My Genealogy Hound

UNDERWOOD FAMILY. In June, 1775, there landed at Philadelphia a man named John Underwood, who was born in County Antrim, in the North of Ireland, on Oct. 14. 1739. He was of Scotch parentage, and, as near as can now be ascertained, was one of five children, three sons and two daughters. The sons were John, William and James; and the daughters Jenny and Betty.

Soon after his arrival in America John Underwood settled in Lancaster county, Pa., eight miles east of the town of Lancaster. The war of the Revolution already being in progress when he came, he was soon found in the ranks of the patriots battling for American liberty and independence. His first commission from the Assembly of the Colony bears date of March 15, 1776, and is signed “John Morton, Speaker.” It appointed him ensign of the 5th Battalion of the Associators of the County of Lancaster, and he was afterward promoted to the rank of captain.

This John Underwood was twice married. His first wife was Janet McCord, of whose children William B., born in Lancaster county March 8, 1779, alone lived to maturity. His second wife was Sarah Morrison, who also was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and like her husband was of Scotch parentage. She came to America with her brother, John Morrison.

About the year 1788 John Underwood came to Cumberland county, and settling on the Yellow Breeches creek for some time engaged at farming. Afterward he came to the town of Carlisle, where, during the rest of his active days, he engaged in general merchandising. He and Sarah Morrison, his wife, had six children, all of whom were born in Carlisle, namely: James, Janet, Sally, Morrison, Joseph and Ann. Janet and Sally died in infancy. Joseph, a young man of great promise, died Feb. 10, 1823, in his twenty-fifth year. Ann married Ephraim Steele, of Carlisle, and died in 1880. Morrison was born in 1795, and when yet a young man went to Greensburg, where he clerked in the office of his uncle, John Morrison, who was prothonotary of Westmoreland county. Later he became a prominent business man and banker of Greensburg and Pittsburg. After the death of his wife, in 1876, he returned to Carlisle, where he died in 1883. For some years previous to his death he was totally blind.