Shakespeare (William).- Underhill (Hercules, son of William Underhill who sold New Place to …

Shakespeare (William).- Confirmer of the sale of New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon.- Underhill (Hercules, of Idlicote, Warwickshire, son of William Underhill owner of New Place in Stratford-Upon-Avon; sold New Place to William Shakespeare in 1597, and Hercules Underhill confirmed the sale in 1602, 1581-1658).- Obligation Bond between Walter Leveson and Hercules Underhill, for performance of arbitration for "sundry lands ten[emen]ts and hereditaments lyinge and beinge in the p[ar]ishes of Wolverhampton Wednesfield the heath Merhells and Willnall", D.s. "Walter Leveson", "Henry Shirley", "Richard Middelmore", "George Carleton" & "Robert Griffith", manuscript in Latin and English, on vellum, 2 sides, folds, red wax seal with good impression of coat of arms, edge chipped, 162 x 310mm., 14th May 1607 § Final Concord between Henry Gough and Hercules Underhill of pasture in Wolverhampton, manuscript in Latin, in chancery hand, on vellum, 9 lines, folds, 120 x 375mm., 7th October 1636; and another Final Concord relating to the Leveson family, v.s., v.d. (3). ⁂ Shakespeare and Tolkien connections. Shakespeare Connection. Shakespeare purchased New Place in May 1597 from William Underhill, described as 'a subtle, covetous, and crafty man'. "Two months later Underhill died at Fillongley, near Coventry, after orally bequeathing 'all his lands to his first-born Fulke. In 1599 Fulke, still a minor, was hanged at Warwick for poisoning his father. The law took the forfeit of the of the Underhill estate for felony, but it was regranted to Fulke's younger brother Hercules [knighted in 1617] when he came of age in 1602. In Michaelmas term of that year, Hercules Underhill confirmed the sale of New Place to Shakespeare, who paid the prescribed fee, equal to one quarter of the yearly value of the property, to clear the title." - S. Schoenbaum. William Shakespeare: A Compact Documentary Life, OUP, 1980. Sir Walter Leveson (d. January 1620) of Ashmores near Wolverhampton, a Catholic recusant, as was his sister, Elizabeth; children of Thomas Leveson of Wolverhampton (c. 1533-95), and Joyce Leveson (d. 14 March 1608). Sir Henry Shirley, second baronet (1589-1633), landowner and local politician. Tolkien Connection. Tolkien married Edith Bratt, illegitimate daughter of Frances Bratt of Wolverhampton. Tolkien perhaps knew of the Underhills as an important local family in Wolverhampton and other areas of Birmingham. In the 16th century the Underhills were also known to have lived in Baginton and Idlicote in Warwickshire. Frodo Baggins on leaving Bag End in the Shire uses, at Gandalf's behest, the name of Mr Underhill.