Shakespeare and Harvard University
Lyra
(quote)
I have unearthed a fascinating article from the New York Times
published in 1907 that makes a connection between William Shakespeare
and the founder of Harvard University John Harvard.
The story (very briefly) goes like this. Thomas Rogers b.1565 of
Stratford would have been a friend and school mate of Shakespeare b.
1564. When Thomas was seeking a husband for his daughter Katherine his
old friend (Shakespeare) suggested the son of another wealthy butcher
Robert Harvard. The connection between Robert and Shakespeare is the
result of both being prominent at Saint Saviour's Church in Southwark.
The two were introduced, married and their son John b.1607 emigrated
to America in 1637, leaving his estate to found Harvard University.
Unfortunately the books he took with him to America were destroyed by
fire.
A fanciful tale perhaps, but some of the facts of this case are
interesting to me in that it is often asked how the son of a glover
could have created the greatest works in literature. Well, it is a
fact that a marriage between the daughter of a butcher of Stratford
and the son of a butcher of Southwark produced the man that founded
Harvard University. Moreover, much is made of the different spellings
of Shakespeare's name during his life. John Harvard's registry at
baptism is misspelled John Harvye.
You can visit Harvard House in Stratford now managed by the
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
A fanciful tale or an interesting connection? Please comment
Art Neuendorffer
. *JOHN HARVYE*
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http://www.commander.clara.net/genealog.htm
<<Recent research by dedicated genealogists have indicated that the
earliest known Commander in the US is John Commandres of ARCHERS HOPE,
Virginia who received land in 1619 & 1625. [Information supplied very
kindly by Deborah Byrd]. Deborah's information in Commanders in the US
starts with Joseph Commander, born c. 1645, died c. 1690 in
Pasquotank, NC & married Dorothy HARVEY, daughter of Thomas & Mary
Harvey. [Thomas & Mary arrived in Jamestown, VA in 1640 with son John.
Thomas was the brother of Sir *JOHN HARVEY* , Captain General &
Governor of Virginia].>>
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http://www.shirleyassociation.com/brief_history_of_america_and_shi.htm
.
<<George Sandys, youngest brother of Sir Edwin Sandys, came to
Virginia and his plantation was across the James River from Jamestown.
In 1621 he became colonial treasurer of the Virginia Company. Between
1619-1621, about 70 percent of the 3500 Virginia colonist perished
because of disease and famine. In 1622 the Indians killed dozens of
settlers living at Martin's Hundred, about 15 miles from Sherley
Plantation, on the James River near Jamestown. In 1619, just a few
miles from Jamestown, land was patented at "ARCHERS HOPE". In the
early 1600's some of the names mentioned at Archers Hope were:
.
. Richard Brewster, had 100 acres by 1626
[Brewster name associated with Plymouth Colony].
.
. Wm. Fairfax, 200 acres.
He was killed at Ensign Spencer's house during the massacre.
.
. Wm. Harrison, before 1626
.
. Sir *JOHN HARVEY*, before 1633.
.
. George Sandys, 100 acres 1624.
. (Youngest brother of Sir Edwin Sandys)
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Gabriel Harvey (1550-1631) & Thomas Nashe(1561-1601)
. got into great pamphlet battles:
.
. Harvey for the Puritan side
. Nashe for the Anglican side;
.
Tom and Gabe "would make good of bad, and friends of foes!"
.
. Even Robert GREENe joined in the fun
.
<<The ropemaker replied that, honestly journeying by the way, he
acquainted himself with the collier, and for no other cause pretended.
And whether are you going, qd. I? Marry sir, qd. he, am going to
Cambridge to three sons that I keep there at school, such apt
children, sir, as few women have groaned for, and yet they have ill
luck. The one, sir, [Richard Harvey] is a divine to comfort my soul,
and he indeed, though he be a vainglorious ass, as divers youths of
his age be, is well given to the shew of the world, and writ a-late
the LAMB OF GOD, and yet his parishioners say he is the limb of the
devil, and kisseth their wives with holy kisses, but they had rather
he should keep his lips for Madge, his mare. The second, sir, [John
Harvey] *is a physician or a fool* , but indeed a physician, and had
proved a proper man if he had not spoiled himself with his
Astrological Discourse of the terrible conjunction of Saturn and
Jupiter. For the eldest, [Gabriel], he is a civilian, a wondrous
witted fellow, sir reverence sir, he is a doctor, and as Tubalcain was
the first inventor of music,
.
. so he, God's *BENISON* light upon him,
. was the first that invented English hexameter;>>
.
. Quip For An Upstart Courtier -- "Robert GREENe"
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. Gabriel Harvey: Chronology
http://www2.kenyon.edu/people/staplesa/the_life_of_gabriel_harvey.htm
.
1550 - born in Saffron Walden to John (a yeoman rope-maker) and Ales
brothers: Richard (b. 1560), John (b. 1563/64), Thomas (b. 1567) -
sisters: Marie (Marcie or Mercy) and Alice (b. before 1556)
.
1577 August 12 - Sir Thomas Smyth died at home in Essex
.
1584/85 - relative Dr. Henry Harvey, Master of Trinity Hall, died
.
1592 September - Robert Greene died
.
1593 July - *JOHN HARVEY* the elder died - inserted apostrophe to late
brother and father in Pierces Supererogation
.
1593 September - Christopher Marlowe died
.
1598 - William Lewin, Harvey's first tutor at Christ's College, died
.
1599 January - Edmund Spenser died
.
1601 - Thomas Nashe died at age 34
.
1630 - brother Richard died
.
1630/31 February 7 - Gabriel Harvey himself died
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Gabriel Harvey (circa 1550-1631) made a positive comment about
Scot on p.191 of his "PIERCE'S SUPEREROGATION" (1593):
.
"Scottes discoouery of Witchcraft,
dismasketh sundry egregious
impostures, and in certaine principall
Chapters, & speciall passages, hitteth
the nayle on the head with a
witnesse: howsoeuer I could haue
wished, he had either dealt somewhat
more curteously with Monsieur
Bodine[ie. Bodin], or co[n]futed him
somewhat more effectually."
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Art Neuendorffer