Michael Metcalf was born about 1590 at Tatterford, Norfolk Co., England, son of the rector of the church at Tatterford (alternate date of birth: 1586, per "Genealogical Notes," Nathaniel Goodwin, 1969, pg. 157; an Internet sources gives a date of June 17,1587; per his own deposition of 1635, he was 45 years old; baptism registers for Tatterford are missing for the year 1590 and others). In July, 1997, I visited St. Margaret's church at Tatterford, Norfolk, but learned that it was a replacement church, built about 1860. Tatterford is a small farming commuity, north and west of Norwich.

Michael was by trade a dornix/dornock weaver at Norwich which was a center for the weaving trades, especially known for its worsted fabrics. The dornix weavers were members of the Worsted Weavers Guild, worsted cloth having taken its name from the nearby town of Worsted. It's not known when Michael moved to Norwich from Tatterford, but he was likely apprenticed there by his family. According to "The Register of the Freeman of Norwich, 1548-1713," Percy Millican, Norwich, 1934, pg. 57 (read at the Public Record Office Library, Kew, London, July, 1997), Michael "Medcalfe" was an apprentice at Norwich to "Johis" (John) Deme, dornix weaver of the Worsted Weavers Guild, 8 Jan. 1618. He was made Freeman at Norwich 21 June 1618. He married Sarah Ellwyn in 1616 at Waynham (Wearham, per Goodwin; possibly Warham).

According to books of the Mayor's Court, Norwich, Michael Metcalf and Xopher Church were searchers of the dornix weavers in 1624. 1627-1627, Michael Metcalf and Thos. Tilney were wardens of the donix weavers for one year and, in 1629, Michael Metcalf and Xopher Church were sworn as wardens of the dornix weavers. On Saturday, 14 May 1636, "Inquisicio artis de Dornix weavers;" Michael Metcalfe, Simon Bowman and others were sworn.

On 22 Dec. 1634, a Michael "Medcalfe," fishmonger of Norwich, had an apprentice named Willus. Harman ("The Register of the Freeman of Norwich, 1548-1713," pg. 64), but it is not known who this Michael was.

The seven eldest children of Michael and Sarah Metcalf were baptized at St. Benedict's, Norwich where their father was warden 1619-1634, and the 4 youngest at St. Edmund's (or St. Edmondsbury, per Goodwin), all in Norfolk Co., England. Of their 11 children, 9 survived to make the trip to New England in 1637. Michael "Medcalfe" is listed in Walter Rye's "The Norwich Rate Book, pg 75, in St. Edmond's parish, Norwich, from Easter, 1633 to Easter, 1634. In 1635, Michael Metcalfe of Norwich, dornick weaver, aged 45 years, born at Tatterford, Co. Norfolk, testified regarding the practices of the clergyman at St. Edmund's, Norwich. In July, 1997, during a trip to Norwich, I learned that St. Benedict's Church was destroyed by bombing during World War II; only the Norman round tower remains. It stands on St. Benedict's Street near the ruins of the old town wall at Grapes Hill. St. Edmund Fishergate is the only church named St. Edmund in Norwich in 1997. I do not know for certain that this is the same church Michael Metcalf and his family attended, but is likely the same one. It is located between Fishergate St. and the river Wensum in Norwich and has a round tower. It is described in an undated pamphlet of Norwich churches, purchased in 1997, as being small and unusual, of simple Perpendicular style. It was used for storage for some years and became very neglected; major restoration work is being completed. It is in use by the Norwich Community Church and under the care of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust.

Allegedly persecuted for his non-conformist beliefs, Michael sailed alone for America from London 17 Sept. 1636, but the ship was driven back by storms to Plymouth. He sailed again, from Yarmouth (probably Great Yarmouth, near Norwich), 15 April 1637 with his wife, 9 children and a servant, 16 year old Thomas Comherbach. His examination record of 8 April 1637 is printed in the "Register," Vol 14, pg. 325. They landed at Boston "three days before midsummer." That Michael may have been persecuted for his religious beliefs is underscored by the election of Matthew Wren, 1585-1667, as Bishop of Norwich on 10 Nov. 1635. He was a follower of Archbishop Laud and a vigorous opponent of Puritanism. He was impeached by the Commons in 1641 and imprisoned from time to time until the Restoration when he recovered his episcopal rights. In the 16th article of impeachment against him is named Michael Metcalf and Nicholas his son, a Dornix Weaver, named as having left England for "Foreign Parts" as a result of acts by Bishop Wren. In "The Humbler Puritans of East Anglia," NEHGS "Register," Vol 138, pg. 80, it is stated: "The departure of Michael Metcalfe, the Norwich weaver, followed close on his appearance in the Norwich Consistory Court as a supporting witness for Rev. Thomas Allen, who later immigrated himself, after being silenced by the bishop."

Michael was admitted as a Freeman at Dedham 14 July 1637. He joined the church at Dedham in 1639, was Selectman in 1641 and on the committee to build a new meeting house.

He married a second time, at Dedham, MA, in 1645 after his wife Sarah died in 1644. In 1656, when about 70 years old, he agreed to teach the children of Dedham how to read and write, to be paid 20 pounds in grain. He died 24 Dec. 1664 [alternate date of death: 27 Dec. 1664 per William Richard Cutter, New England Families Genealogical & Memorial, Third Series, Vol. II, (Orig. publ. NY, 1915; repr. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1997), pg. 1031 & Frank S. Parks, Some Ancestor of Moses Bancroft & Some of His Descendants, (Privately Published, Washington, D.C., 1934), pg. 3.] and his will was proved 1 Feb. 1665. His estate was valued at 364 pounds, 10, 5; the will disposes of his books.

"Genealogical Research in England," NEHGS "Register," Vol 86, pg. 253 (abt. 1590).

New England Families Genealogical & Memorial, Third Series, Vol. II

AUTHOR: William Richard Cutter
PUBLICATION: Orig. publ. NY, 1915; repr. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1997
PAGE: pg. 1031

William Richard Cutter, New England Families Genealogical & Memorial, Third Series, Vol. II, (Orig. publ. NY, 1915; repr. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1997), pg. 1031 (1586).

Some Ancestors of Moses Bancroft & Some of His Descendants

AUTHOR: Frank S. Parks
PUBLICATION: Privately Published, Washington, D.C., 1934
CALL NUMBER: CS71.B223

"Some Ancestors of Moses Bancroft," Frank S. Parks, 1934 & "Genealogical Notes," Nathaniel Goodwin, 1969,
pg. 157 (date only)

New England Families Genealogical & Memorial, Third Series, Vol. II

AUTHOR: William Richard Cutter
PUBLICATION: Orig. publ. NY, 1915; repr. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1997
PAGE: pg. 1031

New England Families Genealogical & Memorial, Third Series, Vol. II

AUTHOR: William Richard Cutter
PUBLICATION: Orig. publ. NY, 1915; repr. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1997
PAGE: pg. 1031

"Genealogical Notes," Nathaniel Goodwin, 1969, pg 157 & "American Marriages Before 1699," Wm. M. Clemens,1926 & "Rev. John Eliot's Record of Church Members," NEHGS "Register," Vol 35, pg. 243 & "Marriage Records of Dedham, MA,"

"The Connecticut Nutmegger," Vol 18, Sept., 1985, pg. 195.

New England Families Genealogical & Memorial, Third Series, Vol. II

AUTHOR: William Richard Cutter
PUBLICATION: Orig. publ. NY, 1915; repr. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1997
PAGE: pg. 1031

The Pigg or Pidge Family in England and America

AUTHOR: Waldo Chamberlain Sprague
PUBLICATION: The American Genealogist, Vol. 36, 1960