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Thomas Underwood (1805–1883)

Thomas Underwood had a daughter, Charlotte Louise Underwood with Mary Ann Morgan in 1836. He married Catherine Yeomans, née Reynolds later that year.

In 1836-1837 Thomas worked as an auctioneer and then as a brewer. He also had access to his wife's properties, left by her husband. He used some of the money from the sale of the properties to establish his brewery in Maitland. It proved a failure.

The family moved to Bowning where Thomas set up as a publican, seed dealer and ironmonger. He was declared insolvent in 1842.

Expecting a considerable inheritance following his father's death, the family moved back to Maitland and Thomas again began brewing, partnering with Hunter Brewery. He again fell heavily into debt. His inheritance was mortgaged and the family moved to Sydney 'to an old dwellinghouse' in Underwood St, Sydney. He worked occasionally as a storekeeper, though gave his employment as gentleman on his children's birth certificates.

In 1858 the family moved to Paddington. Thomas continued to go into debt with bad investments. He was declared insolvent in 1860.

* information from Liz Parkinson, The Underwoods: Lock, Stock and Barrel (1989), pp 122-29

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Citation details

'Underwood, Thomas (1805–1883)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/underwood-thomas-24541/text33309, accessed 5 October 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

21 June, 1805
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

9 July, 1883 (aged 78)
Manildra, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

general debility

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