Fulke Underhill facts for kids
Fulke Underhill (1578–1599) was a young man from a well-known family in Warwickshire, England. His father, William Underhill, owned a famous house called New Place in Stratford-Upon-Avon. This house was later sold to the famous playwright, William Shakespeare, in 1597. Fulke's life was short, and there were some unclear events surrounding his father's death and his own.
Quick facts for kids Fulke Underhill |
|
|---|---|
| Father | William Underhill |
| Mother | Mary Underhill |
| Born | baptised 28 January 1578 |
| Died | 21 March 1599 (aged 20–21) Warwick |
| Burial | Idlicote, Warwickshire |
Contents
Fulke Underhill: A Young Man in Shakespeare's Time
His Family Background
Fulke Underhill was born in 1578 and was the oldest son of William Underhill and Mary Underhill. He was baptised on January 28, 1578. His mother, Mary, passed away in 1590.
Fulke had several brothers and sisters:
- Hercules Underhill (1581–1650)
- Timothy Underhill (died 1658)
- Ludowick (or Lewis) Underhill
- William Underhill (1588–1656)
- Simon Underhill (1589–1664)
- Dorothy Underhill (born 1579)
- Elizabeth Underhill (born 1585, died young)
- Valentine Underhill (born 1587)
His grandparents were William Underhill (died 1570) and Ursula Congreve (died 1561). They had one son, Fulke's father, and four daughters. After Ursula died, his grandfather married Dorothy Hatton, who was the sister of Sir Christopher Hatton.
The Underhill Family and New Place
Fulke's grandfather, William Underhill (around 1523–1570), was a lawyer and a very wealthy landowner in Warwickshire. He owned many properties, including the manor of Idlicote. In 1567, he bought New Place in Stratford upon Avon. This house would later become famous because of its connection to William Shakespeare.
When Fulke's grandfather died in 1570, his only son, William Underhill (Fulke's father), was just 16 years old. Because he was so young, the crown (the government at the time) took charge of him. His stepmother's brother, Sir Christopher Hatton, bought the right to look after him in 1571.
When Fulke's father became an adult around 1575, he inherited all the family's lands. He later married Mary Underhill, Fulke's mother. In 1590, Mary died, and Fulke's father decided to put his properties in a trust for Fulke, his oldest son.
In 1597, Fulke's father sold New Place to William Shakespeare for £60. At that time, the property included the main house, two barns, and two gardens.
What Happened to His Father's Property?
In July 1597, Fulke's father, William Underhill, passed away. He made a will just before he died, leaving all his lands to Fulke, his eldest son. He also left money to his younger sons and daughters.
Fulke Underhill himself passed away in 1599, when he was still quite young. There were different ideas about what happened. Some sources say that after his death, it was suggested that he had caused his father's death. Other sources say that this suggestion came out before he died, and that he was prosecuted for it.
Because of these unusual circumstances, the family's lands went to the crown (the government). However, the lands were later given back to Fulke's younger brother, Hercules Underhill, when he became an adult in 1602.
New Place and William Shakespeare
In 1602, Fulke's brother, Hercules Underhill, officially confirmed the sale of New Place to William Shakespeare. Shakespeare had to pay an extra fee to make sure he had full and clear ownership of the house. This was because the earlier events surrounding Fulke and his father had made the original sale a bit uncertain.
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