Notes:

Alexander Underwood, born in Maryland, settled in London Grove, (Warrington MM), Chester Co., PA in 1722, multiple years after his marriage to Jane Harry. He had the land in London Grove Twp. surveyed in 1720. He obtained a deed for the land in 1722 after his father's death. He was a witness to multiple marriages in the Chester Co., PA region, in 1728 at a Nottingham marriage, in 1731, 1734, 1735 and 1738 in London Grove MM, and lastly in 1734 in New Garden MM. (C-942)

He was a devout Quaker, a Friends Minister for 22 years and named an Elder on Nov. 31, 1735. In 1742 he sold his land to William Boyd. They then moved to Warrington, York Co., PA (Sadsbury Monthly Meeting Territory) in 1743. His wife, Jane, died shortly after this move. On the 3rd month, 28th, 1743, he, Robert Conners, William Underwood and their families requested a Certificate of Removal from the Sadsbury MM (then including York Co. PA). Alexander got a certificate of removal to Monocacy Meeting in Prince Georges Co., Maryland on Sept. 2, 1745. He returned to Sadsbury MM on Aug. 3, 1747 in York Co. where Alexander was recommended as minister. He married Sarah Boatwater Beals, widow of John Beals, after Sarah had gotten her children's permission. They married after he received a certificate from Warrington to Fairfax Meeting dated 2mo. 16, 1748. Sarah was probably in her 60's at the time.

Sarah died prior to Alexander as she was not mentioned in his will. She is last recorded on Sept. 12, 1761 when she was succeeded as "overseer". He, Samuel and William Underwood (probably his sons) pledged money to help buy the land for the Warrington Monthly Meeting while attending Sadsbury MM in 1745. (C-429) His will, dated May 28, 1767 is likely filed at York Co., Pennsylvania

Some of Alexander and Jane's children moved to Delaware and their records may be found in the northern County of a Quaker Record Holding Place. The Book "The Underwood Families of America, Vol. 2:" carries the males lines forward sometimes to the 1900's. As for Alexander's ancestry, it states that it descended from Samuel Underwood of New Castle Co., Del. in the late 1600's. It is fairly definite Samuel was from Maryland, descended from Thomas Underwood of Anne Arundel County, Md. (C-260)

There is some controversy on his daughter, Mary's mother. One out of six major works on the Underwood families believes that Alexander had an unknown wife before he married Jane Harry by whom he had Mary. CD-100 gives his only wife's name as Mary Jane Underhill. This is actually the wife of his grandson Alexander. (C-533)

The mix up in number of wives is due to a literal translation of a Quaker eulogy on Alexander Underwood. However, all other major sources disagree with parts of the eulogy. It was written by friends of his and approved on the 5th mo. 7, 1768, many months after his death when all of his children lived elsewhere and his wife had passed away. It is poorly written with another blatant error, that his parent's weren't Quaker. They feel they confused his adulthood move with the time of his marriage.

The eulogy from which this confusion rises follows: Alexander Underwood was born in the Province of Maryland in the year 1688. His parents who were not members of the religious Society of Friends, removed when he was young and settled in New Castle on the Delaware (when Alexander was about four years old). Here he continued to reside until he reached the thirty-fourth year of his age, when he married and removed to London Grove Township, Chester County (Pennsylvania). Here he became acquainted with Friends and in a few years afterwards he became convinced of the Truth of the principles professed by them, and was received into membership with them. (The timing of these last two statements is not accurate when checked against the time he was a recorded member verses his marriage and move. [C-635, p.21]) By faithfulness to that which led him into the way of the Truth, he grew in religious experience, and became a valuable member of the Church Militant. In a very few years he was appointed Elder, in which he conducted himself with reputation.

About the year 1743, he believed it right to remove to Warrington, where he resided the rest of his life. In a year or two thereafter, a gift in the Ministry of the gospel was committed to him, in which he endeavored to be faithful. Besides his earnest labors among neighboring meetings, he twice visited the meetings to the south as far as North Carolina, and brought back comfortable accounts from his Friends there of his labor of love amongst them. He was a good example of humble waiting in religious meetings, and by dwelling near the Fountain of Life, he was enabled, when called into service by his divine Master, "to minister suitably to the situation of the Church, the comfort of the true mourners of Zion, and the encouragement of the faithful."

He was diligent, as the way was inwardly opened therefore, in visiting meetings around, and was ever careful to maintain the good order of the church, by having the unity of his friends with his prospects. Toward the end of his life, his strength of body failed much, yet he continued of a clear mind, and sound and lively ministry, visiting even in his weakness some of his neighboring meetings, and families of friends. In these exercises, his labor of love was truly comforting to the living.

During his last illness, he was resigned and cheerful. At one time he said "He had the good company of his Master to comfort him in his affliction." On another occasion he remarked, "He could say with the Psalmist that he good Hand that was with him in his younger years, had not forsaken him now in his old age." At different times he signified to those who visited him, "that he still felt the Comforter with him," and said his day's work was done. A short time before his close, "He sang praises and hallelujahs to his great Lord and Master," and then he prayed earnestly for the little handful. He took an affectionate leave of those present, and in a sweet frame of mind, uttered praises until his voice was lost, he quietly and joyfully departed Tenth month, 31st, 1767 and was inter'd the 2nd of the eleventh in the seventy ninth year of his age. May we who are left behind, be engaged to follow his example so that our end may be like unto his. (C-635)

The evident errors in this eulogy are in the timing of events in his earliest life. He moved to London Grove in 1722, and there is no record of his marriage to Jane Harry in the New Garden meeting house in the year 1722 where he was a member. By all known information, Jane was his first wife and they had married a good eleven years previous to that date. These errors are understandable when it's known that they were coming from friends memories.

Alexander married Jane HARRY about 1710 in , New Castle, DE, USA. Jane (daughter of Hugh HARRY and Elizabeth BRINTON) was born about 1687 in Chichester, Chester, PA, USA; died before 25 Apr 1743 in London Grove, Chester, PA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary UNDERWOOD, * was born about 1710 in , Chester, PA, USA; and died.
2. Samuel UNDERWOOD was born about 1713 in London Grove M.M., Chester, PA, USA; died about 1773 in , Orange, NC.
3. Elizabeth UNDERWOOD was born on 18 Aug 1714 in , Chester, PA, USA; died before 1767.
4. William UNDERWOOD was born on 18 May 1720 in , York, PA, USA; died on 18 May 1785 in , York, PA, USA; was buried after 18 May 1785 in Warrington Twp., York, PA.
5. Joseph UNDERWOOD was born about 1722 in Christian Hundred, New Castle, DE, USA; died after Apr 1757 in , New Castle, DE, USA.
6. Ann UNDERWOOD was born in 1723 in Warrington, Bucks, PA, USA; and died.
7. Jane UNDERWOOD was born about 1724 in Christian Hundred, New Castle, DE, USA; and died.
8. Olive UNDERWOOD was born about 1726 in Christian Hundred, New Castle, DE, USA; died before 1767.
9. Benjamin UNDERWOOD was born about 1728 in London Grove, Chester, PA, USA; died on 8 Dec 1803 in Warrington Twp., York, PA; was buried in Warrington Burial Ground, Warrington Twp., York, PA, USA.
10. Elihu UNDERWOOD was born about 1730 in Warrington Twp., York, PA; died about 1801 in Warrington Twp., York, PA.
11. John UNDERWOOD was born about 1732 in Warrington, Bucks, PA, USA; died on 18 Jun 1776 in Warrington Twp., York, PA.
12. Ruth UNDERWOOD was born about 1734 in Warrington Twp., York, PA; and died.
13. Thomas UNDERWOOD was born in in , Chester, PA, USA; died in in London Grove, Chester, PA, USA.

Alexander married Sarah Boatwater BEALS on 16 Feb 1748 in Monocacy M.M., Prince George's, MD. Sarah died about 1761. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Samuel Underwood owned 22 1/2 acres by Sept. 29, 1682. He sold 50 acres of land, known as "Middle Neck" originally belonging to his father, Thomas Underwood on Mar. 24, 1683 to his brother-in-law. He purchased land from Samuel Matson six years later. He and wife, Mary, sold 300 acres to Nicholas Rogers in 1689. He had land surveyed and patented to him from John Grigg on the 12th mo 18 1692-3, that he had apparently owned since 1685. (C-636) This might have been in preparation for a move as he and his family left for New Castle, Delaware about 1693 onto 150 acres. He is on record as paying taxes in that year in New Castle. He bought 250 acres of land in what is now London Grove, Pennsylvania on March 14, 1722. This was land he never moved to, but willed to his sons.

His will, made in 1722, is on file in Wilmington, Delaware. It is provided as follows in Lucien Marcus Underwood's "Notes from the Underwood Families of America" (C-2266) "The Last Will and Testimoney of Samuell Underwood, Sen of the County of New Castell upon Delaware he being at this presents in god sense and memory I doe by these presents revock all forme wills and testimonies whatsover desiring that my body be desently intered and commit my soule unto god that have it. Item I give to my well beloved wife the third of my personall estate and also my lodgin room at her command during her widowhood. Item I give unto my son Joseph Underwood the remaining part of my land which is a hundred and eleven ackers with all the plantation I now live upon. Item I give unto my son Bengemen Underwod one hundred and fifty ackers of land in Chester County and in the London track to be laid out at the north end of that tract containing two hundred and fifty ackers of land. Item I give unto my two sons Alexander Underwood and Thomas Underwood all the remaining part of the above tract they dividing it between then as they think good. Item I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Harres one two year owld hefer. Item I give unto my son Joseph Underwood one Iron gray horse about five years owld. Item I leave my two sons Joseph Underwood and Bengemen Underwood to be my sole Executors of this my last will and testimony either in land or equity and when all my just debts and legasies be paid the remaining part of my Esteat I leave unto them they to divide it equally between them in witnes eleventh day of June in the year 1722. Samuel Undewood Signe sealled in the presents of us Thomas Hollingsworth Christopher Wilson Walter Clark This Samuel's wife Mary was probably Mary Ann Wilcox as in CD-102.

This Delaware Underwood family has left descendants in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina and throughout the west.

Samuel married Mary Ann WILCOX about 1685. Mary (daughter of Henry WILCOCKS and Sarah LEWIS) was born about 1670 in , New Castle, DE, USA; died after 1722. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Underwood means families who lived "under the woods". In early England it was written "Under-the-wode" or "Andewode". Tony Underwood, a researcher in England, has also sent information that it is a surname originally from Scotland from a small place by that same name, in the parish of Symington Ayrahire. The earliest known Underwood was John Vndirwode who was burgess at Prestwick in the 1470's. In Scotland, the surname can be found in the 15th and 16th centuries under the spellings of Wndirwod, Vndirwode, Wndirwod, Vndirwod, Ondirwodd, and Ondirwod. Tony Underwood has traced his family back to a small town just over the border from Scotland in England called Eks. (C-2160E, 2161)

There is a tradition in some of the Underwood families in America that the Underwoods descended through Indians, possibly Cherokee. There are in fact many Choctaw and Cherokee Indians with the name of Underwood, but the relationship is not known.

This Thomas Underwood, progenitor of our branch of this family, probably came from England. He was brought to Virginia with Captain Moore Fautleroy of Lower Norfolk Co., VA in 1650. (It is not known if the Captain was a Captain in the military or Ships Master) No ship's name has been found. Thomas paid for passage of himself and Elizabeth (probably already his wife). They came with 81 others, several of whom were Underwoods of uncertain but now theorized relationship: Mary and husband, George Underwood; Ann Underwood (sister to George and Thomas); William Underwood (brother to Ann and George and Thomas) and parents; William Underwood, Gent. and wife Mary (this is the only name that doesn't fit in my theory unless it was a nickname or a translation error and is actually Margaret). Their relationship however, is suggested in an aged manuscript authored about 1873 that was sent to me by John Dobberteen of Michigan in 1996. It stated that three Underwood brothers "grenadiered" in the British army, came to America and once landed, they separated. One went to New York, another to North Carolina and the third to Maryland. Their father possibly emigrated to America too and lived in Maryland. (C-748)

An Underwood researcher indicates that this info was slightly incorrect for William who settled in the Richmond, VA area and died in 1672 in Rappahannock County (his son William died there about 1734). The manuscript implies that the father of Alexander Underwood was one of these brothers. Although this doesn't fit his father's generation, the family tradition could easily be about his grandfather's generation instead. A book in the Library of Congress with a title similar to "The Underwood Boys" says that the above George Underwood supports this - stating that George, Thomas and William Underwood were the 3 brothers who came together from England (to Virginia?) and were all given land by Lord Baltimore in Maryland. (C-2196, 2202)

Through studying the deeds and wills of Rappahannock Co., VA and comparing it to info at www.familysearch.com, I've been able to determine the William of Rapahannok's sisters. This is the same William that came over on the ship with Thomas. Though Thomas is not listed as a child of this same family at www.familysearch.com, he would be of the right age to be a brother of this family. The tradition of 3 brothers would also fit. If he isn't William's brother, he could easily be his cousin, son to one of William's other brothers, Edmund, or John by timing. Their youngest brother was Thomas whom our Thomas would have been named after. (C-2394)

It is not known how long our Thomas or his brothers??? stayed in Virginia but probably soon after he, (his brothers????) and Thomas Meeres, a Quaker friend or relative, traveled to Maryland. Maryland history records that Quakers first entered the colony in 1657-8, after traveling on foot from Virginia. It also states that Thomas Meere's arrived the first year Severn River was settled. It is assumed this applies to Thomas Underwood as well.

There is some conjecture that Thomas Underwood was a Quaker. However, he is in no Quaker records and did not refuse the oath of allegiance as Thomas Meeres did. One of his grandsons became a Quaker minister. Thomas's son, John Meeres lists Samuel Underwood, brother to Elizabeth in his will. Since several researchers submitting info on this Thomas to the Mormon church have said that he died in 1683 in Middleneck, Anne Arundel Co, MD and was buried at Severna Park in that same county, the deceased is more likely to be Elizabeth's mother.

It is not certain if Elizabeth entered Virginia with Thomas Underwood in 1750 as she is not listed in Greer's "Immigrants to Virginia." Possibly she departed her ship in Maryland or Pennsylvania and was later rejoined by Thomas Underwood. She did come in 1650 according to testimony from her husband: "I, Thomas Underwood do assign over to Thomas Bradley, or his assigns all my right and title to land due to me, my wife - Elizabeth, William Jones, William Waddles, Dorethy Grove. I came in the year 50 and so did my wife, Elizabeth, Jones in 58, Waddle in 62, Grove in 58, witness my hand 3 Sept., 1663." Thomas in other words brought over each of the persons mentioned in this quote and actually received land grants for bringing in additional settlers. He could not have been poor to find opportunities to do this.

By Feb. 9, 1662 he had 50 acres. On Aug. 6, 1663 he received from Lord Baltimore, a grant for the land which was named "Middle Neck" located at 30 degrees North Latitude and basically 76 degrees West Longitude near the current day Annapolis, Maryland. On Aug. 8, 1863 he received another grant for 100 acres from Lord Baltimore which he had surveyed on Oct. 20, 1663. He named this "The Landing."

Only two of Thomas and Elizabeth's children have been found in any documents. He may have had more as there were other Underwoods in the area years after Thomas and Elizabeth arrived. (C-635)

Thomas married Elizabeth UNKNOWN before 1645. Elizabeth died before 1674. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth's last name is uncertain. It has been conjectured by some researchers to be Meere's as that is the surname of the man who took in Thomas's children when his wife died. However, since Mr. Meeres referred to her as his orphan servant girl and because Thomas Meeres and family were already living in Lower Norfolk Co., VA by 1640, Meeres' daughter would have been living in VA and MD for at least ten years before she emigrated with her husband in 1650. Obviously, she can't have been the daughter of Thomas Meeres. (C-2751) She and her husband Thomas Underwood are a DNA cousin match via myself and W.H. (earlhumphrey_1) at Ancestry.com.

Notes:

Some researchers believe this Henry is a part of the Virginia Willcocks whose original immigrant was Captain Willcox who came to Virginia in 1620 and was a Representative in the Legislature for Accomac Co. in 1623. Captain Willcox was from Plymouth, ENG and came to Virginia to fight the Indians. His will was probated June 1628 in England. Henry married widow, Sarah Lewis. It is conjecture that she is the mother of Samuel's wife, Mary Ann Wilcox, because we are not sure of Mary's birth date. The Henry that married Sarah Lewis is also probably the same Henry that emigrated from England to Maryland and had a plantation named Mount Hope on the Chester River in Maryland. (C-635, 1206) Henry wrote his will on Nov. 9, 1684 and died the following March and names his daughter Mary in his will.

Henry married Sarah LEWIS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William's christening date is in question from my point of view. There is a christening record in St. Stephen, Wallbrook, London, England that is very difficult to decifer. It has been indexed as Willisennt Underwood, son of Edw(ard) on May 15, 1606. I suggest that because this is where Edmunds other children were christened that this has been misinterpreted in the index and should actually be William Underwood, son of Edmund. A family tree record gave his birthplace as Kent in 1606 and his christening on Apr. 19, 1612 also in St. Stephen isntead. I do not know which is correct. I have not been able to find an Edward having any other children in St. Stephen other than what is listed as Willisennt. This generation and his children is conjecture on my part from traditions passed down in this family combined with patterns of early Underwoods living in this country.

I have found part of the children listed here as children of William Underwood and Margaret Masan in the family ancestral files at www.familysearch.com: Anne, William, Elizabeth, Sarah, Margaret and Mary. However, that source also lists him with 3 wives named Margaret, two of which he married in VA and the 3rd in England. If this is true, then some of them were children of his 2nd or 3rd wife. This family obviously needs work.

It's entirely possible that the family that includes William as a child is simply a different branch of Underwoods that does not include our Thomas directly. However, as they have his first wife marrying him in 1621 and they do not have any listed children before 1629, I'm suggesting that Thomas and George also belong in this family. They came over on the same ship at the same time... and both disappeared from Old Rappahonnak Co, VA records after their arrival. There is a tradition passed down in the family that Thomas was one of 3 brothers that migrated together, with all 3 dispersing in different directions after they arrived.

Here is a record for a land purchase that William made in Virginia provided at http://www.combs-families.org/combs/assoc/u-1.htm by the COMBS-COOMBS &C. RESEARCH GROUP. "2 Nov 1659. Old Rappahannock. "I, Will UNDERWOOD of Rappahannock County with the consent of Mary my wife," for the sum of 120 pounds Sterling money paid according to the tenor of a contract dated 30th May 1659 conveyed unto Capt. Richard LOES and Rice JONES a plantation lying on the north side of Rappahannock River.....uppermost half of the lowermost half whereof I formerly sold unto ........eads (mutilated) dec'd this land adjoining the land of Coll FAUNTLEROY known by the name of Mangorick and on the eastermost side of Bushwood Creek and runneth for length into the woods NE and by E and by the River NW and by W, to hold the said plantation thereto with all houses, outhouses Edifices thereon erected (the Courthouse excepted), containing 650 acres or thereabouts, and all gardens, orchards and fences ---- unto the said Capt. Richard LOES and Rice JONES. Teste: John CATLETT and Tho. GOODRICH (Vol. 1656-64, p. 70, Rappahannock Records)."

Margaret Mason, his wife, married John Upton after William's death. John Upton's will names some of Margaret and William Underwood's children: William, Elizabeth, Sarah and Margaret. (C-2403)