Hugh Underhill facts for kids

Sir Hugh Underhill (born around 1518, died 1593) was an important person in the Royal Household of Queen Elizabeth I. He held a special job called the Keeper of the Wardrobe, which meant he was in charge of many valuable items belonging to the Queen. People in the royal family thought very highly of him.

Sir Hugh Underhill's Story

His Early Life

Hugh Underhill was born in a place called Hunningham, in Warwickshire, England, around the year 1518. His parents were Thomas Underhill and Anne Wynter.

In 1540, Hugh married the daughter of Thomas Maynman, who also worked as the Keeper of the Wardrobe. Hugh and his first wife had a son named Thomas Underhill, who was born in 1545 in Greenwich, London.

Later, in 1572, Sir Hugh Underhill married his second wife, Katherine Manning. They had a son named George Underhill, born in Warwickshire in 1573.

Working for Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I chose Hugh Underhill for a very important job. On February 6, 1563, he became the Keeper of the Wardrobe at the King's Manor in Greenwich. This meant he was responsible for all the Queen's clothes, tapestries, and other valuable fabrics. He was later given an even bigger role, looking after the "Wardrobe of Beds," which included all the fancy bedding and furniture.

The Queen truly respected Hugh. When she officially gave him the job, the royal document said: "Because of the loyal and good service our dear servant Hugh Underhill has given us, we grant him the job of keeper of our wardrobe within our manor of Greenwich."

This position was one of the most important. Hugh was in charge of keeping countless beautiful tapestries, royal cloths, large carpets, and all the upholstery for chairs, stools, curtains, and beds. In 1590, the Queen gave him and his wife a special lifetime appointment to look after the garden at the manor of East Greenwich, calling them "well beloved subjects."

Hugh Underhill passed away in 1593 in Greenwich, Kent, England, when he was about 75 years old. He left behind a will, which is a document stating his wishes for his belongings, dated January 1, 1593.

Famous Family Members

Thomas Underhill

Thomas Underhill (1545–1591), who was Hugh Underhill's son, also became a Keeper of the Wardrobe. He was in charge of the contents of Kenilworth Castle after Queen Elizabeth I gave it to her favorite, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, in 1563.

Sir John Underhill

Sir John Underhill (1574–1608) was Hugh Underhill's grandson and Thomas Underhill's son. Even though he was born in England, he was part of a group of Puritan exiles who moved to Bergen op Zoom in The Netherlands. He died and was buried there.

Captain John Underhill

Captain John Underhill, Hugh Underhill's great-grandson, moved with his family from England to The Netherlands, and then from The Netherlands to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America. He became a very important leader in early Colonial America.

Notable Descendants

Hugh Underhill's family tree includes other famous people, such as:

• Myron Charles Taylor, a leading American businessman and a key diplomat during and after World War II. He was an eighth-generation descendant of Captain John Underhill.
• Amelia Earhart, a famous American pilot and writer known for her mysterious disappearance while flying.

Sources

• Bulletin of the Underhill Society of America Education and Publishing Fund, 1967
• Boyer, Carl, Ancestral Lines: 144 Families in England, Germany, New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 1975