Friday, March 1, 2019

52 Ancestors - Week 267: #440 John Underhill (1721-1793) of Chester, New Hampshire

John Underhill (1721-1793)  is #440 on my Ahnentafel List, my 6th great-grandfather, who married #441 Joanna Healey (1718-1809)  in 1741 in Chester, Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

I am descended through:

*  their son, #220 John Underhill (1745-1816), married #221 Hannah Colby (1745-????) in 1767.
*  their son, #110 Amos Underhill (1772-1865), married #111 Mary Metcalf (1780-1855) in 1801.
*  their daughter, #55, Mary Ann Underhill (1815-1882) in 1839. married #54 Samuel Vaux (1816-1880) in 1839.
*  their daughter, #27 Abigail A. Vaux (1844-1931), married #26 Devier James Lamphear Smith (1839-1894) in 1861.
*  their daughter, #13 Abby Ardell Smith (1862-1944), married #12 Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946), in 1887.
*  their son, #6 Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976), married #7 Emily Kemp Auble (1899-1977).
*  their daughter #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) who married #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) in 1942.
*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

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1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
* Name: John Underhill[1–4]
* Sex: Male
* Father: Sampson Underhill (1692-1732) * Mother: Elizabeth Ambrose (1698-1782)
 
2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

 *  Birth:                      16 March 1720/1, Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States[1–3]    

*  Occupation:            1784 (about age 63), Representative; New Hampshire, United States[1]    

*  Will:                       15 September 1785 (age 64), will written; Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States[4]    

*  Death:                    31 July 1793 (age 72), Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States[1]    
*  Probate:                 21 August 1793 (age 72), will proved; Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States[4] 
  
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
*  Spouse 1:              Joanna Healey (1718-1809)    
*  Marriage 1:           21 October 1741 (age 20), Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States[1]    

*  Child 1:                Betty Underhill (1742-1806)    
*  Child 2:                William Underhill (1744-1780)    
*  Child 3:                Sgt. John Underhill (1745-1816)    
*  Child 4:                Molly Underhill (1747-1835)    
*  Child 5:                Moses Underhill (1749-1838)    
*  Child 6:                David Underhill (1751-1827)    
*  Child 7:                Samuel Underhill (1753-1828)    
*  Child 8:                Jeremiah Underhill (1755-1794)    
*  Child 9:                Sarah Underhill (1759-1838)    
*  Child 10:              Joanna Underhill (1764-    )  
  
4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):  

The book,  Underhill Genealogy, Volume 4, by Josephine C. Frost, published in 1932 provides most of the following information about John Underhill[1].

John Underhill was born on 16 March 1720/1 in Salisbury, Massachuswetts, the son of Sampson and elizabeth (Ambrose) Underhill of Salisbury[1-3].  

He was married in Chester, Rockingham County, New Hampshire to Joanna Healey on 21 October 1741 by Rev. Flagg[1].  Joanna was the daughter of William and Mary (Samborne) Healey of Chester.  John and Joanna (Healey) Underhill had ten children[1]:

*  Betty Underhill (1742-1806), married Samuel Buswell (1741-1827) in 1764.
*  William Underhill (1744-1780), married Abigail Choate (1747-1810) in about 1767.
*  John Underhill (1745-1816), married Hannah colby (1745-????) in about 1767.
*  Molly Underhill (1747-1835), married James Pierce (1743-1796) in 1765.
*  Moses Underhill (1749-1838), married Rachel Lufkin (1771-????) in about 1787.
*  David Underhill (1751-1827), married Jemima blake (1758-1829) in 1792.
*  Samuel Underhill (1753-1828), married Sarah Underhill (1756-1829), in 1775.
*  Jeremiah Underhill (1755-1794), married Anna Heath (1755-1844) in 1775.
*  Sarah Underhill (1759-1838), married Moses Greenough (1740-1832) in 1789.
*  Joanna Underhill (1764-????), married Moses Preston (1764-????) in 1784.

The Deeds of Rockingham County, New Hampshire show that on 17 September 1766 that John Underhill, gentleman of Chester, New Hampshire, for love and affection, conveyed to his son William, husbandman of Candia, certain land (Liber 113, page 385)[1].

John Underhill, gentleman of Chester, New Hampshire,  conveyed for love and affection certain land to his son William of Candia, New Hampshire on 17 September 1766.  He conveyed land to his son Jeremiah on 19 May 1773 and 3 January 1785  (Liber 139, pages 99-100)[1].

On 16 May 1782, John Frye Jr and wife Lydia of Andover, Massachusetts quit-claimed to Robert Wilson Esq. and John Underhill, gentleman of Chester, 1/7 part of the real estate "of our grandfather Benjamin Batchelder, late of Chester, deceased.  This deed shows quite conclusively that Elizabeth (Ambrose) Underhill, was the first wife of Sampson Underhill and second wife of Benjamin Batchelder, was then deceased. (Liber 151, p287)[1].

John Underhill, Robert Wilson, and John Wilson Jr. all of Chester, New Hampshire, conveyed to Hannah Sargent, part of the 20 acres which Benjamin Batchelder died possessed of (which was laid out to John Frye and his wife Lydia) and of John Prescott Batchelder, Benjamin Batchelder and Jonathan Batchelder, which we "the first three named, bought of said heirs" 10 May 1785 (Deeds 127, p170)[1].

He was one of a committee of three to lay out the Sixth Division of the town of Chester on 9 November 1772.  On 14 April 1777, he was one of a committee of five to hire good men to enter the Continental Service.  He was one of a large committee to accept and approve the prices set ny the convention at Concord for the necessities of life on 18 October 1779.  He was one of three to hire 20 men on 5 July 1780. On 29 January 1781, he was one of six to procure "our proportion of soldiers" for three years during the present war.  He was chosen Representative 1 November 1781 and in 1784.  On 19 April 1785 he voted to set the meeting house on his land.  On 6 May 1793, the Presbyterian Parish voted to take down the old meeting house and "set on the ground that Capt. Underhill purposes to them."  In November 1785, he was one of a committee of three to sell the common land[1].

In 1784, John Underhill was chosen Representative from Chester to the State Council to form a State Constitution, thus being the first representative sent out from Chester.  He was styled "Captain" at this time[1].

John Underhill, gentleman, made his will in Chester, New Hampshire on 15 September 1785,  which was proven 21 August 1793, and is recorded in Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire (No. 5922][1,4].  The will says:
In the Name of God Amen ---
I John Underhill of Chester in the County of Rockingham & State of NHampshire Gent. Being though not of sound Body yet of a Sound disposing mind & memory Thanks be given to God for the same; this fifteenth day of Sept'r 1785 calling to mind the frailty & mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die Do make this my last Will &Testament. And principly & first of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of God who gave it, and my Body to Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named, and as to that worldly Goods which God hath graciously given me I give, demise & bequeath in the following manner ---
Imprimis – I give and bequeath to my Daughter Betty Buswell Six pounds lawful money within twelve months after my decease to be paid by my Executors hereafter named; and this ^with^ what I have before given her I account a Sufficient portion out of my Estate –
Item – I give and bequeath to my Daughter Molly Pearce three pounds lawful money within twelve months after my decease to be paid by Executors hereafter named and this with what I have before given her I account Sufficient portion out of my Estate –
Item – I give & bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Underhill Six pounds lawful money within twelve months after my Decease to be also as much houshold furniture as I have given to her Sister to be paid by Executors hereafter named& this I account a Sufficient portion out of my Estate.
Item – I give & bequeath to my Daughter Joanna Presson Six pounds lawful money in twelve months after my decease to be paid my my Executors hereafter named and this with what I have given her I account a Sufficient portion of my Estate – 
Item – I give & bequeath to my Son Moses Underhill being part one Acre and an half of Land, being part of that Land that I & my Son Samuel own together adjoining David Richardson's Land; and this with what I have given him I account a Sufficient portion out of my Estate –
Item – I give and bequeath to my Sons John Underhill & Jeremiah Underhill all my wearing Cloaths; and this with what I have given them I account a Sufficient portion out of my Estate – 
Item – I give to my Grandson Stephen Underhill one quarter part of a hundred Acre lot known by the Name of the Wells Lot which I & my Son John Underhill bought of Samuel Wells, also all the out Land that I shall die possessed of except what shall be herein disposed of to him his Heirs & Assigns and this I account a Sufficient portion out of my Estate –
Item – I give and bequeath to my Son David Underhill his Heirs and Assigns part of my homestead lying on the north side of the Concord road, beginning at the Southeasterly Corner near my dwelling house thence westerly on sd highway 36 Rods to a Stake & Stones thence northerly 180 Rods to David Richardson's Land to Candia Road twenty five Rods, thence on sd Road to the first Bound including what I have already given him a Deed of; also all the Land I own on the Southerly Side of sd Concord Road except what shall be herein disposed of to my Son Samuel Underhill together with the Buildings on the Same; he paying & performing as I shall herein order ---
Item – I give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Underhill his Heirs and Assigns part of my homestead lying in the Southerly Side of Concord Road, beginning at the S.Westerly Corner a Stake & Stones thence northerly on the widow Presson's Land so called to sd Concord Road thence easterly on sd Road 70 ^Rods^ to a Stake & Stones,thence Southerly to Land of Isaac Blasdel about 160 Rods to a Stake & Stones thence by sd Blasdels Land 50 Rods to the first Bound.  Also all the Land I own on the northerly Side of sd Concord Road which I have not herein disposed of to my Son David Underhill including what I have already given him a Deed of, with all the Building thereon, He paying and performing as I shall herein Order –
And I do appoint my two Sons /Viz/ David Underhill & Samuel Underhill to be my Executors to this my last Will & Testament, they to receive and pay all just Debts due to & from my Estate & the Legacies which I have here given & ordered to be paid, with funeral Charges. Renouncing all other and former Wills Bequests & Executors by me named whatsoever. In Witness to all above written and herein contained I do hereto Set my hand and affix my Seal this 15th day of Sept'r 1785 first above mentioned. 
Signed Sealed published pronounced& declared by the sd John Underhillto be his last Will & Testament inpresence of usTho's Sargeant                                        /s/John UnderhillJohn ManningJosiah Flagg                         Rockingham Ss Aug't 21'st 1793                                             This will was proved on Common                                             form by the oath of Tho's Sargent &                                             Josiah Flagg Esqr & Allowed by                                                              Sam'l Tenney Ju. Prob.
John Underhill died 31 July 1793 in Chester, New Hampshire.  There is no known burial record or gravesite.
  
5.  SOURCES

1. Josephine C Frost, Underhill Genealogy, Volume 4 (N.p.: Myron C. Taylor, in the interests of the Underhill Society of America, 1932), pages 22-25, John Underhill sketch.

2. David Webster Hoyt, The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts ; with some related families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich and Hampton (Providence, R.I., Snow & Farnham, printers, 1897-1917).

3. Topsfield Historical Society, Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 (Topsfield, Mass. : Topsfield Historical Society, 1915), Births, page 243, John Underhill entry.

4. "New Hampshire, County Probate Estate Files, 1769-1936," digital images, FamilySearch (https://FamilySearch.org), Rockingham County > Case Files 5921-6015, 1793-1794 > Case File 5922, John Underhill of Chester, 1793 (images 22-27 of 1041); Original records in County courthouses, offices of register of probate, and historical societies, New Hampshire.

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NOTE:  In 2014, Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2019 to 312 Ancestors in 312 Weeks.


Copyright (c) 2019, Randall J. Seaver

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