Simon Metcalfe
| Simon Metcalfe | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1741 London, England |
| Died | 1794 Queen Charlotte Islands |
| Occupation | Maritime fur trader |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Humphrey |
| Parent(s) | George and Anne Metcalfe |
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Simon Metcalfe (also spelled Metcalf) (c. 1741–1794) was a British American surveyor and one of the first American maritime fur traders to visit the Pacific Northwest coast. As early visitors to the Hawaiian Islands, Metcalfe and his son Thomas unwittingly provided Western military weapons and advisors for Kamehameha I, helping him win strategic battles and unify the Hawaiian Islands.
Simon Metcalfe was born in London, England, April 23, 1741, the son of George and Anne Metcalfe, of Askrigg, Yorkshire but, due to a recent inheritance, living in Shadwell, London at the time of Simon's birth. Simon was baptized at 9 days old on May 1, 1741 at St.Pauls, Shadwell, County of Middlesex.< St. Paul's, Shadwell Parish Records> In his early life he trained for a career at sea with the East India Company. He was married in Bolton on Swale, Yorkshire on May 12, 1763 to Catherine Humphrey, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Humphrey of that town. Simon stated at that time that his address was Dowgate Street, London and that he was a merchant. His brother Bernard Metcalfe was his witness. He and Catherine Humphrey had at least nine children. The family, Simon,Catherine and baby Elizabeth moved to the Province of New York about 1765, leaving son George in Yorkshire with Simon's brother Bernard to be educated. They settled first in New York City. Metcalfe found employment as a surveyor and worked on the survey of the Fort Stanwix Treaty line in about 1769, and was promoted to Deputy Surveyor in the Province of New York by 1770.
In 1771 Governor Dunmore of New York granted 30,000 acres (120 km2) of land to Simon Metcalfe and his wife. This land was called Prattsburgh and is now part of Swanton and Highgate, Vermont. His family settled on this land and he established a fur trading post at the mouth of the Missisquoi River.
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