The will, made by Thomas Nash, has been found in a box of 17th century Chancery documents.
Nash was married to Shakespeare’s granddaughter Elizabeth and living in New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon at the time.
He made the will leaving the house, believed to be the biggest property in the town at the time, to his cousin, Edward Nash.
But he had no right to bequeath the property as it had been left by Shakespeare in his will to his eldest daughter, Susanna.
The confusion caused by Nash’s will prompted Susanna to obtain a legal document confirming that she still held Shakespeare’s estates.
Edward Nash and he took Elizabeth to court arguing that she should honour the terms of Thomas’s will.
Historians say the discovery is “really exciting” and shows the execution of Shakespeare’s will wasn’t plain sailing.
