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    LOOKING FOR THOMAS
    References and Discoveries

    Notes from Richard Sterland

    As the Shakespeare side of the family is likely to prove a challenge as their names are quite common, thought I would take a look at the solicitor for the Shakespear family, Frank Pearson. From the 1881 census there are two entries that appear credible.
    Living at Kettlebrook Road in Bolehall & Glascote, Warwickshire we find:
    Francis PEARSON M 52 M Head Swepstone, Leicester Malster & Publican Frances PEARSON M 50 F Wife Rugslard, Leicester Joseph PEARSON U 25 M Son Great Bar, Stafford Ironmongers Assistant Thomas PEARSON W 85 M Swepstone, Leicester

    And

    Living at Trafalgar Road in Kings Norton, Worcestershire, we find: Howard S. PEARSON M 42 M Head Bham, Warwick Lecturer On English Literature Sarah E. PEARSON M 41 F Wife Bham, Warwick Frank S. PEARSON U 15 M Son Balsall Heath, Worcester Jessie H. PEARSON 11 F Daugh Moseley, Worcester Sch Lydia BOTT U 23 F Kings Norton, Worcester Serv Domestic. This looks the more likely candidate, by the late 1890s Frank would have been 35 so would have been well into a career as a solicitor. Was the middle initial of his father also Shakespear? It would appear to be an ideal name to have for someone who is an authority on English Literature! The location is also logical; today Kings Norton forms a suburb of Birmingham and is only some 5 miles from the city centre where Colmore Row is located. So Frank was born around 1866 and his father around 1839. It should not be too difficult to find a family connection with the name Shakespear as quite often the maiden name of the mother is used as a middle name in the offspring. In which case we should find a Sarah E Shakespear born in Birmingham around 1840.


    Extract from the will of Maria Shakespear(e)

    This is the last will and testament of me Maria Shakespeare of Shortwood Nailsworth in the county of Gloucester Spinster. I appoint Frank Shakespeare Pearson of 57 Colmore Row Birmingham Solicitor EXECUTOR of this my WILL... I give devise and bequeath all my real estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto and to the use of my half brother Richard Shakespeare for his own absolute use .........
    On the 11th day of June 1901 Probate of this Will was granted to Frank Shakespeare Pearson the sole executor

    DIARY REFERENCES

    The Shakespear Family

    Nov 1 1900 Letter to my brother RICHARD giving (my) address
    Apr 28 1901 Letter from FRANK PEARSON in reply to my letter to RICHARD Nov 1
    Dec 23 1901 Letter from FRANK PEARSON giving an account of the death of my sister MARIA March 5
    Dec 24 1901 Letter to JOHN SHAKESPEAR, Athens Pa. USA. Letter to Frank S. Pearson, 57, Colmore Row, Birmingham.
    Apr 13 1902 Letter to JOHN SHAKESPEAR, Winchester, New Hampshire, US America.
    Jun 26 1902 "Winchester Star" from brother JOHN.

    Thomas Shakespear's birthday?

    Nov 10 1899  Present from Mrs Gonzales & a chair from Kate & Rosa & Georgie

    NOV 10 1901  Kate, Rosa & Georgina gave me a pair of spectacles. Had strawberries & cream. Dug potatoes & picked peas


    People Mentioned in the Diary

    CHARLES WESTMAN
    THOMAS GREIG. -Post Card to him at SALCA
    MRS. BENNET - VALPARAISO, CASILLA (BOX) 206 for the Record 1.00
    MR. A MELOSSI
    MR. MACPHERSON - the boss
    MR. & MRS. MACDONALD - Santiago
    MR. A. DANCE - sent Ercilla draft for 24.00
    Wm.TIGHE
    MRS. COSAFINA - beat Rosa - schoolteacher
    MR.ANTONIO BARRONA - to come here to work March 1st. Antonio to San Pedro to take inventory of cars
    MR. BRUNTON - order from to replace staff/ Telegram to take an inventory of the cars at SAN PEDRO
    MR. J. C. ROGERS - Casillo 399 VALPARAISO
    BARRAHONA - Bought 12 boards of
    JOHN GOULD - gave me 2 GLASGOW papers
    MR. SPINNING - preached -Union Church Santiago
    A. MALLOY - Thomas went with to court
    MR. I. C. ROGERS - for the Record 2.00.
    FAUSTINO PENA - of RENGO to work tomorrow
    CAPERTINO REEVES - told me he had engaged Ramon Ranega to take the
    place of Antonio Ahuna as night man
    CAPTAIN A.S.WELSH, CLAVERHAM ROAD, YATTON, SOMERSET, ENGLAND - Thomas wrote to
    RAMON RANEGA - to take the place of Antonio Ahuna as night man/ Ramon Ranegas struck me several blows in the face
    ANTONIO AHUNA - as night man
    JOSE DANIEL VARGA(s) - came to the night work
    MESSRS. FOSTER & WOODSON, Eastern Office, St James Building, New York City
    FOSTER & WOODSON - Corning, California. Letter to
    MR. WILSON - 661, W. HURON ST., CHICAGO, ILL. USA Letter from;
    MR. H. GORE
    MR. DAVEY - went to Santiago, left my watch with Mr. Davey, Tarapaca Hotel
    Rev. M R. TYREMAN - wrote to asking him to sell my land at ERCILLA./ Letter from
    MR. RAMSAY - gave me "The Daily Telegraph" paper
    ARTURO MADRACANA - came to work
    MR. HUNTER.
    MR. A. R. WALKER - Casilla 1335 for "Our Young People".
    Mr. C. GAMES.
    JUAN AGUIRRE with family arrived
    Mr. BASCURIAN - sent list of work to by train 30
    MR. A WALKER - letter to with numbers in hand of "Chillean Times"
    MRS. GOOD - gave money to Kate Shakespear

    Places Mentioned in the Diary:-

    PELEQUEN
    HOTEL TARAPACA, Santiago
    GRANEROS
    UNION CHURCH, Santiago
    ANGOSTURA, line stopped at
    SAN PEDRO take an inventory of the cars at on Sunday next
    GULTRO, to put in bronce automatico
    LOS LIROS


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