Elizabeth married John UNDERWOOD, * on 17 Nov 1572 in Bulmer, Essex, England. John (son of Sir Richard UNDERWOOD, *) was born in 1550 in Lamarsh, Essex, England; died in 1612 in , Essex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There is a burial of and Edmund/Edward Underwood on June 28, 1644 in St. Stephen's, Walbrook, London, England that I personally believe is this Edmund Underwood. The original document looks like Edmund and the index lists him as Edward.

Edmund married Alice PAPWORTH on 31 Jul 1598 in Walbrook London, Middlesex, England. Alice was born on 27 Apr 1589 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, ENG; died in 1649 in , , ENG. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This is an IGI British Isles extract supposedly from the actual christening records.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is entirely possible that the following record belongs to this John and that his brother William followed him to the new world a few years later. There was a John Underwood that preceeded this batch of Underwoods to old Rappahannock, VA. He married Dorothy Cayhoes, widow of William Cayhoes in Nov. of 1645. Those records are now available in York Co., VA records.

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)

Family/Spouse: Margaret ROBERTS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Margaret ROBERTS. Margaret was born in 1606 in St. Giles, London, England; died in 1665 in Of Rappahonnak, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is conjecture on my part that Elizabeth is the sister of Thomas Underwood. She was married 4 times. Her 2nd husband seemed to be a peer of her possible brother William in a 1656 Old Rapp. Co. deed. Her married names were Taylor, Slaughter, Catleet and Butler. (C-2394) It's her husband's will that definitely seems to connect her to likely sisters Mary and Margaret as their husbands are mentioned as brother-in-laws in his will.

Elizabeth married James TAYLOR before 1652. James died in in Of Surry, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Francis SLAUGHTER about 1652. Francis died about 1657 in , Old Rappahannock, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: John CATLETT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Amory BUTLER. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She and her siblings were given land in their stepfather, John Upton's will, with no indication that she or her siblings were underage in 1752.

Sarah married William PIERCE before 1668 in , , VA. William was born in in Of Westmoreland, VA; died on 24 Jan 1704 in , Westmoreland, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is theory that Margaret is a sister of Thomas because she marries in 1660 in the region he first emigrated too. Supporting this theory is that her husband, Henry Booth was a witness to sale of the land by Moore Fauntleroy and his wife, with William Underwood being their attorney to Francis Slaughter in 1756. This and other records simply indicate this group knew each other well.

Family/Spouse: Humphrey BOOTH. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is sometimes listed with the surname of Hill, but deed and will evidence has led researcher Fran Osborn to believe she was Mary Underwood instead. (C-2394) Not supporting this theory which fits well with most first hand records is Capt. John Upton's will in which he names the children of his latest wife, Margaret (who was married to William Underwood) who were living near them in Virginia but he does not name Mary in his will dated 1752. (C-2403)

Mary married Moore FAUNTLEROY before 1653. Moore died before 1666 in , Old Rappahannock, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: William LLOYD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George and his wife Mary came over on the same ship as likely brother, Thomas Underwood. This is verified when Capt. Moore Fauntleroy, the captain of the ship on which they traveled, received 450 cares of land on the Rappahannock River on the N. side of Swan Bay on May 22, 1650, for transporting 9 individuals including, George Underwood, his wife Mary and Anne Underwood. On this same day, "22 May 1650. Lancaster Co VA. Capt. Moore FAUNTLEROY in Rappahannock River, 1800 acres on the N side, 500 acres being marsh and facing the river, 1300 acres of the high land beginning at a point on the westward side of the mouth of Bushwood Creek, running for length NE by E and adjoining land of William UNDERWOOD, for transportation of 36 persons: Nugent, Patent Bk 2, p. 195. Capt. Moore FAUNTLEROY. 1800 acres in RapPennsylvania River on N side; 500 being marsh & facing the river & 1300 acres of the high land beginning at a point on Wwd side of the mouth of Bushwood Creek, running for length NE by E & adj. land of William UNDERWOOD. 22 May 1650. Trans. 36 persons: Thomas UNDERWOOD, Elizabeth, William, Sarah, Margarett, Tho. WRIGHT, his wife, children 5, Maide, Nicho. SPAKMAN, Fra. MOSELEY, Elizabeth SYMON, Sarah CADE, Thomas SCOTT, Anthony JOHNSON, Walter RICHARDS, Richard SMITH, Richard DAVIS, Alex. TESHLEY, Edward SKIPPER, Richard HALL, Wm EVERFLEET, Ann COOPER, Ann DENNIS, Alice WILLIAMSON, Tho. NEWMAN, Susanna his wife, David JOHNSON, Robert NUSSER, Rice ADRIDGE, William DAVIS, Geo. DAY, Margarett COWARD. (Patent Bk 2, p. 195). This patent was assigned by Moore FAUNTLEROY to Michael WINDSMORE who renewed it in his own name on 6 October 1654 (Patent Bk. 3, p. 299). (C-2394)"

George married Mary UNKNOWN before 1650. Mary died after 1650. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

I am guessing that Anne is an unmarried sister of Thomas and George Underwood as she came over on the same ship as them. Capt. Moore Fauntleroy, the captain of the ship on which they traveled, received 450 cares of land on the Rappahannock River on the N. side of Swan Bay on May 22, 1650, for transporting 9 individuals including, George Underwood, his wife Mary and Anne Underwood. I have placed her as the daughter of Margaret and William Underwood, because Margaret's 2nd husband, Gentleman John Upton, bequeathed lands or monies to what appear to be all children of his 2nd wife: William, Elizabeth, Sarah and Margaret Underwood and Ann Wiliamson, wife of James Williamson who still lived in the area. (C-2403)

Family/Spouse: James WILLIAMSON. [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:

William was a respected attorney in multiple deed records for this family in Old Rappohanock Co, VA in 1656, and 1657. (C-2394) The following deed applies to the William married to Mary provided by Fran Osborn. "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). " This helps support the theory that William is related to Mary Underwood, wife of Moore Fauntleroy as their land was adjoining. There is strong circumstantial evidence that William, Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret are siblings in the deed and will records for Old Rapp. Co., VA and that their mother was named Margaret who had a 2nd husband named Upton.

William married Mary UNKNOWN before 1650. Mary died after 1659. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]