Jeremiah Underwood

Jeremiah Underwood, London butcher, awarded compensation with Joseph Bolton (q.v.) for ownership of 9 enslaved persons in British Guiana as assignee of Mary Ann Portless (q.v.), an insolvent debtor.

1. There were 8 children born to Jeremiah Underwood and his wife Elizabeth in London between 1810 and 1826: Charles (baptised 26/08/1810), William (baptised 07/06/1812), Esther (baptised 03/04/1814), Elizabeth Susannah (born 1816), Alfred (born 1819), Maria (born 1821), George (born 1824) and Elizabeth (baptised 20/08/1826). In the baptism records of William, Esther and Elizabeth Susannah, he was recorded as Jeremiah Mayhus or Mayhew Underwood.

2. On 06/12/1827, William Warren was found guilty of stealing a heifer’s tongue, value 2s 6d, from the shop of Jeremiah Underwood. Underwood testified: ‘I am a butcher , and live in the  City-road. On the 28th of November, about eight o'clock, I missed this tongue off the shop-board - I know it by a cut in the root. I was in the shop, serving two customers; I heard a call of Stop thief! and ran out.’

3. Living at Jervin Street, Cripplegate, Middlesex, in the census of 1841, age 55, occupation butcher, with his wife Elizabeth age 55, son Alfred age 21, a clerk, daughter Maria age 19 and 1 female servant. Living at 1 Ellis Street, Chelsea, in the census of 1851, age 66, occupation butcher, born in Witham, Essex, with his wife Elizabeth and 1 female servant.

4. Death of Jeremiah Underwood, City of London, Q4 1858.

T71/887 British Guiana claim no. 2487.

1. www.familysearch.org batch nos. C02232-1, C00629-8, C05563-1 and C010877.

2. Proceedings of the Old Bailey [database online], available at http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18271206-129&div=t18271206-129 [accessed 03/07/2012].

3. 1841 and 1851 censuses online.

4. FreeUKGen, England and Wales Free BMD Database, Deaths, 1837-1983 [database online].