“I have known any number of Underhills in every walk of life, men who made their living in many different ways – men belonging to the professions, men who followed the sea, men who tilled the soil, men of means, men who made each day’s living by that days work with their hands – and all of them decent citizens.
Captain John Underhill, son of John Edward Underhill, was born in 1597 in Warwickshire, he fled along with his family to the fortified city of Bergen op Zoom in Holland. His father John Edward Underhill served as Sergeant in the company of Captain Roger Orme. Following his fathers death in October 1608, John Underhill, his mother and siblings lived
The Underhill family found themselves deep in the currents of Elizabethan history and politics, having first-hand contact with some of the most influential and enigmatic figures of the time. The rise of the Underhill family much like that of Dudley and others was accomplished by gaining the favor of the crown, and the gifts of lands, titles, and exclusive contracts
The presence of the Underhill family at Oxford reaches at least as early as 1372, when Robert Underhill was noted as being one of the proctors for the University of Oxford.[i] Over 20 others by the name of Underhill are included in the alumni register for Oxford University.[ii] Sir Kenelm Digby gave a collection of manuscripts to the Bodleian Library of
The Underhill and Bacon families were closely linked though the Chapel of St. Thomas a Becket at Ettington. Members of the two families are interred closely together there. One tablet on the tower has a long description of Thomas Underhill (1521-1603) and his wife Elizabeth who lived together 65 years, had 20 children, and died a few months of each
In 1563 Thomas Underhill was assigned the role as Keeper of the Wardrobe for Robert Dudley at Kenilworth Castle. Robert Dudley would subsequently invest 60,000 pounds[i]to convert Kenilworth into a place suited to receive the Queen during her ceremonial ‘progresses’ around her realm.[ii]As an indication of Dudley’s suitability for hosting Elizabeth and his taste for entertainment, in June 1559 Dudley
Hugh Underhill like his brother Edward Underhill, traded life as a country man for that of a courtier, though he was somewhat less militant when compared to his brother. As the fifth son of Thomas Underhill and Ann Wynter, all of the manor lands at Idilcote, Hunningham, and Ettington Park had been deeded to his older brothers. As a result,
The Underhill family name has roots tracing back to the 1200’s in the Staffordshire area. A Robert Underhill of Bushbury resided there. Over time the family became associated with the Northycote Farm.[i]From the late 16th century through 1791 it was recorded that a Catholic branch of the Underhill family resided in this area.[ii]Later the family name spread to Wolverhampton where
John Undrell (died 1588) married Joan Fermer on 27 Oct 1549 in Staplehurst. (Note: Burial record refers to Godlye Undrell as “ye wyfe of John Undrell”). They had the following children together. John Undrell was buried in Staplehurst on 11 May 1588.[iii] Richard Undrell (a.k.a. Richarde Underell, Richarde Underell[iv], Richard Underhill[v]) (1550-). Christened in All Saints Church in Staplehurst on
Thomas Underhill[viii] of Sampford Courtenay was engaged in the Cornish rebellion also known as the Prayer Book Rebellion of 1549. Many protested the new English prayerbook because English was not commonly spoken at the time. Thomas Underhill was one of many local leaders that protested introduction of a prayer book in English.[ix] He was a village tailor at the time. Underhill was