Underwood family in Beddingham

William Underwood, born in Northrepps in Norfolk, had been in the employ of General Henry Otway Trevor, later owner of the Glynde Estates, for some years when he was granted the licence for the Trevor Arms in Beddingham on 26 August 1845. William's first wife Harriet Mary died aged 42, and was buried in Glynde churchyard 17 Mar 1851. She left William with two young daughters - Sarah Jane, baptised at Beddingham 26 March 1848; and Emily, baptised at Beddingham 30 Jun 1850. It may have been as a result of Emily's birth that her mother died seven months later.

William must have been a man of some means as he was able to afford to send both of his daughters to Miss Elizabeth Parsons' establishment for young ladies, a boarding school in Albion Street, Lewes.

Sarah Jane appears to have been known as Jane as this is the name she appeared under on the 1861 census and she appeared as J Underwood when she played in a stoolball match between the married and single women of the village on 10 August 1867.

Tragically, Emily Underwood of Beddingham, aged 17, was buried in Glynde churchyard on 27 December 1867, and her sister Sarah Jane was buried there on 5 January 1871, aged 22.

William re-married to Sarah Baxter, who had been housekeeper at Glynde Place in 1851. Sarah had been born in 1821 at Appleton Roebuck, York and she and William were married at Bolton Percy church, York, on 13 May 1852. They had no children.

William retired to Balham, Surrey, and was buried in Glynde churchyard on 13 May 1892, aged 82.