Generation One
1. Brian1 Metcalf married Johanna Broughton. He was born in 1460 at Bears Park, Yorkshire.
Children of Brian1 Metcalf and Johanna Broughton were:
Generation Two
2. Rev. Leonard2 Metcalf (Brian1) married Amy (--?--). He was born in 1541 at Apperside, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. He died in 1614 at Tatterford, Norfolk, England.
Children of Leonard2 Metcalf and Amy (--?--) were as follows:
Generation Three
3. Michael3 Metcalf (Leonard2, Brian1) married Sarah Ellwer, daughter of Thomas Ellwer and Elizabeth Benslye. He was born in 1586 at Taterford, Norfolk, England. He died on 27 Dec 1664 at Dedham, Mass.
Children of Michael3 Metcalf and Sarah Ellwer were as follows:
Generation Four
4. Michael4 Metcalf (Michael3, Leonard2, Brian1) was born on 29 Aug 1620 at Norwich, England. He married Mary Fairbanks, daughter of Jonathan Fairbanks and Grace Smith, on 2 Apr 1644 at Dedham, Mass. He died on 24 Dec 1654 at Dedham, Mass, at age 34.
Michael Metcalf, the emigrant ancestor of this family, was born in Tatterford Co. of
Norfolk England 1586. His wife Sarah was born in the adjoining town of Wearham June 17
1593, where they were married Oct 13 1616. The seven oldest children were born in St.
Benedict's Norwich and four afterwards at Edmondsbury. " I was persecuted ", he
writes " in the land of my fathers sepulchres, for not bowing at the name of Jesus,
and observing other religious ceremonies, forced upon me at the instance of Bishop Wren of
Norwich and his Chancellor Dr. Corbet, whose violent measures troubled me in the Bishops
Court, and returned me to the High Commissioners Court. Suffering many times for the cause
of religion, I was forced for the sake of liberty of my conscience to flee from my wife
and my children, to go to New England, taking the ship voyage at London, 17th of Sept.
1636, being by tempests, tossed up and down the seas til the Christmas following, then
veering about to Plymouth in Old England, in which time I met with many sore afflictions.
Leaving with the ship I went down to Yarmouth, in Norfolk county, whence I shipped myself
and my family, to come to New England; sailed 15 April 1637, and arrived 3 days before mid
summer, with my wife nine children and a servant. ". The name of the servant seems to
have been Thomas Comherbach, aged 16. [Manuscript of Hen. Tames Savage] he above extracts
were taken from a from a copy of a letter written in Plymouth Eng. Jan 13 1636, on his
voyage hither; directed, " To all true Professors in Christ's Gospel within the City
of Norwich". In a postscript he remarks, " my enemies conspired against me to
take my life, and sometimes to avoid their hands, my wife did hide me in the roof of the
house, covering me with straw.
History informs us, that one of the charges brought against Bishop Wren, by a committee of
Parliament, was, that during the term of two years, four months, while he held the See of
Norwich, " 300 of his Majesties subjects, many of whom use trafes, spinning, weaving,
knitting, making cloth stuff, stockings and other manufactures of wool, some of them
setting one hundred poor people at work." " transported themselves to Holland
and other parts beyond the sea " in consequence of his " superstition and
tyranny" [See appendix to Dr. Lamson's Historical Discourses]
Michael Metcalf was admitted to a townsman at Dedham July 14 1637; joined the church in
1639 and was a selectman 1641. His name stands first on the committee chosen to "
contrive the fabricke of a Meeting House"
Genealogical Notes on the First Settlers of Corm. By Nathaniel Goodwin
Michael Metcalf
It has become more fashionable to view the settlers of Mass. Bay as men more pulled to
America by the opportunity to find a new society than pushed there by the persecutions of
Anglican England. Michael Metcalf, one of the founders of Dedham and for a time its
schoolmaster would have disagreed violently. On abandoning his home land and his career as
a Master Weaver in provincial Nourish, Metcalf had written a long letter, " 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".
Taken from A New England Town by Kenneth A. Lockridge W.W. Norton and Co 1985
Metcalf - Michael, Dedham, born 1585, at Tatterford Co Norfolk, was a dornock weaver at
Norwich and free of the city where all his children were born --- his wife was born at a
village near Norwich, he says 17 Tune 1593, but possibly the figures are mistaken, as in
the examination one week before the sail of the ship, I think called, the Rose, of
Yarmouth, from Yarmouth, Apr 1637, he calls him 45 years of age and his wife 39. "
From religious tyranny exercised by Wren, then Bishop of Norwich, he felt forced to
escape, even at the expense of the separation of his family for a time and embarked at
London 17 Sept. 1636 for New England, but was sadly tormented by equal tempests on the
water and the ship at Christmas was forced to put back to Weymouth; and so far was this a
happiness that in April following, he had a license for the whole family to come; Only 8
children are mentioned in the Custom House document, but I can hardly doubt that the name
of John was overlooked. At Boston, he arrived 3 days before mid-summer with nine children
and a servant, who was Thomas Comberbach, aged 16, I presume in one of the three ships
mentioned by Winthrop, as coming from Ipswich 20 June. He may have been the brother of
Joseph. was Freeman 13 May 1640 or 18 May 1642, and perhaps swore on both those
days,though more probably more the fault of the Secretary as in the list appears --- A
very curious document, his engagement after 70 years of age to keep the town school in
1656 is given in the Genealogical Register X 282. His will made 6 weeks before gives to
eight children, Michael being dead, and each of the daughters married. Martha then, having
a second or third husband, to grandchild Michael, son of Michael, and grandchild William
Brignall, son of daughter Martha, who was a member of the Roxbury church by her first
husband and to Martha Bullard, daughter of his first wife.
Savage III page 202-3
Children of Michael4 Metcalf and Mary Fairbanks all b. at Dedham, Mass, were as follows:
Generation Five
5. Sarah5 Metcalf (Michael4, Michael3, Leonard2, Brian1) was born on 7 Dec 1646 at Dedham, Mass. She married Robert Ware, son of Robert Ware and Margaret Hunting, on 6 Jun 1677. She died on 13 Apr 1718 at age 71.
Children of Sarah5 Metcalf and Robert Ware were as follows: