Also accept tanner, farmer or wool dealer.
According to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC): "William's father, John Shakespeare, was an affluent glove maker, tanner and wool dealer who owned property in Stratford."
Shakespeare Online explains further: "[John Shakespeare] came to Stratford from Snitterfield before 1532 as an apprentice glover and tanner of leathers. [He] prospered and began to deal in farm products and wool."
Other sources (including Wikipedia) describe John Shakespeare as a glove maker, and leave it at that. Wikipedia does however have a separate page about him, where it does go into a lot more detail – including the fact that "Court records also document him as a 'brogger', an unlicensed – and therefore illegal – wool dealer."
© Haydn Thompson 2024