Shakespeare purchases the Blackfriars Gatehouse: Index to Grantors

In March 1613 William Shakespeare and three associates agreed to purchase the Gatehouse of the former Dominican priory in London known as “Blackfriars” from Henry Walker for the sum of £140. The indenture of bargain and sale is dated March 10. The same group agreed to a mortgage, dated March 11, for the property in the amount of £60, implying that the buyers put up only £80 at the time of sale. For a discussion of these transactions, and a description of the property, see “Shakespeare purchases the Blackfriars Gatehouse.”

On March 11, 1613, after all relevant documents were signed, Walker went to the Rolls Office on Chancery Lane to have the indenture of bargain and sale enrolled.

Alphabetical indexes to the enrollments, somewhat crude by modern standards, were maintained by office clerks as finding lists. Shown here, in the Index to Grantors, the relevant entry occurs for the year 11 James I, or 1613, under “W”:

Walker Henricus et Skakespeare Willelmus & alii.

This entry replicates the marginal flag found in the enrollment, or official transcript, but with forenames added, and with a “k” substituted for the “h” in Shakespeare’s surname. This entry may be compared to the three entries in the Index to Grantees.