John Edward Underhill facts for kids

John Underhill (1574–1608) was an English soldier who lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He was the son of Thomas Underhill and the grandson of Sir Hugh Underhill. Both his father and grandfather were important people who Queen Elizabeth I liked. Later in his life, John Underhill had to move to Holland to avoid being treated unfairly.

John Underhill was born in 1574 in Kenilworth, England. His parents were Thomas Underhill and Magdalen Amyas. He first married Mary Moseley. After she passed away, he married his second wife, Leonora Honor Pawley, in 1595 when he was 21.

John and Leonora had three children. Their two daughters, Petronella and Lettice, were both born in 1593. Their son, who would later become a famous soldier named Captain John Underhill, was born on October 7, 1597.

A Young Soldier for the Queen

John Underhill was a close friend of important noblemen like the Earl of Leicester and the Earl of Essex. When he was young, he joined the Earl of Leicester's special guards. This group was sent by Queen Elizabeth I to help the Dutch people.

When the Netherlands offered to let the Earl of Leicester rule them, John Underhill was chosen for a very important job. He carried secret messages to Lord Burleigh, who was the Queen's main advisor.

Meeting the Queen

Queen Elizabeth I herself asked to meet with John Underhill. They had a private talk where she gave him a secret letter to deliver to the Earl of Leicester. Soon after this, the Earl of Leicester left his position and went back to England.

After the Earl of Leicester's death, Underhill started working with the Earl of Essex. He went with Essex on a successful attack against Cadiz, a city in Spain. He also joined Essex in a difficult military campaign in Ireland. Because of his brave actions, Queen Elizabeth I made him a knight.

Life in Holland

Later, the Earl of Essex started a rebellion against the Queen. Essex was then executed. To stay safe, John Underhill moved to Holland. He stayed there until King James became king in 1603.

Underhill asked King James if he could return home to England. However, his request was not granted. So, he remained in The Netherlands for several more years. He lived with a group of religious people called Puritans. They had also left England to escape unfair treatment.

Living in Bergen op Zoom

John Underhill and the Puritans lived in Bergen op Zoom, a city in The Netherlands with strong defenses. There, John Underhill was a sergeant in a military company led by Captain Roget Orme. He passed away in Bergen op Zoom in October 1608. He is buried in a church called the Gertrudiskerk.

Family in America

Two of John Underhill's family members later moved to America. His wife, Lenora Honor Pawley, passed away in 1658 in Rhode Island.

His son, Captain John Underhill, moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 with the Puritans. He became a very important person in early American history. He passed away in New York in 1672.

Famous People Connected to John Underhill

Many years after John Underhill, some famous people are connected to his family line.

• Captain John Underhill: This is John Underhill's great-grandson. He moved from England to The Netherlands, and then to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He became a very important leader in early America.
• Myron Charles Taylor: He was a leading American businessman and a key diplomat. He was involved in many important world events before, during, and after World War II. He was also an eighth-generation descendant of Captain John Underhill.
• Amelia Earhart: She was a famous American pilot and writer. She is well-known for her mysterious disappearance while flying.