Hathaway, Anne, 1556?-1623

Anne Shakespeare (née Hathaway; 1556 – 6 August 1623), commonly known as Anne Hathaway and sometimes referred to as Agnes Hathaway (from her father's will), was the wife of William Shakespeare, the English poet, playwright and actor. They were married in 1582, when Hathaway was pregnant at 26 years old and Shakespeare was 18. Some writers, such as Samuel Schoenbaum, have assumed that she was rather old for an Elizabethan bride, but in fact it was normal for her contemporaries to marry in their 20s, although legally they could marry earlier. Shakespeare, on the other hand, was young for an Elizabethan bridegroom. She outlived her husband by seven years. Very little is known about her life beyond a few references in documents. Her personality and relationship to Shakespeare have been the subject of much speculation by many historians and writers.