Shakespeare had three kids with his wife Anne Hathaway: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith.
The Marriage
Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in November 1582. He was only 18, and she was 26 – yeah, she was eight years older than him. Also, Anne was already pregnant when they got married, which was kinda scandalous back then. Their first kid Susanna was born just six months after the wedding.
The Kids
Susanna Shakespeare (1583-1649) - **Born**: May 26, 1583 - **Died**: July 11, 1649 - The oldest kid, Shakespeare's first daughter - Married Dr. John Hall, a well-known doctor, in 1607 - Had one daughter named Elizabeth (Shakespeare's only grandchild who had kids) - Inherited New Place, Shakespeare's fancy house in Stratford - People said she was really smart and witty
Hamnet Shakespeare (1585-1596) - **Born**: February 2, 1585 - **Died**: August 11, 1596 (only 11 years old!) - Shakespeare's only son - Twin brother to Judith - Nobody knows what killed him, but his death must have been devastating for Shakespeare - Some people think you can see Shakespeare's grief in plays he wrote after, like Hamlet and King John
Judith Shakespeare (1585-1662) - **Born**: February 2, 1585 - **Died**: February 9, 1662 (lived to 77!) - Hamnet's twin sister - Married Thomas Quiney in February 1616, just two months before Shakespeare died - The marriage was controversial – they got married during Lent without the proper license - Had three sons, but all of them died young without having kids - Outlived everyone in her immediate family
No Descendants Today
Here's the sad part – Shakespeare has no direct descendants alive today. His family line ended when his granddaughter Elizabeth Hall died in 1670 without any surviving children. All of Judith's kids died young too.
Family Life
Shakespeare spent most of his career in London while his family stayed in Stratford. That was pretty normal for theater people back then. But he kept close ties with home and eventually retired to Stratford around 1613 to spend his last years with his family.
In his will, Shakespeare left most of his stuff to Susanna and her husband, with some specific things set aside for Judith and his wife Anne.