William Underwood (abt. 1629 - bef. 1662)

Born about 1629 in England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Butler) Combs — married 1650 (to 1662) in Rappahannock, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 28 Feb 1662 before about age 33 in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Christopher Smart [send private message], Howard Roux [send private message], Rick Combs [send private message], Roxi Ris [send private message], and Tammy Miles [send private message]

Biography

William Underwood is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

William Underwood was a Virginia colonist.

Colonel William Underwood AKA: Capt. Wm. Underwood, Major Wm. Underwood, Wm. Underwood, Sr. However, the Combs-Coombs &c. Research Group designates each of these identifiers with a specific man by the same name. There were at least four, and possibly five, different William Underwoods.^[1]

Origin

Col. William Underwood^[2] was born about 1629, a son of Unknown Underwood and Margaret (Unknown) Underwood Upton Lucas (currently profiled as Margaret Unknown.^[3][1] He was also the brother of both Ann (Underwood) Williamson and Elizabeth (Underwood) Taylor Slaughter Catlett Butler.^[1]

Col. William was literate.^[1]

"Underwood, Major William, was son of [Col.] William Underwood who in 1650 patented land in Rappahannock county. He [Col. William] was burgess for Rappahannock in 1652 and justice in 1656. His mother Margaret Underwood married (secondly) Captain John Upton, and (thirdly) Thomas Lucas, Sr., of Rappahannock county."^[4]

Although somewhat confusing, this passage in Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography refers to Col. William Underwood as burgess and justice for Rappahannock County; should actually be Lancaster County since he moved there along with his mother and other family members by January 1652. William Underwood was in the new county of Lancaster when the first court was held January 1st, 1652, when he was listed as one of the justices present as was Mr. James Williamson (his brother-in-law.) He represented Lancaster County in the House of Burgesses at the sessions for April 1652 as Mr. William Underwood. He does appear to have returned to Rappahannock County by 1656 when he was justice there^[5] and before 1659 when he refers to himself as "of Rappahannock County" in a contract of sale to Capt. Richard Loes and Rice Jones.^[6]

William paid taxes in Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, based on his labor force. The county assessed him for five tithables, 24 Oct 1653,^[7] for six tithables, 7 Dec 1655,^[8] and for six tithables, 5 Nov 1656.^[9]

Marriages and Children

Col. William married twice.

• He married before May 1650, as his 1st, to Mary (Burton? Moseley?), here profiled as Mary Moseley.^[1] They had one known son, William Underwood Sr.. No evidence William had any other children; all his property was left to son William and nieces Mary and Margaret WIlliamson.

• He married after 1661, as his 2nd, and as her 2nd, to Elizabeth (Unknown) Underwood.^[1] After Col. William's death, she married as her 3rd, to Archdale Combs.^[1] William and Elizabeth had no known children.

Land Transactions

• 1650 - William Underwood, Gent., 1400 acs. in Rappa. Riv., lyeing on N. side, 22 May 1650, p. 212. Beg. at a poynt at the mouh of Mileck Cr., running N. E. by E. above Mr. James Williamson, & to Brushwood Cr. Trans. 28 pers., whose names are not given. Note: "The rights that belongs to this patent is in the Old Booke in folio 145."^[10]
• 1650 - Same, [William Underwood], 600 acs. in Rappa. Riv. on N. side, beg. at a poynt nigh the mouth of Indian Cr., running N. E. by N. & above land of Mr. James Williamson. Trans. of 12 pers: Wm. Moseley, Wm. Underwood 4 tymes, Mary his wife, Wm. Underwood his son, Henry Succor & ux, George Bryer, Joseph Robins, Elizabeth Penn (or Prenn) 22 May 1650, p. 213.^[10]
  • This record establishes William was married to 1st wife Mary and had son Wm. Underwood before May 1650. Neighbor James Williamson was brother-in-law, husband of William's sister Ann Underwood. Wm. Moseley may be brother-in-law, brother of William's wife Mary (unconfirmed).
• 1655 - Deed of gift from Mr. William Underwood to Elizabeth Fantleroy, 6 February 1655, Lancaster County:
  • "it being a white cow with a bob tail marked with a crop on ye right and a slit and a half moon under ye left ear with ye whole increae" which was given to her in anno 1652. Recorded ye 10th day of 9ber 1655.^[6]
• 1655 - 20 March 1655, Lancaster County: ...I William Underwood sell unto Edward Bradshaw the one half of the cattle and hogs that are unpon my plantation .... In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of March, 1655. William Underwood. Test: William Moseley, George Raules.^[6]
• 1658 - Mr. Wm. Underwood, 882 acs. Rappa. Co., 10 Sept. 1658, p. 245, (344). Bet. some of the head branches of Pepetick Cr. & Mr. Popes Cr., beg. near Rappa. path, extending to the head of lands of Silvester Thatcher & Thomas Wright. Trans. of 18 pers: [see source p 384 for list]^[10]
• 1658 - Same [Mr. Wm. Underwood]. 2784 acs. Same county, date & page. Parallel to land of Thomas Whitlock, & Richard Coleman, by path leading to Nansatticoe. 1400 acs. granted to Wm. Smart 15 Mar. 1657, assigned to Wm. Clapham, Jr., who assigned to sd. Underwood; the residue for trans. of 28 pers: [see source p 384 for list] Renewed 13 May 1579 in the name of Wm. Underwood, son of sd. Underwood.^[10]
• 1659 - 30 May 1659 - 2 Nov 1659: "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 .... containg 650 acres or thereabouts....^[11]
• 1661 - Samuel Nicholls, 699 acs. in the freshes & upon N. side of Rappa. Riv., .... Part of 1000 acs. granted to sd. [Thomas] Whitlock.... & 238 acs. lately purchased of Major Wm. Underwood of the aforesd. county.^[10] Note: see Col. William Underwood for transcript of record of sale.

• Land recorded by Heirs after Wm. Underwood's death:
  • Margarett & Mary Williamson, 882 acs. Rappa. Co., 11 Mar. 1662, p. 102 (597). Between some of the head branches of Pepetick Cr. & head branches of Mr. Popes Cr., .... Granted to William Underwood, Gent., 10 Sept, 1658 & given to the abovenamed [nieces] by the last will of said Underwood.^[10]
  • William Underwood, sonn & heire of Coll. Wm. Underwood, 2561 1/2 acs. Rappa. Co., 11 Mar. 1662, p. 103 (598). ... 2784 granted Coll. Underood 10 Sept. 1658, whereof 238 sold to Samuell Nicholls & 15 1/2 acs. now adjoined. Due said William as sonn & heire of the abovesaid.^[10]

Death and Legacy

Col. William Underwood died c. 1661-1663.^[1] He is known to be deceased before 28 February 1662 "when Thomas Lucas Junr. stated that he had surveyed for Coll. William Underwood a tract of 2561 acres of land .... The said Thomas Lucas Junr. made a power of attorney to his honored father Mr. Thomas Lucas Senr. to recover tobacco due him for surveying the land for Coll. William Underwood deceased."^[6]

William Underwood's will has not been located, but he apparently left all his property to his only son, William Underwood Sr. (1649-1717), and to his nieces Margarett and Mary Williamson, daughters of his sister Anne (Underwood) Williamson.

Alternate information on death from merged profile:

Butler, Amory. 21 Aug., 1678 — 29 Jan., 1678-9.

My books and sermon notes to:

my brother Mr. William Butler, minister of Washington Parish;

brother John Butler;

Valentine Allen;

godson William Pannell;

nephew John Underwood; brother William Underwood;

Daniel Gaines

executor; witnesses Samuel Bloomfield, Lawrence Rochefort.

Death

Death:

Date: 11 Mar 1663

Place: , Rappahannock, Virginia, USA

Research Notes

Merge with William Underwood (abt.1629-bef.1662).

William was probably born before 1632, the birth date of his wife, Elizabeth, but certainly before 1638.^[1]

This Unknown Underwood was the first husband of Elizabeth (Unknown).^[1]

The William and Mary Quarterly article (p 276) disagrees with the Combs-Coombs &c. Research Group as to the father of William Underwood, Jr.^[1] The difference is the more recent revelation of Elizabeth's first marriage to the Unknown (possibly William?) Underwood, who was the father of William Underwood, Jr.^[1] After his death, Elizabeth married, as her 2nd, to Col. William Underwood, and as her 3rd to Archdale Combs.

Children of Unknown (possibly William?) Underwood and Elizabeth:^[3]

1. William Underwood, Jr. (profile in progress) b c. 1652 (possibly as late as 16620, d aft 1694. Illiterate. His Mark "OU"^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12} Combs-Coombs &c. Research Group, "Col. William UNDERWOOD" December 3, 2007, USGenNet accessed 16 July 2016.
2. ↑ Underwood, William - A8204; died by 1675; Lancaster Co.: 1652 (Burgess).accessed 23 November 2021
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Combs-Coombs &c. Research Group, Margaret UNKNOWN of Isle of Wight and Old Rappa. Cos., VA USGenNet accessed January 11, 2015
4. ↑ Tyler, Lyon Gardiner. Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Volume I. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company 1915. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008. Page 347
5. ↑ “Historical and Genealogical Notes.” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 10, no. 4, Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1902, pp. 273–82, https://doi.org/10.2307/1915008. Page 276; accessed 23 November 2021
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} “Underwood Family of Virginia (Continued).” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 38, no. 4, Virginia Historical Society, 1930, pp. 386–93, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4244378. Pages 387ff
7. ↑ 1653 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 24 Oct 1653. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Deed & Will Book 1, 1652-1657, pp. 90-94. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 4 Feb 2024. To see what others appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
8. ↑ 1655 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 7 Dec 1655. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Deed & Will Book 1, 1652-1657, pp. 234-239. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here, as transcribed in 1961 Transcription. Fleet, Beverley. 1961. Virginia Colonial Abstracts: Vol. XXII, Lancaster County 1652-1655. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Pages 106-109. Available online without restriction courtesy of HathiTrust here. Accessed 29 Jan 2024. To see what others appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
9. ↑ 1656 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 5 Nov 1656. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Deed & Will Book 1, 1652-1657, pp. 302-307. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 23 Mar 2024. To see what others appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6} Nugent, Nell Marion, Abstracted and Indexed by. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1800. In Five Volumes. Richmond, VA.: Press of the Dietz Printing Co., 1935. Page 191, 384, 397, 429
11. ↑ (Vol. 1656-64, p. 70, Rappahannock Records; as cited on Col. William Underwood

• "The Revolution in Virginia. 33"; Magazine of History (1906) 3,153; H. J. Eckenrode:

• Source: S-2123128525 Repository: #R-2145025786 Title: Public Member Trees Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members.Original data: Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=1231806&pid=2899
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Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Underwood-725 created through the import of Callahan, Wiley, Plotner, Powell Family Tree - 2009.ged on Dec 2, 2011 by Ron Callahan.

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to the Combs-Coombs &c. Research Group for the excellent research, using primary documents, and for publishing it online.
• The Descendants of William Moseley 1605/1606 - 1655 of Norfolk, Va, compiled by Leila Eldridge D'Aiutolo, et al, 2000, volume two, page 149.

• Some records [including record of 1656 Lancaster Co. VA showing him to be brother of Ann Williamson who married James Williamson] show this William Underwood to be the son of Unknown and Margaret Underwood [Upton] [Lucas]

• Long detailed genealogy on Find A Grave: Memorial #175464318