Hercules Underhill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hercules Underhill |
|
|---|---|
| Spouse(s) | Bridget Carleton |
| Father | William Underhill |
| Mother | Mary Underhill |
| Born | 1581 |
| Died | 1658 (aged 76–77) |
Sir Hercules Underhill (1581–1658) was an important person from Warwickshire, England. He was the son of William Underhill, who owned a famous house called New Place in Stratford-Upon-Avon. This house was later sold to the famous writer William Shakespeare in 1597. Hercules Underhill officially confirmed this sale in 1602.
Who Was Hercules Underhill?
Hercules Underhill was born in 1581. He was the second son of William Underhill and Mary Underhill. His mother, Mary, passed away in 1590. Hercules had many brothers and sisters:
- Fulke Underhill (born 1578, died 1599)
- Timothy Underhill (died 1658)
- Ludowick (or Lewis) Underhill
- William Underhill (born 1588, died 1656)
- Simon Underhill (born 1589, died 1664)
- Dorothy Underhill (born 1579)
- Elizabeth Underhill (born 1585, died 1585)
- Valentine Underhill (born 1587)
His grandparents were William Underhill (died 1570) and Ursula Congreve (died 1561). After Ursula passed away, his grandfather married Dorothy Hatton, who was the sister of Sir Christopher Hatton.
Sir Hercules Underhill's Life and Work
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Hercules Underhill came from a family that owned a lot of land and had important jobs. His grandfather, William Underhill (who lived from about 1523 to 1570), was a lawyer. He owned many properties in Warwickshire, including the manor of Idlicote and New Place in Stratford upon Avon. He bought New Place in 1567.
When his grandfather died in 1570, his father, William Underhill (who died in 1597), inherited all the family's lands. His father was only sixteen at the time. Later, in 1597, Hercules's father sold New Place to William Shakespeare for £60. This was a very important sale because New Place became Shakespeare's family home.
Sadly, Hercules's father died in July 1597. His older brother, Fulke Underhill, became the next owner of the family's lands. However, Fulke also died a short time later, in 1599. Because of this, Hercules Underhill became the main heir to the family's estates.
In 1602, Hercules Underhill officially confirmed the sale of New Place to William Shakespeare. This made sure Shakespeare had full and clear ownership of the property.
Hercules Underhill was honored by King James I in 1617, when he was made a knight. This meant he was given the title "Sir." In 1625, he was appointed High Sheriff of Warwickshire. This was an important local government role.
During the English Civil War, which was a big conflict in England, Sir Hercules Underhill supported the King (the Royalists). Because of his support for the King, he had to pay a large sum of money (£1177) to keep his estates.
He passed away in 1658 at Idlicote, Warwickshire. Since he did not have any children who survived him, his nephew, William Underhill, inherited his estates. This nephew also became a knight later on.
Marriage and Family Life
Sir Hercules Underhill married Bridget Carleton. She was the sister of Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester, who was a well-known diplomat. Bridget's parents were Anthony Carleton and Joyce Goodwin. It is believed that Sir Hercules and Bridget did not have any children who survived them.
