Square D1

Transcription

Shakespeare

Summary

This square could have been embroidered to acknowledge the Melbourne Shakespeare Society, founded c. 1884. Elizabeth Anna Fraser (eldest daughter of Rev. Duncan Fraser and his second wife, Anna Elizabeth Fraser) was a long-standing member of the Society. She may have purchased the square to acknowledge the Society, or the Society's members may have clubbed together to purchase the square.

Further information

If the square represents the playwright William Shakespeare, then it may also be connected with the squares that acknowledge Romeo [D5] and Juliet [C17].

Alternatively, the square may represent a living person. For example, in 1892 George Shakespeare married Annie Frances Evans at her home in Williamstown (Argus, 23 Jan 1892, p1., Marriage Notices). There was also a Major Shakespeare in charge of the Volunteer Military Force - Engineer Corps during the 1890s. The Sands & Macdougall Directory for 1895 records three households with the name Shakespeare: Edward C, a saddler living in Collingwood; Mrs C, also of Collingwood, who sold fancy goods, and Edward E, a butcher of North Fitzroy.