Sir John Underhill
Encyclopedia
John Edward Underhill was the son of Thomas Underhill
and grandson of Sir Hugh Underhill
, two figures favored under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. He would later have to emigrate to Holland to escape persecution.
John Edward Underhill was born in 1574 at Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, the son of Thomas Underhill
and Magdalen Amyas. He first married Mary Moseley (born 1580) who lived at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. Following her death he married his second wife Leonora Honor Pawley in 1595 at the age of 21. Pawley had been born in 1575 at Uny Lelant, Cornwall, England.
Of their three children, two daughters - Petronella and Lettice, are both recorded to have been born in 1593. Their son, the future Captain John Underhill, was born 7 October 1597 in Baginton, Warwickshire, England.
John Underhill was a friend and companion to the Earls of Leicester and Essex, and while a youth held a commission in the Earl of Leicester's own Troop of Guards, that was sent to the assistance of the Dutch by Queen Elizabeth I. When the Netherlands offered their sovereignty to the Earl of Leicester, John Edward Underhill was the bearer of confidential dispatches to Lord Burleigh, the Queen's Minister.
The Queen sent for Underhill and had a private interview. There she instructed him to deliver a confidential letter to Leicester. Soon afterward the Earl resigned and returned to England. Underhill after the fall and death of Leicester attached himself to the Earl of Essex. He accompanied Essex on a successful attack on Cadiz, Spain, and shared his ill fortune on a campaign against Tyronne and the revolted class in Ireland. For his gallant conduct he was knighted by Elizabeth.
Meanwhile the Earl of Essex rose in insurrection against the Queen. Essex was subsequently executed and Underhill left for the safety of Holland until the accession of King James in 1603, when he applied for pardon and leave to return to his native country. His request being denied, he remained in The Netherlands a number of years thereafter, in the company of a group of pious Puritans under the Rev. Mr. Robinson who had fled persecution in England. They lived in Bergen op Zoom
, a heavily fortified city in The Netherlands. There John Underhill was Sergeant in the Company of Captain Roget Orme. He died there in October 1608 and is buried in the Church of St. Gertrude.
Of his remaining family members, two are known to have emigrated to America. His wife Lenora Honor Pawley died in 18 December 1658 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. And his son Captain John Underhill
emigrated with the Puritans to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
in 1630 and died in Oyster Bay, New York in 1672.
, great-grandson of Hugh Underhill, would emigrate from England to The Netherlands with his family, and then from The Netherlands to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
where be became a leading figure in Colonial America.
Myron Charles Taylor
, America's leading industrialist, and a key diplmatic figure at the hub of many of the most important geopolitical events before, during, and after World War II. Also eighth generation descended from Captain John Underhill.
Amelia Earhart
, American aviation pioneer and author famous for her mysterious disappearance.
Thomas Underhill
Thomas Underhill served as Keeper of the Wardrobe of Kenilworth Castle and had charge of its contents after the castle was given by Queen Elizabeth I to her favourite Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester in 1563....
and grandson of Sir Hugh Underhill
Sir Hugh Underhill
Sir Hugh Underhill served as Keeper of the Wardrobe under Queen Elizabeth I and was highly regarded among members of the Royal Household.-Early Life:...
, two figures favored under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. He would later have to emigrate to Holland to escape persecution.
John Edward Underhill was born in 1574 at Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, the son of Thomas Underhill
Thomas Underhill
Thomas Underhill served as Keeper of the Wardrobe of Kenilworth Castle and had charge of its contents after the castle was given by Queen Elizabeth I to her favourite Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester in 1563....
and Magdalen Amyas. He first married Mary Moseley (born 1580) who lived at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. Following her death he married his second wife Leonora Honor Pawley in 1595 at the age of 21. Pawley had been born in 1575 at Uny Lelant, Cornwall, England.
Of their three children, two daughters - Petronella and Lettice, are both recorded to have been born in 1593. Their son, the future Captain John Underhill, was born 7 October 1597 in Baginton, Warwickshire, England.
John Underhill was a friend and companion to the Earls of Leicester and Essex, and while a youth held a commission in the Earl of Leicester's own Troop of Guards, that was sent to the assistance of the Dutch by Queen Elizabeth I. When the Netherlands offered their sovereignty to the Earl of Leicester, John Edward Underhill was the bearer of confidential dispatches to Lord Burleigh, the Queen's Minister.
The Queen sent for Underhill and had a private interview. There she instructed him to deliver a confidential letter to Leicester. Soon afterward the Earl resigned and returned to England. Underhill after the fall and death of Leicester attached himself to the Earl of Essex. He accompanied Essex on a successful attack on Cadiz, Spain, and shared his ill fortune on a campaign against Tyronne and the revolted class in Ireland. For his gallant conduct he was knighted by Elizabeth.
Meanwhile the Earl of Essex rose in insurrection against the Queen. Essex was subsequently executed and Underhill left for the safety of Holland until the accession of King James in 1603, when he applied for pardon and leave to return to his native country. His request being denied, he remained in The Netherlands a number of years thereafter, in the company of a group of pious Puritans under the Rev. Mr. Robinson who had fled persecution in England. They lived in Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.-History:Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1266. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of Breda. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate...
, a heavily fortified city in The Netherlands. There John Underhill was Sergeant in the Company of Captain Roget Orme. He died there in October 1608 and is buried in the Church of St. Gertrude.
Of his remaining family members, two are known to have emigrated to America. His wife Lenora Honor Pawley died in 18 December 1658 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. And his son Captain John Underhill
Captain John Underhill
John Underhill was an early English settler and soldier in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Province of New Hampshire, the New Haven Colony, New Netherland, and later the Province of New York...
emigrated with the Puritans to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
in 1630 and died in Oyster Bay, New York in 1672.
Famous descendants
Captain John UnderhillCaptain John Underhill
John Underhill was an early English settler and soldier in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Province of New Hampshire, the New Haven Colony, New Netherland, and later the Province of New York...
, great-grandson of Hugh Underhill, would emigrate from England to The Netherlands with his family, and then from The Netherlands to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
where be became a leading figure in Colonial America.
Myron Charles Taylor
Myron Charles Taylor
Myron Charles Taylor was one of the major figures in American life during the first half of the twentieth century...
, America's leading industrialist, and a key diplmatic figure at the hub of many of the most important geopolitical events before, during, and after World War II. Also eighth generation descended from Captain John Underhill.
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, American aviation pioneer and author famous for her mysterious disappearance.