The Greene & Pickens Black Families Association
The Underwood Genealogy
The history of the Underwoods dates back to our ancestor Jaunt, who was born in the
Union/Spartenburg area in South Carolina. She was born in 1807. Very little is known about
her, except that she was possibly a mulatto or an Indian descent. It is not known which family
owned her when she was an adolescent. When she reached the age of 23, she became
pregnant with her first child. Within the next few years, all of her children were born. In the
early 1840's Jaunt and her four children were sold to Thomas Shelton, who was orginally
from Virginia. Thomas Shelton and his wife Elizabeth. They moved from Virginia to South
Carolina. Their second oldest daughter, Louisa, married a man named Annett Underwood.
They then moved to Greene County, Alabama and made their estate in between Clinton &
Mantua. It is not sure if Thomas Shelton died in South Carolina or Alabama. However when
he did Jaunt and her four children were willed to his widow, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth
Shelton died her estate was read on December 22, 1856. Her admistrator was Dr. Jedidiah
M. Spencer. The slaves that were in her estate were as follows: Elizabeth Shelton's estate
was separated into two lots, which were given to her two daughters Nelly P. Shelton &
Louisa Underwood.
Estate of Elizabeth Shelton in 1856
Jaunt-$300, Siller-$233, Ephraim-$1000, Reuben-$1233, Harriett & child Jane-$900,
Licurgus-$300, Christopher-$500, Mary-$650, John-$1100, Barthenia-$1000.
Nelly Shelton's Lot
1 lot of household & kitchen furniture worth $23.75.
The following named slaves. Harriett & child Jane, Lakurgus, Christopher, Ephraim, Reuben,
and Jaunt, all valued at $4233.00.
1 lot of plantation tools, valued at $6.41
1 wagon, 6 cows, 1 gin & band, valued at $84.00
54 bushels of corn, 1 gray horse, valued at $38.00
2 stacks fodder, 5 wagons, valued at $20.00
29 1/2 bushels of corn, valued at $14.75
All valued at $4419.91
Louisa Underwood's Lot
1 lot of household & kitchen furniture, valued at $23.75
The following named slaves, Caroline & child Teresa, Barthenia, John, Siller, and Mary, all
valued at $4233.00.
1 lot of farming tools, valued at $6.41
1 mule named Sophy, valued at $122.25
41 1/2 bushels of corn, valued at $20.75
4 sheep, valued at $4.00
2 stacks of fodder, vauled at $10.00
All valued at $4419.91
John Gandy, A.C. Harris, and Jesse W. Fulgham all signed the statement.
The history of the Underwoods dates back to our ancestor Jaunt, who was born in the
Union/Spartenburg area in South Carolina. She was born in 1807. Very little is known about
her, except that she was possibly a mulatto or an Indian descent. It is not known which family
owned her when she was an adolescent. When she reached the age of 23, she became
pregnant with her first child. Within the next few years, all of her children were born. In the
early 1840's Jaunt and her four children were sold to Thomas Shelton, who was orginally
from Virginia. Thomas Shelton and his wife Elizabeth. They moved from Virginia to South
Carolina. Their second oldest daughter, Louisa, married a man named Annett Underwood.
They then moved to Greene County, Alabama and made their estate in between Clinton &
Mantua. It is not sure if Thomas Shelton died in South Carolina or Alabama. However when
he did Jaunt and her four children were willed to his widow, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth
Shelton died her estate was read on December 22, 1856. Her admistrator was Dr. Jedidiah
M. Spencer. The slaves that were in her estate were as follows: Elizabeth Shelton's estate
was separated into two lots, which were given to her two daughters Nelly P. Shelton &
Louisa Underwood.
Estate of Elizabeth Shelton in 1856
Jaunt-$300, Siller-$233, Ephraim-$1000, Reuben-$1233, Harriett & child Jane-$900,
Licurgus-$300, Christopher-$500, Mary-$650, John-$1100, Barthenia-$1000.
Nelly Shelton's Lot
1 lot of household & kitchen furniture worth $23.75.
The following named slaves. Harriett & child Jane, Lakurgus, Christopher, Ephraim, Reuben,
and Jaunt, all valued at $4233.00.
1 lot of plantation tools, valued at $6.41
1 wagon, 6 cows, 1 gin & band, valued at $84.00
54 bushels of corn, 1 gray horse, valued at $38.00
2 stacks fodder, 5 wagons, valued at $20.00
29 1/2 bushels of corn, valued at $14.75
All valued at $4419.91
Louisa Underwood's Lot
1 lot of household & kitchen furniture, valued at $23.75
The following named slaves, Caroline & child Teresa, Barthenia, John, Siller, and Mary, all
valued at $4233.00.
1 lot of farming tools, valued at $6.41
1 mule named Sophy, valued at $122.25
41 1/2 bushels of corn, valued at $20.75
4 sheep, valued at $4.00
2 stacks of fodder, vauled at $10.00
All valued at $4419.91
John Gandy, A.C. Harris, and Jesse W. Fulgham all signed the statement.
Jaunt Underwood's Children
1. Harriett Underwood (1830-1873) m. Reuben Thompson (1826-bef.1900)
Children: Mary Thompson-Montgomery, Chrisopher Thompson, Lacurgus "Kirk" Thompson,
Jane Thompson, Virginia Thompson, Burnett Thompson, Jeff Thompson, Razz Thompson,
Agnes Thompson, Harriett S. Thompson, John D. Thompson, and Parthenia
Thompson-Coleman-Spencer.
Grandchildren: Henrietta Montgomery-Spencer, William Montgomery, Jim Montgomery,
Eddie Montgomery, Walter Montgomery, Ida Montgomery, Hattie Montgomery-Pippen-White,
Brainan Montgomery, Ernest Thompson, Sam Rice, Henry Rice, Caroline Rice, George Rice,
Jim Thompson, Virginia Thompson-Carter, Ella Thompson-Hill, Laura Thompson, Ida
Thompson, George Thompson, Frank Thompson, French Thompson, Fannie
Thompson-Cook, Cora Thompson, Mary Julia Thompson, Reuben Coleman, Abbie
Thompson, Mazaline Thompson,
2. Caroline Underwood (1834-1916)
Children: Terrissa Underwood & Judy Brown
Grandchildren: Nathan Cockrell
3. Rev. Reuben Edward Underwood (1836-bef.1910) m. Sarah Thompson (1847-1927)
Children: Henry Eatman, Marinda Underwood-Spencer, Bertie V. Underwood-Brown, William
Sikes Underwood, John Columbus Underwood, Sarah G. Underwood-Bouchellon, Reuben
Edward Underwood, Darien Underwood, Joseph Underwood, Newson Underwood, Charles
Underwood, Charner Underwood, and Robert Underwood.
Grandchildren: George Rice, Annie Gertrude Eatman-Spencer, Eddie Eatman, John
Hubbard Eatman, Earnest Spencer, Mary Elizabeth Eatman-Rice, Rosetta
Eatman-Harris-Barnes, Ada Eatman-Riggs, Claude Eatman, Clara Lizzie Spencer-Brown,
Nipeter Spencer, Nettie Mae Spencer-Means, Annie C. Spencer-Dotson, Callion Spencer,
Vera Spencer-Rice, Wheaton Spencer, Dosha Lane Eatman, Mack Spencer, Charles
Spencer, Juliet Spencer, Virgil Spencer, Susan Hinton, Lou Belle Hinton-Arrington, Henrietta
Hinton, Ida Belle Hinton-Means, Niq Underwood, Luther Underwood, Sam Underwood, John
Underwood, Hattie Belle Underwood-Pulliam, Sarah L. Underwood-Morrow, Carrie
Underwood-Cameron, Etta Underwood, Bertha Underwood-Pace, Clara Underwood-Hardy,
Florence Underwood-Harris, John Bouchellon, Houston Bouchellon, Marinda
Bouchellon-Carpenter, Rosie Bouchellon-Delaney, Gertrude Underwood-Thompson,
Thaddeus Bouchellon, Davis Bouchellon, Cleveland Underwood, Leslie Underwood, Bertie
Underwood, Sarah Underwood, Ed Underwood, Pearlie Underwood, Mattie
Underwood-Hinton, Sarah Underwood, Mary Lee Underwood.
4. Bethenia Underwood (unknown) nm. William Gandy (1845)
Children: Cornelius "Neely" Gandy & Orrah Gandy-Brown
Grandchildren: Melvina Gandy-Eubanks, Susie Belle Gandy, Robert Thompson, Carrie
Thompson, Cornelius Brown, Jacob Brown, Charles Brown, Holman Brown, Derman Browm,
Caroline Brown, Lucille Brown, and George L. Brown.
All of Jaunt's children were mulattoes. It isn't known who the father, but it is believed that the
man who owned Jaunt before Thomas Shelton, is the father. Her children were all very fair
skinned individuals. Caroline was the lighest of them all and could pass for a white woman.
1. Harriett Underwood (1830-1873) m. Reuben Thompson (1826-bef.1900)
Children: Mary Thompson-Montgomery, Chrisopher Thompson, Lacurgus "Kirk" Thompson,
Jane Thompson, Virginia Thompson, Burnett Thompson, Jeff Thompson, Razz Thompson,
Agnes Thompson, Harriett S. Thompson, John D. Thompson, and Parthenia
Thompson-Coleman-Spencer.
Grandchildren: Henrietta Montgomery-Spencer, William Montgomery, Jim Montgomery,
Eddie Montgomery, Walter Montgomery, Ida Montgomery, Hattie Montgomery-Pippen-White,
Brainan Montgomery, Ernest Thompson, Sam Rice, Henry Rice, Caroline Rice, George Rice,
Jim Thompson, Virginia Thompson-Carter, Ella Thompson-Hill, Laura Thompson, Ida
Thompson, George Thompson, Frank Thompson, French Thompson, Fannie
Thompson-Cook, Cora Thompson, Mary Julia Thompson, Reuben Coleman, Abbie
Thompson, Mazaline Thompson,
2. Caroline Underwood (1834-1916)
Children: Terrissa Underwood & Judy Brown
Grandchildren: Nathan Cockrell
3. Rev. Reuben Edward Underwood (1836-bef.1910) m. Sarah Thompson (1847-1927)
Children: Henry Eatman, Marinda Underwood-Spencer, Bertie V. Underwood-Brown, William
Sikes Underwood, John Columbus Underwood, Sarah G. Underwood-Bouchellon, Reuben
Edward Underwood, Darien Underwood, Joseph Underwood, Newson Underwood, Charles
Underwood, Charner Underwood, and Robert Underwood.
Grandchildren: George Rice, Annie Gertrude Eatman-Spencer, Eddie Eatman, John
Hubbard Eatman, Earnest Spencer, Mary Elizabeth Eatman-Rice, Rosetta
Eatman-Harris-Barnes, Ada Eatman-Riggs, Claude Eatman, Clara Lizzie Spencer-Brown,
Nipeter Spencer, Nettie Mae Spencer-Means, Annie C. Spencer-Dotson, Callion Spencer,
Vera Spencer-Rice, Wheaton Spencer, Dosha Lane Eatman, Mack Spencer, Charles
Spencer, Juliet Spencer, Virgil Spencer, Susan Hinton, Lou Belle Hinton-Arrington, Henrietta
Hinton, Ida Belle Hinton-Means, Niq Underwood, Luther Underwood, Sam Underwood, John
Underwood, Hattie Belle Underwood-Pulliam, Sarah L. Underwood-Morrow, Carrie
Underwood-Cameron, Etta Underwood, Bertha Underwood-Pace, Clara Underwood-Hardy,
Florence Underwood-Harris, John Bouchellon, Houston Bouchellon, Marinda
Bouchellon-Carpenter, Rosie Bouchellon-Delaney, Gertrude Underwood-Thompson,
Thaddeus Bouchellon, Davis Bouchellon, Cleveland Underwood, Leslie Underwood, Bertie
Underwood, Sarah Underwood, Ed Underwood, Pearlie Underwood, Mattie
Underwood-Hinton, Sarah Underwood, Mary Lee Underwood.
4. Bethenia Underwood (unknown) nm. William Gandy (1845)
Children: Cornelius "Neely" Gandy & Orrah Gandy-Brown
Grandchildren: Melvina Gandy-Eubanks, Susie Belle Gandy, Robert Thompson, Carrie
Thompson, Cornelius Brown, Jacob Brown, Charles Brown, Holman Brown, Derman Browm,
Caroline Brown, Lucille Brown, and George L. Brown.
All of Jaunt's children were mulattoes. It isn't known who the father, but it is believed that the
man who owned Jaunt before Thomas Shelton, is the father. Her children were all very fair
skinned individuals. Caroline was the lighest of them all and could pass for a white woman.
| Rev. Reuben Charner Underwood (1836 - bef. 1910) |
| Bertie V. Underwood - Burton - Brown (1863 - 1953) |
| John Columbus Underwood (1865 - 1944) |