Edward Underhill

     Edward was born in 1512 at Hunningham, Warwickshire, England. Due the early death of his father, Edward succeeded to his father’s manor and estate when only eight years old. Being a minor, a wardship was created and in 1526, his uncle William, the first son of John of Ettington, became his guardian. There relationship was less than amiciable and by the time Edward obtained his age of majority, the relationship was well beyond repair.
Edward’s rebellion to his guardian, the slow pace of country living, and his youthfulness led to problems for himself and also led to squandering a large sum of money. There is ample public record to prove that Edward indeed had put himself into a position of being in dire need of money. His rebellious attitude may very well have been the reason for him to convert to the Protestant religion. He was well accepted by the Protestants in the royal family. With the accession of Queen Mary, troubles followed of course. He was soon arrested, but was able to obtain his liberty and retired to a more quiet life. This, plus is time spent as a member of the Band of Royal Pensioners, the Royal Bodyguard, a group he had joined as early as 1539, relieved him of any further persecution. In fact, he even attended the wedding of the Queen to Phillip of Spain. However, when the Queen began to destroy books with any reference to the reformed church, Edward had his books hidden behind a newly built brick wall. Edward spent his later days in the picturesque village of Baginton, only a few miles from the place of his birth.¹ Edward departed this life after 1576 in Baginton, Warwickshire, England.