Michael Metcalf Sr.

Michael METCALF Sr. (1590 – 1664) was Alex’s 11th Grandfather; one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Michael Metcalf – Coat of Arms

Michael Metcalf Sr. was born  in 1590 in Tatterford Parish, Norfolk, England.  Another source says he was born 17 Jun 1587.   He was baptized 18 Dec 1594 in Tatterford. His parents were Leonard METCALF and Amy [__?__].  He married Sarah ELWYN on 13 Oct 1616 in St. Bartholomew, Hingham, Norfolk, England.   He was a man of prominence in his city and church, but he lost his property by a Star Chamber fine under the persecution of Bishop Matthew Wren.

He first he tried to sail alone in Sep 1636, but the ship was driven back to London, so he gathered his family and sailed again in April, 1637, this time with eleven family members.  They  sailed from Ipswich in the “John & Dorothy” or the “Rose” (both ships passenger lists were recorded together). He was 45 and Sarah was 39 years old when they came to America with their 9 children.  Nine months after Sarah died, he married Mary Sothy Pigge on 13 Aug 1645 in Dedham, Mass.  Michael died in Dec 1664 and was buried 27 Dec 1664 in Dedham, Mass.

Monument dedicated to Michael Metcalf and his family. The monument is located in the Center Cemetery.

Sarah Elwyn was born 17 Jun 1593 in Wagnham, near Norwich, Norfolk , England.  Her parents were Thomas ELWYN and Elizabeth BENSLYE. Sarah died in 30 Nov 1644  in Dedham, Mass.

Mary Sothy Pigge (Pidge) was born about 1599 in  Saffron Walden, Essex, England. She was the widow of Thomas Pigge of Roxbury, Mass.  Thomas died of Dec 30, 1643 in Roxbury of dropsy, a godly Christian man. He had a fall & a bruise on his back, which hurt his kidneys & not carefully cured they utterly wasted away & many other of his entrails. Mary Pigge the wife of Thomas Pigge was admitted to Roxbury church as member #85.”

Children of Michael and Sarah:

Children of Mary Sothy and Thomas Pigge (Michael Metcalf’s stepchildren)

1. Mary, born 1622; m Nicholas Wood

2. Ann, buried 1626/27

3. Sarah, bapt 1626, buried 1629

4. Hannah, bapt 1629

5. Thomas, bapt 1631, buried 1632 (7 mos)

6. Thomas, born abt 1635; d abt 1660

7. Sarah, b 1637; m Thomas Metcalfe (her stepbrother)

8. John, b abt 1640; m Mary Farrington

9. Martha, b Roxbury 1642/3; m Benjamin Bullard [son of our ancestor Robert BULLARD]  Because the combined Metcalf/Pidge family now had 19 children, Martha was adopted by Jonathan FAIRBANKS. Jonathan’s daugther Mary had married Michael Metcalf’s son Michael METCALF Jr. a couple of years earlier.

Ancestors

Michael’s father Rev. Leonard Metcalf of Tatterford was born in 1540 or 1541 in the hamlet of Apperside in the vale of Wensleydale, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. He was early educated at Sedburgh School, matriculated in the College of St. John’s, Cambridge University, in 1563/64 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1568/69. He gave up Catholicism and took holy orders under the state church. Leonard became Rector of the Parish of Tatterford in Norfolk in 1574 and Vicar of West Barsham in Norfolk in 1603 where he remained until his death.

Leonard was rector of West Barsham church The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Leonard married Amy [__?__] about 1579, in all likelihood in Tatterford. She was born about 1558, probably in Tatterford. Amy was buried on 22 Dec 1602 in Tatterford. Leonard was buried on 22 Sep 1616 in Tatterford and was later succeeded as Rector by his probable son Richard Metcalf. Leonard and Amy had at least eight children.

Children of Rev. Leonard Metcalf and Amy :

i. Rev. Richard Metcalf . Born in 1580 in Tatterford Parish. Died in March 1656/57, about 77 years old. Buried on 11 March 1656/57.

ii. John Metcalf . Baptized on 15 Aug 1583 in Tatterford Parish.  Buried on 17 Mar 1604/5 in Tatterford Parish.

iii. Leonard Metcalf . Baptized on 3 Sep 1586 in Tatterford Parish. Buried on 10 Aug 1590.

iv. Nicholas Metcalf . Born on 3 Feb  1586/87 in Tatterford Parish. Baptized on 8 July 1587 in Tatterford Parish when five months old. Died about 14 Sep 1661 in Blakeney, Norfolk, England, about 74 years old.

v. Michael METCALF. Born in 1590 in Tatterford Parish. Died on 24 Dec 1664 in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, about 74 years old. Buried on 27 Dec 1664 in Dedham.

vi. Matthew Metcalf .

vii. son Nynian Metcalf .

viii. Marie Metcalf. Baptized on 28 Aug 1601 in Tatterford Parish. Buried on 7 Dec 1601 in Tatterford Parish.

Sarah’s father Thomas Elwyn, son of William ELWYN Jr (1537-1616) & Alice [__?__], was born 1564 in Heigham, Norfolk, England. William ELWYN Sr. , b 1510; m unknown; was son of Peter ELWYN (b abt 1480, England) & Lucy [__?__].

Sarah’s mother Elizabeth Benslye born abt 1565 in Heigham, Norfolk, England.

Michael Metcalf – Dissenting Factory Owner

Michael was a dornix weaver and owned a cloth factory in Norwich, Norfolk County, England, that employed 100 men making damask or dornix (a material that was used for making carpets, curtains or wall hangings. Here he was made a freeman, June 21, 1618.  From 1619 to 1634 he was Warden of St. Benedicts in Norwich where their first 7 children were baptitzed; the other 4 at St. Edmondsbury.

Michael Metcalf had a damask weaving factory in Norwich.  this picture is of Italian damask of the 1500’s – which are problably more luxurious that what Metcalf’s factory would have produced since Italy was the epicenter of opulent damsk production.

Michael was a man of prominence in his city and church, but he lost his property by a Star Chamber fine under the persecution of Bishop Matthew Wren.  Bishop Wren held the See of Norwich for 2 years & 4 months. A Committee of Parliament later charged him with the departure of 3000 people, who fled his persecution to Holland and America. His Star Chamber Court was abolished in 1640.  Michael was 45 years old when he felt he must emigrate to America to escape further religious persecution and gives the following reasons for leaving.

13 Jan 1636 – In abandoning his home land and his career as a Master Weaver in provincial Nourish, Metcalf had written a long letter in Plymouth, England, ” to all true professors of Christ’s Gospel within that city.”  Trying to justify his sudden departure from the Puritan Community, he spoke of “

the great trouble I had sustained in the Arch Deacon and Bishops Court at the hands of my enemies concerning the matter of bowing and other matters of consequence”

When he was hauled before the Ecclesiastical Court he expertly quoted against the judges, their own theologians and the Bible itself, but to his disgust,

“their learned and invincible arguments to refute their assertions were these: Blockhead, old heretic, the devil made you, I will send you to the Devil.”

Frustration gave way to fear.

” When enemies conspired against me to take away my life, and sometimes to avoid their hands, my wife did hide me in the roof of my house covering me with straw.”

Having become a marked man he had no choice but to flee to America. He counseled with less known fellow Puritans to remain in Norwich if they possibly could, advising them not to be discouraged — be chearly — have patience — abidith the will of God who worketh all things best for you.” A ” loving brother in exile persecuted for Christ’s verity.” Michael Metcalf would go out alone and unwilling to the savage land of Massachusetts.

He went with his eyes on England. not America:

” O Norwich, The beauty of my native country, what shall I say to thee

“I was persecuted in the land of my father’s sepulchres, for not bowing at the name of Jesus, and observing other ceremonies in religion, forced upon me, at the instance of Bishop Wren of Norwich and his chancellor Dr. Corbet, whose violent measures troubled me in the Bishop’s Court, and returned me into the High Commissioners’ Court. Suffering many times for the cause of religion, I was forced, for the sake of the liberty of my conscience, to flee from my wife and children, to go into New-England; taking ship for the voyage at London the 17th of Sept 1636; being by tempest tossed up and down the seas till the Christmas following; then veering about to Plymouth in Old England; in which time I met with many sore affliction….
“Leaving the ship, I went down to Yarmouth, in Norfolk County, whence I shipped myself and family, to come to New England; sailed 15th April, 1637, and arrived three days before midsummer, with my wife, nine children, and a servant.” (Thomas Comberbach, aged 16)

Puritans were severely harassed by Bishop Matthew Wren, a vigorous opponent of Puritanism, who was eventually tried by Parliament during the reign of Oliver Cromwell” for acts committed by him during his term of two years and four months as the Holy See of Norwich. Howell’s State Trials, Volume IV, page 33, cites Article XVI of the impeachment:

That by suppressing means of knowledge and salvation, and introducing ignorance, superstition and profaneness, many [some 3,000] of his majesty’s subjects which used trades, spinning, weaving, and making of cloth, stuffs, and other manufactures of wool—and making of cloth . . . that is to say Daniel Sonning, Michael Metcalf, John Besant, Nicholas Metcalf, and many others, some of whom setting a hundred poor people to work, have removed themselves into Holland and other parts beyond the seas, and there set up and taught the natives the said manufactures, to the great hindrance of trade in this kingdom, and to the impoverished, and bringing to extreme want of very many who were by these parties set to work, to the great prejudice of his Majesty and his people.

The defense of Bishop Wren alleged that Michael and Nicholas Metcalf (possibly Michael’s brother) were “call’d in question for some Words against the King, and so slipt away” to New England.

Matthew Wren’s strong support of Archbishop Laud, and his toughness on Puritans, led to his being imprisoned in the Tower of London by the Parliamentarian faction from 1641 to 1659. Unlike Laud, he survived, and was allowed the freedom to write notes on improvements to the Book of Common Prayer, on which he later had some influence.

While in the Tower, he vowed to devote a sum of money to “some holy and pious employment” should he be released. To fulfil this vow, he chose to pay for a new Chapel for Pembroke College, and had it built by his nephew Christopher Wren — one of his first buildings, consecrated in 1665. Matthew Wren also led the movement to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral after it had been damaged by the Puritans, and again his nephew accomplished the task.

8 Apr 1637 – The Register of persons about to pass in forraigne part on the ships John & Dorothy, and The Rose

The examination of MICHILL METCALF, of Norwich, dornixweaver, aged 45 years, and SARRAH, his wife, aged 39 years, with 8 children, MICHILL, THOMAS, MAREY, SARRAH, ELIZABETH, MARTHA, JOANE, and REBECCA, and his servant THOMAS CUMBERBACH, aged 16 years. Are desirous to pass to Boston in New England, to inhabitt.

Michael brought this French coffer with him to Dedham when he emigrated from Norfolk, England, to Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1637. The coffer may have belonged to his father. It’s made of spruce or fir, and lined in red leather. The outside is covered in a decorated leather and bound with iron straps. Michael probably used the coffer for his books since he was the schoolmaster of Dedham. Such coffers date back to at least the late medieval period. Courtesy of the Dedham Historical Society. The coffer is displayed in the Society Museum.

After arriving at Boston in Midsummer, 1637, Michael settled at Dedham (SW of Boston), where he was admitted a townsman July 14, 1637; joined the church in 1639; and was Selectman in 1641. He was a school master, and was on the committee to build the meetinghouse. He had a clay pit on Dedham Island where bricks were manufactured. He had a grant of land on Dedham Island, bordering on Motley’s Pond (so named later)

Father Thomas Pidge died unexpectedly in 1644, two years after Martha’s birth, from the effects of an accidental fall. Fortunately, his widow Mary soon found a second husband in Michael Metcalf, whose wife, Sarah, had also died in 1644. Mary Pidge and Michael Metcalf were married the next year (1645). Michael was a substantial citizen of the upper middle stratum in his contemporary society.  By the time of his first wife Sarah’s death, she had borne him eleven children.  Thus, by this widow-widower union, two families were united into one of at least 19 siblings and step-siblings, heavy in daughters as it chanced. This was a bit unusual. One or two of these numerous Pidge and Metcalf children died young, but collectively their upbringing represented a major responsibility for Mary and Michael Metcalf.

The home site of Michael Metcalf, the immigrant. Michael’s property in Dedham was the long block just south of Puritan Lane and east of East Street and Michael Road.

The Metcalf homestead lot in Dedham, where Martha Pidge’s mother lived after 1645, was just one lot removed from the Fairbanks homestead lot. They all attended the Dedham church, as did the Bullards. The transfer of Mary Pidge’s youngest child to be brought up in the Fairbanks household makes a lot of sense in this Metcalf context. It made a lot of sense, too, for the Fairbanks’ family in the later 1640s. Jonathan and Grace Lee Fairbanks had had four sons and two daughters. By 1640,the two older sons and the two daughters had reached marriageable age and had already, or would soon, leave the Fairbanks homestead, and the two younger sons were coming of age (exact birth dates are unknown for any of the children except Mary Fairbanks, born 1622). Soon Jonathan and Grace would have no one about to help with the household chores as they aged.

I suppose it was almost inevitable that the six Fairbanks and the nineteen Metcalf children should interrelate in some way. In 1644 Jonathan’s daughter Mary Fairbanks married her neighbor, Michael Metcalf, the oldest child of Michael and Sarah, born in England in 1620.

Thus Martha Pidge became Mary Fairbanks Metcalf’s step-sister-in-law. How she came to enter the Fairbanks household at a young age as a foster child is now abundantly apparent. This practice of redistributing children from one Puritan household to another to suit the convenience of both was relatively common in the early years of colonial settlement. It served in a practical way to even out differences in family size and also an unequal distribution of gender among the children of a particular family. The receiving family usually signed an agreement to bring up the child as one of their own, providing food, clothing, and education as suitable. The child was expected to participate in meeting the labor needs of the foster home as ability grew with age. Such arrangements typically involved ample goodwill on both sides and usually worked out well.

His will dated 15 September 1664, three months before his death, follows:

Michael Metcalfe, Senior, of Dedham, being aged, Doe make this my Last Will. Whereas, there is a Covenant Between my selfe and Mary my wife, made before our marriage, bearing Date the 13 of August 1645, wherein it may appear that she reserved to herselfe, and to her dispose, her Lands, and Estate, so that I received no Estate with her; Yet, neverthelesse, I give unto her ffor the terme of her widowhood, in household stuffe, and other goods, as shee thinkes meete to Chuse, for her use, not exceeding the value of sixteene pounds, and not being such as I shall particuarly Dispose of, in this my Last will, which household stuffe, so chosen by her, shall Bee to ffurnishe the Roome, which my Executor shall prepare for her, at his house, to Receive her into, after my Decease. All which household stuffe and goods, I give to my Executor, to have, after the Decease of my wife. Unto my wife, six punds, to be paid to her within one month after my Decease in Current pay. Unto Sonne John Metcalfe of Medfield, one ffeather and Bolster, my second book of Martyrs, Mr. Perkin’s second book, Luther on the gala, one silver spoon, one pair of sheets, on Long Chest, in the Upper Chamber, one Diaper Boardcloth. Unto my Executor & his Heires, all that my Land in Neponset plaine, and three Acres Laying in ye Lowplaine next to Peter Woodward’s, Also halfe my Divident in ye Cedar swampe, neer the Saw Mill, & 3 Commons & ye odde. Unto my Grandchild Michael Metcalfe, the Elder, all that my Land and Improvments within the Lotte I dwell in, my three acres in ye wigwaom plaine, my swompe next to my house, provided he give my Executor that Little parcel of his swampe west end of his house, otherwise my gift to be void. Also I give him my Natick Dividend of twenty-three acres, more or lesse; four Cow Commons; halfe my Cedar swampe, at the Saw Mill; my wood Land, at the West of Toune; all the particulars I have belonging to husbandry, in one kind or another; all the Remainer of my Household stuffe not Disposed of in this my Will. Also my first Book of Martyrs, Mr. Perkin’s first Booke, one silver spoon. To my Daughter Wilson, ffortye shillings. To my Daughter Elisabeth Bancrafte, ffive pounds. To my Daughter Martha Stowe, twenty shillings. To my Daughter, Jane Walker, forty shillings. To my Daughter Rebecca Mackintosh—ffive punds. To my wife’s Daughter, Martha Bullard, twenty shillings. To my Daughter, Sarah Onion, three pounds. All which six Legacyes, Last namedl, shall be paid at, in, or Before, the second March next after my Decease, in Current Payment.

To my Daughter Stowe’s eldest sonne, which she had by her first husband, Wm. Brignall, ffour pounds, to be paid him when he shall attayne to Lawful age. To my Grandchild, Jno. Mackintosh, and Robert Onion, all my wearing apparel to be equally divided by my Executor in order as their names been here set down; my Grandchild to choose first: To my Grandchild, above said, all the Lumber in my house. Moreover, if any of ye persons that are Legattes in my present will, shall by themselves, or by any others, make or cause to make any Disturbances, or Contortion, in word or Deed in Reference to any thing given in this my Will; then all that Legacye to that person, shall be utterly voide. Thomas Metcalfe of Dedham, my sonne, to be my executor, to whom I give all the Rest of my Lands and Goods, not formerly Disposed of.

Michael Metcalfe

Before the witnessing hereof, I give to my Grandchild, abovesaid, my single acre of Meddow; also my Largest gray Horsemans Coate, also two oxen, one Cow, to be delivered to him at Lawful age. All the Books, aforesaid, given to my soone John, after his death I give them his sonne Michael my Grandchilde.

Signed and sealed in the presence of us
Peter Woodard, his mark X, Jonathan ffairbanke
Edward Ranson, Recorder
Jonathan Fairebanke

Children

2. Mary (Marcy) Metcalf

Mary’s husband Henry Wilson was born about 1615 in England.  Henry died 1686 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut.

3. Michael METCALF Jr. (See his page)

4. John Metcalf

John’s wife Mary Chickering was born 1626 in Suffolk, England. Her parents were Francis Chickering and Ann Fiske. Mary died 15 Mar 1698 in Medfield, Norfolk, Mass.

5. Sarah Metcalf

Sarah’s husband Robert Onion Dedham was born in 1622 St Benedicts, Norwich, Norfolk, England. His parents were xx. Robert died 21 Nov 1673 in Dedham, Norfolk, Mass.

6. Elizabeth Metcalf

Elizabeth’s husband Lt. Thomas Bancroft was born 10 Feb 1622 in Derbyshire, England. His parents were John Bancroft and Jane Bonython. He first married 31 Mar 1647 in Dedham, Nor, Mass. to Alice Bacon b. 1629 in Winston, Suffolk, England d, 29 Mar 1648 in Dedham, Norfolk, Mass. Thomas died 19 Aug 1691 – Lynn, Essex, Mass.

John Bancroft, the immigrant ancestor, died on the voyage over or soon after his arrival.  Land was granted to his widow, Jane, in 1638, at Lynn, Massachusetts.  The only child known was Thomas, born in England in 1623 or 1624.  It is likely that Thomas Banshott (as the name was spelled), who came in the ship “Bevis” in May, 1638, at the age of fourteen years, was their son, coming to live with his mother.

About 1655, Bancroft hired a five hundred acre farm in what is now Saugus, then in Lynn, about three or four miles south of Reading, where the nearest church was situated.  He had no part in the Reading common lands, but his son Thomas settled in Reading and was an influential citizen there.  The name Bancroft still clings to the place just south of the Straits, a narrow roadway through the rocky hills from Reading to Saugus.  Surveys of the line between Lynn and Charlestown of about 1670 mentions “the house that was Ensign Bancroft’s.”

In 1670, Thomas Bancroft bought seventy acres of land in Lynnfield, only three miles east of Reading church, which was still the nearest meeting house, and in 1678 the deed adjoining Holyoke farm recites that it “had been for some years in possession and improvement of Thomas Bancroft” and a half acre with a building was reserved from the five hundred and fifty acres and deeded to Bancroft.

Thomas Bancroft served against the Narragansett Indians.  On October 15, 1679, he was relieved from his office of Ensign on the grounds of long service and poor health.  He resided at Dedham until 1652, when he came to Lynnfield, later known as Reading, but then a part of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Lt Thomas Bancroft Headstone — Old Burying Ground Wakefield Middlesex County Mass

7. Martha Metcalf

Martha’s first husband William Brignall was born 1624 in St Benedicts Norwich, Norfolk, England.

Martha’s second husband Christopher Smith was born 1615 in Plymouth, Devon, England. His parents were xx. Christopher died 7 Nov 1676 in Dedham, Norfolk, Mass.

Martha’s third husband Nathaniel Stow was born 7 Oct 1621 in Biddenden, Kent, England. His parents were John Stowe and Elizabeth Bigge. He first married Elizabeth [__?__] b. 1624 in Biddenden, Kent, England, he next married 20 Aug 1662 in Biddenden, Kent, England to Martha Bignell b. 1621 in Biddenden, Kent, England and finally married Martha Metcalf. Nathaniel died 30 May 1684 in Concord, Middlesex, Mass.

8. Deacon Thomas Metcalf

Thomas’ first wife Sarah Pigge (Paige) (his step sister) was born 1631 in St Edmond Shury, Norfolk, England. Her parents were Thomas Pidge and Mary Sothy. Sarah died 1679 in Dedham, Norfolk, Mass

Thomas’ second wife Anne Paine was born 1635 in Norwich, Norfolk, England.  Anne died 1688 in Dedham, Norfolk, Mass.

Thomas’ third wife Mehitable Hand was born 21 Oct 1652 in Boston, Suffolk, Mass. Her parents were Mark Hand and Mary [__?__]. She first married 20 Oct 1668 in Braintree, Norfolk, Mass to John Savil b. 22 Apr 1642 in Braintree, Norfolk, Mass; d. 19 Nov 1687 in Braintree, Suffolk, Mass.Mehitable died 2 Dec 1724 in Mendon, Worcester, Mass.

10. Jane (Mary Jane) Metcalf

Jane’s husband Philip Walker was born 1625 in Weymouth, Dorset, England. His parents were xx. Philip died 21 Aug 1679 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Mass.

Some genealogies say Jane married Samuel Walker and died in 1667 in Dedham.

The Philip Walker house located at 432 Massasoit Avenue is the second oldest house in the state and the oldest documented house in East Providence, the Philip Walker House. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Philip Walker House

The first house was built by one of the most influential men in the early settlement of Rehoboth on the outskirts of the Ring of the Green in 1643. Like most of the other houses of the Green, it was burned in the King Philip War (1676). Some of the charred timbers are still in the walls of the present kitchen, where they were used when it was rebuilt on its original foundation in 1679 by Philip Walker’s widow. The new house was a typical three bay house of the period with a center chimney. (The door, and the two windows to the North each comprising a bay.) Sometime in the middle of the eighteenth century the two South windows were added, and other extensive alterations were done, including some handsome raised paneling. The floor plan is unusual in that the front entry leads directly into the “keeping room” rather than into a vestibule, which was more common for that period.

Philip Walker Housse Interior

The Walker House stayed a part of the original family until 1986 when the house was bequeathed to “Preserve Rhode Island” by descendants of the Walker family and most of the furnishings were auctioned off. The East Providence Historical Society was fortunate enough to acquire some of the historic furnishings which today are displayed in the Philip Walker Room in the Hunt House Museum.

11. Rebecca Metcalf

Rebecca’s husband John Mackintosh was born Norwich St Edmund, Norfolk, England or 5 Apr 1635 in Dedham, Norfolk, Mass. John died 22 Aug 1691 in Dedham, Norfolk, Mass.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=31299410&st=1

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=merrygo&id=I9347

http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/ships/john__dorothy.htm

http://mjgen.com/metcalf/Michael17.html

http://www.langeonline.com/Metcalf/michael.html

http://www.jacksonsweb.org/metcalf.htm

http://www.fairbankshouse.org/homestead_courier/courier_fall_03.pdf