It is possible that the family emigrated to Australia aboard Emily in August 1849, though only one Shakespeare appears among the arrivals, listed as "Sarah A.
He and his brother William clearly had a substantial musical education, perhaps largely from their father, who had constructed a pipe organ for his own home use.
The boys were frequently called on to preside at the piano at various functions of organizations such as the Freeman Street and North Adelaide Young Men's Societies, part of a network of similarly named groups attached to Protestant churches.
I determined to play a simple melody before and after the service, but it had to be of a hymnal character lest it should shock the good folk.
An anthem was never heard except on festive occasions; and then the very people who objected most strongly to its employment in the regular service were delighted with it, and we were asked to sing it at tea and public meetings.
Some of the church members reduced their subscriptions by 50 per cent., but I little knew how much the pastor had suffered in trying to improve the music until Mr. Symes told me himself afterwards.
It was suggested that the organ should be closed, the organist dismissed, and the harmonium reinstated; and that I should be asked to play for £30 per annum.
In 1871 Shakespeare produced Bellini's opera Norma using amateur performers, on three consecutive evenings 10–12 April at White's Assembly Rooms to considerable acclaim,[8] and 21–23 and 26 November in the following year, also at White's, the English opera Maritana, with Robert T. Gowenlock notable as Don Caesar de Bazan.
After nine months' illness the death, occurred from paralysis on Friday morning, at Miss Hill's Private Hospital, of Mr. James Shakespeare.