webb Arden. John and Mary Shakespeare had seven children. The first two died in infancy and the third was William Shakespeare, the greatest of the English poets. Both grandmothers of William Shakespeare were WEBB girls, Abigail and Mary, daughters of Sir Alexander Webb and sisters of Sir Henry of Hampton Court.
Hi. Im david jonathan webb. John webb came from virginia colonies . We were not given property in usa. We never surrendered. I am in kingdom of cambodia trying to return to israel through nefesh aliyah. Complicated mess and ..Get ready.. Im jones on mother side. Makes me 100%. Dna confirmed. Hard as hell right now law of r
ReplyDeleteeturn. Long drawn out NBC stuff. I keeping my head up. Whats up bro! Lol. Thats the first time i seen anyone related to me that looks like me. (Nick webb)
I don't know where I exactly fit in here I am the Son of Richard L Webb of Kentucky my Grand Father Was Monroe Webb of Kentucky and some how I was born in Minnesota I am also related to Loreta Lynn who Was Loreta Webb in Kentucky
ReplyDeleteHey, I guess we’re related. Lol. I’m part of the Sir John Alexander, Sir Henry Alexander, and Mary Webb bloodline. Direct descendant. Sir John was my mother’s father’s great great great... Male succession line of Webbs. I’d have to go back to check the family tree but I believe 15 generations ago was Sir John. Maybe 16. Lots of cool history from that line of the Webb family and what they did in America. Yale? The Webb House, William Penn, etc. Some more information on the relation to Shakespeare: http://webb.skinnerwebb.com/
ReplyDeleteHey, I guess we’re related. Lol. I’m part of the Sir John Alexander, Sir Henry Alexander, and Mary Webb bloodline. Direct descendant. Sir John was my mother’s father’s great great great... Male succession line of Webbs. I’d have to go back to check the family tree but I believe 15 generations ago was Sir John. Maybe 16. Lots of cool history from that line of the Webb family and what they did in America. Yale? The Webb House, William Penn, etc. Some more information on the relation to Shakespeare: http://webb.skinnerwebb.com/
ReplyDeleteHey, I guess we’re related. Lol. I’m part of the Sir John Alexander, Sir Henry Alexander, and Mary Webb bloodline. Direct descendant. Sir John was my mother’s father’s great great great... Male succession line of Webbs. I’d have to go back to check the family tree but I believe 15 generations ago was Sir John. Maybe 16. Lots of cool history from that line of the Webb family and what they did in America. Yale? The Webb House, William Penn, etc. Some more information on the relation to Shakespeare: http://webb.skinnerwebb.com/
ReplyDeleteHey, I guess we’re related. Lol. I’m part of the Sir John Alexander, Sir Henry Alexander, and Mary Webb bloodline. Direct descendant. Sir John was my mother’s father’s great great great... Male succession line of Webbs. I’d have to go back to check the family tree but I believe 15 generations ago was Sir John. Maybe 16. Lots of cool history from that line of the Webb family and what they did in America. Yale? The Webb House, William Penn, etc. Some more information on the relation to Shakespeare: http://webb.skinnerwebb.com/
ReplyDeleteGoogle has serious issues. I did not add a ? after “Yale.” Also only posted this once. 🙄
DeleteGoogle has serious issues. I did not add a ? after “Yale.” Also only posted this once. 🙄
DeleteGoogle has serious issues. I did not add a ? after “Yale.” Also only posted this once. 🙄
DeleteGood evening MLB, My name is Randy Black and I am a direct descendant of the same Webb family as you. I was curious as to the connection to Yale that you mentioned. Do you have more details? I was aware of the William Penn connection as well as the family's history in England and the Webb Ship Building company that built the ships that brought the family to America in the 1600s. There is also a Willaim H Webb Ship Building company founded in 1825 that may still be in existence. William H Webb he or his descendants also established the The Webb Academy and Home for Shipbuilders, now known as the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture.
DeleteOK so I have traced back Katherine Arden. Sister of Shakespeare s mother as my relative x she married an Edkins which goes through my line from Hemmings. ANN Barratt
ReplyDeleteSo on my history i have gone back to Edkins marriage to a Katherine d ardan Shakespeare s mothers sister x
ReplyDeletelovejoantiques@gmail.com Any infi needed I can share xxxx
ReplyDeleteI too have found myself in this complicated family. I have traced back to Sir Henry Alexander Webb an Grace Arden/Webb are my 15th great grandparents. My line then follows down via Agnes web and John Fullwood
ReplyDeleteI am a descendant of the webb family. I live here in Tennessee.
ReplyDeleteSo Katherine d arden married my relative Edkins which I can trace back to my g grandad x
ReplyDeleteSo Katherine darden married my relative Edkins x so Shakespeare s grandfather was my 14 th grandad removed x I can trace right back x
ReplyDeleteI will say this ...Both of my 11th great grandmothers were sisters. (on my fathers side)Both grandmothers to William Shakespeare. So we can say I'm related to William.
ReplyDeleteMight want to add Wilsons (Wylson) to the mix/complication. Sir Thomas was Elizabeth 1's secretary. His daughter Mary married Alexander Webb. Their son Richard appears to have married his first cousin, Grace Wilson. Oi!
ReplyDelete