John Underhill (captain) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Underhill
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A sculpture of Captain John Underhill near Oyster Bay, New York.
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| Born | 7 October 1597 |
| Died | 21 September 1672 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Military Officer |
| Known for | Early settler of American colonies, Captain of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Militia |
| Spouse(s) | Helena de Hooch (died) Elizabeth Feake |
| Parent(s) | John Edward Underhill (1574–1608), Leonora Honor Pawley |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Massachusetts Bay Colony New Netherlands Colony of Rhode Island |
| Service/ |
Massachusetts Bay Militia New Netherlands Militia Rhode Island Militia |
| Years of service | 1630-1637 (Massachusetts Bay Militia) 1644–1653 (New Netherlands Militia) 1654 (Rhode Island Militia) |
| Battles/wars | Pequot War Kieft's War |
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John Underhill (born October 7, 1597 – died July 21, 1672) was an important English settler and soldier in early America. He lived in several different colonies, including the Massachusetts Bay Colony, New Netherland, and the Province of New York. He was known for leading colonial soldiers, called militia, in wars against Native American groups. He also wrote a book about one of these wars, the Pequot War.
Contents
A Look at John Underhill's Life
His Early Life and Military Training
John Underhill was born in 1597 in Baginton, England. His family had some important connections; his great-grandfather and grandfather worked for Queen Elizabeth.
When John was young, his family moved to the Netherlands. There, his father, John Edward Underhill, was a soldier. After his father died in 1608, John and his siblings lived with their mother among a group of Puritan people who had also moved to the Netherlands.
John received military training as a cadet, which is like a young officer in training. In 1628, he married Helena de Hooch, a Dutch woman. They had one child in the Netherlands before moving to America. Later, they had two more children in the colonies.
Moving to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
In 1630, the Massachusetts Bay Colony hired John Underhill. They wanted him to help train their local soldiers, known as the militia. He and his wife sailed to the colony that same year.
He quickly became an important person in the colony. He was chosen to be a selectman for Boston, which meant he helped manage the town. He also started building a fort on Castle Island to protect Boston.
The Pequot War
In 1637, the English colonists decided to go to war with the Pequot people. The Pequots were a powerful Native American group who controlled important trade routes. John Underhill led the colonial militia in this conflict, known as the Pequot War.
Underhill's forces joined with other colonial soldiers and their Mohegan allies. They attacked a fortified Pequot village near what is now Mystic. The village was set on fire, and many Pequot people died in what became known as the Mystic Massacre.
Underhill continued to lead expeditions to find surviving Pequot people. He later wrote a book about his experiences in the war. It was called Newes from America.
Traveling to New Places
After the Pequot War, Underhill faced some challenges with the Puritan leaders in Massachusetts. He was removed from his position and later asked to leave the colony. He even went to England for a short time to find work.
He then moved to Dover, New Hampshire, where he became a leader. Later, his banishment from Massachusetts was lifted. He moved to Stamford, Connecticut, and became a local judge.
In 1643, he was hired by the Dutch colony of New Netherland to fight against Native American groups. In 1644, he led an attack on a winter village of the Lenape people, where many lives were lost.
Serving in New Netherland
In 1644, Underhill moved to New Amsterdam, which is now Manhattan. He led New Amsterdam's soldiers in another battle against Native Americans on Long Island. They attacked and burned a fort built by the Massapequan people, and many Native Americans died. This war started because the Dutch and the Native Americans had different ideas about land ownership.
Underhill continued to be involved in the government of New Netherland. He was elected a selectman and later became sheriff and magistrate in Flushing.
However, in 1653, Underhill spoke out against the Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant. He accused Stuyvesant of being a harsh ruler and called for the people to stand up for their rights. He said that the people should be able to choose their own leaders. This was an early example of people in the colonies wanting more freedom.
Returning to English Service
Underhill was briefly put in prison by the Dutch. After his release, he warned the English colonies about Dutch plans to attack them. The Rhode Island government made him a commander.
During the First Anglo-Dutch War, Underhill returned to Long Island. He lived in different towns before finally settling in Oyster Bay. This area was far enough away from other colonies that he could live peacefully.
Life in Oyster Bay
John Underhill spent his later years on a large estate in Oyster Bay. He continued to be involved in local government. In 1665, he was a delegate at the Hempstead Convention, where laws were made for the towns on Long Island. He was named High Constable and Surveyor-General.
He also helped the Matinecock Indians, a local Native American group. They gave him 150 acres of land in Oyster Bay.
After his first wife died, Underhill married Elizabeth Feake in 1658. Elizabeth was a Quaker, and she helped John become a Quaker too.
Elizabeth Feake's family was also important in colonial history. Her sister, Hannah Feake, was a Quaker minister who fought for religious freedom. Governor Peter Stuyvesant had banned Quakers from meeting, but Hannah held services in her home. Her husband was arrested, but he was later released. These events helped lead to the idea of religious freedom, which is now part of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
John Underhill and Elizabeth Feake had five children. Many of John Underhill's descendants became important people in American history.
Captain John Underhill died on July 21, 1672, and is buried in the Underhill Burying Ground in Locust Valley, New York.
John Underhill's Writings
John Underhill wrote several accounts of his experiences. His most famous book was Newes from America, published in 1638. It is considered one of the most complete descriptions of the Pequot War from that time.
Honoring John Underhill
- The Underhill Burying Ground is a cemetery on land given to John Underhill by the Lenape people in 1667. People have been buried there since 1672.
- A poem called "John Underhill" was written by John Greenleaf Whittier in 1875.
- In 1908, a tall monument called an obelisk was placed at John Underhill's gravesite. President Theodore Roosevelt was there for the dedication.
- A New York State marker shows the spot of Council Rock, where a Quaker meeting took place in 1672.
- Underhill Boulevard in Syosset, New York, is named after Captain John Underhill.
Famous Descendants
Many famous people are descendants of Captain John Underhill, including:
- Myron Charles Taylor, a leading American businessman and diplomat during World War II.
- Amelia Earhart, a famous American pilot.
- Tom Selleck, an American actor.
- Johnny Depp, an American actor.
- John Forbes Kerry, a former US Secretary of State and politician.
Images for kids
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John Underhill's signature.
See also
In Spanish: John Underhill para niños
