Holbrook line: Michael Metcalf, Immigrant

Michael Metcalf is one of several ancestors who are "new" to me, found when I finally broke through the Molly Wright Holbrook brick wall I've had for many years  When I started researching him, I found that he's an interesting man who came to New England with his wife, nine (!) children, and a servant.  More than that, there is some information about him prior to his coming to New England, which is a bit unusual.

It is not certain who Michael's father was.  Many genealogists think his father was the Rev. Leonard Metcalf.  Others think that Leonard was probably is uncle.  Regardless, we know that he was born at Tatterford, Norfolk, England sometime between 1586 and 1591, depending on which argument you believe.

Facts that seem to be documented are that he came from a fairly substantial family, probably Puritan, and that his occupation was a dornix (tapestry) weaver.  One article said that he owned a cloth factory in Norwich that employed 100 people  He was made a freeman there on June 21, 1618.  He married Sarah Elwyn, the daughter of Thomas Elwyn and Elizabeth Benslye on October 13, 1616.

Perhaps because Michael was a factory owner, he caught the attention of the Star Court run by Bishop Wren, and suffered persecution because of his religious beliefs.  Finally, in 1636 he decided to leave for the New World.  He may have actually left then by himself but been driven back to England by bad weather.  The following year, he and his wife and 9 surviving children (two had died young) came to America.  The faily almost immediately went to Dedham, where he was admitted a townsman in 1637, admitted to the church in 1639, and was a selectman in 1641.  He was also a schoolmaster, which indicates he must have had considerable schooling in England.

Sarah died November 10, 1644, when her youngest child was 9 years old.  Michael needed a wife, and soon married the widow Mary Pigge, who had several children of her own  It must have been quite a household.  Michael died December 27, 1664, leaving land and books to his sons and varying monetary amounts to his daughters, and to one of Mary's daughters.  Probably those who got the lesser amounts had already received dowry gifts.  I didn't find a copy of the appraisal of the estate, and I also didn't find anything that clearly states an occupation in Dedham.  Michael did own a clay pit, used for brick making, but I have no idea whether this, along with farming for the family, was enough to support them

I want to do more research about Michael, particularly to learn more about his religious life at Dedham, why he became a schoolmaster at age 70 or so, and what his occupation was here  There may be more stories, too, waiting to be uncovered.

The line of descent is:

Michael Metcalf-Sarah Elwyn
Mary Metcalf-Henry Wilson
Ephraim Wilson-Rebecca Sumner
Samuel Wilson-Elizabeth Hawes
Rebecca Wilson-Jonathan Wright
Molly Wright-Amariah Holbrook
Nahum Wright-Susanna Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants