Colonist; born in
Warwickshire, England; was a soldier on the Continent; came to
New England with
Winthrop in 1630; represented
Boston in the General Court; favored
Mrs. Hutchinson (see
Hutchinsonian controversy), and was associated with
Captain Mason, in command of forces in the
Pequot War, in 1637.
Banished from
Boston as a heretic, he went to
England, and there published a history of the
Pequot War, entitled
News from America.
Dover, N. H., regarded as a place of refuge for the persecuted, received
Underhill, and he was chosen governor.
It was discovered that it lay within the chartered limits of
Massachusetts, and the latter claimed political jurisdiction over it.
Underhill treated the claim with contempt at first, but, being accused of gross immorality, he became alarmed, and not only yielded his power, but urged the people to submit to
Massachusetts.
He went before the General Court and made the most abject confession of the truth of the charges.
He did the same publicly in the church, and was excommunicated.
He afterwards lived at
Stamford, Conn., and in 1646 went to
Flushing, L. I. In the war between the
Dutch and
Indians he commanded troops, and in 1655 he represented
Oyster Bay in the assembly at
Hempstead.
He died in
Oyster Bay, L. I., about 1672.
His descendants still possess lands given to him by Indians on
Long Island.
See
Pequod Indians.
