Simon Metcalfe
Encyclopedia
Simon Metcalfe (c.
1735–1794) was a British American
surveyor and one of the first American maritime fur trade
rs 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.
, England
, in September 1735, the son of Simon and Elizabeth Colton Metcalf. In 1763 he married Catherine Humphrey, and together they had at least nine children. The family moved to the Province of New York
about 1765, settling 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 30000 acres (121.4 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
.
During the American Revolutionary War
Metcalfe supported the American cause. He was taken prisoner by the British and held in Montreal
. Two of his children were born in Montreal around 1778 and 1779. Property he owned on Lake Champlain
was destroyed during the war. After the war was over Metcalfe settled his family in Albany
.
that were being stored in New York City. In 1787 he acquired the brig
Eleanora (sometimes spelled Eleanor). In September 1787 he set sail on the Eleanora with a cargo of furs for China. He continued as a maritime fur trader for the next seven years. He probably did not return to New York after leaving in 1787.
Metcalfe might have been the first American to sail to the Pacific Northwest
coast in search of furs. In command of the Eleanora, he may have been on the Northwest Coast in 1787 or 1788, perhaps before the arrival of Robert Gray and John Kendrick
in August and September of 1788.
In 1789 both Simon Metcalfe and his son Thomas Humphrey Metcalfe were caught up in the Nootka Crisis
at Nootka Sound
. Although the events at Nootka were mainly directed toward British merchant vessels, the Spanish naval officer Esteban José Martínez
seized Thomas Metcalfe's small schooner
, the Fair American. Simon Metcalfe approached Nootka Sound and the Eleanora was almost captured as well, but he managed to escape. The Fair American and its crew were taken to the Spanish naval base at San Blas
. They were quickly released. The Metcalfes had planned to spend the winter in the Hawaiian Islands
. After being released,Thomas Metcalfe sailed the Fair American to Hawaii, hoping to join his father.
on the island of Hawaiʻi
, Metcalfe was greeted by local chief Kameʻeiamoku. Metcalfe had the chief flogged for some infraction. Metcalfe believed in strong and immediate punishment when his rules were broken. By most accounts he was irascible and harsh. Metcalfe then sailed to the neighboring island of Maui
to trade along the coast. Kameʻeiamoku vowed revenge on whatever ship next came his way.
Metcalfe ran into more trouble on the coast of Maui when a boat and sailor went missing. It was discovered that the boat had been stolen and the sailor killed. His punishment in this case became known as the Olowalu Massacre. He sailed to the village of the suspected thieves, Olowalu
. Feigning peaceful intent, he invited the villagers to the Eleanora for trade. Many canoes gathered at the ship. Metcalfe directed them to come to one side, where he had loaded his cannon with ball
and shot
. He ordered a broadside
fired at point-blank range, which blasted the vessels to pieces. About one hundred Native Hawaiians
were killed and several hundred wounded. Because Hawaiians considered Olowalu a pu'u honua, or place of refuge, this attack had profound and long-lasting consequences, ultimately undermining the site's cultural stability. After the massacre, Metcalfe weighed anchor and sailed back to the island of Hawai'i. At Kealakekua Bay
he began what seemed to be friendly trade for provisions.
, who was badly injured but for some reason spared. Kameʻeiamoku appropriated the ship, its guns, aummunition, and other valuable goods, as well as Isaac Davis himself. At the time no one was aware of the family relation between the captain of the Fair American and Simon Metcalfe, whose Eleanora was anchored at Kealakekua Bay, about 30 miles (48.3 km) away. The Fair American and Davis were eventually given to King Kamehameha I
.
When Kamehameha learned about the capture of the Fair American he prohibited further contact between the natives and the Eleanora. Metcalfe sent the boatswain
John Young
ashore to investigate. Young was captured, and Metcalfe was puzzled by the sudden silence. He waited two days for Young to return, firing guns in hope that the sound would guide Young back. Finally, sensing danger or becoming frustrated, Metcalfe left and set sail for China, not knowing that his son had been killed not far away. He never learned about the attack on the Fair American or the fate of his son.
These events mark a turning point in Hawaiian history. John Young and Isaac Davis were instrumental in Kamehameha's military ventures and his eventual conquest and unification of the Hawaiian Islands. Young and Davis became respected translators and military advisors for Kamehameha. Their skill in gunnery, as well as the cannon from the Fair American, helped Kamehameha win many battles, including the Battle of Kepaniwai
later in 1790 which defeated the forces of Maui. They married members of the royal family, raised families and received valuable lands.
, at the southern end of the Queen Charlotte Islands
, and anchored in Coyah's Sound. Friendly trading with the local Haida natives of Chief Koyah
began. Metcalfe let a great number come aboard the Eleanora. The Haida took advantage of their superiority in numbers and attacked. Within a few minutes, and with no loss on the side of the natives, every man on board had been killed save one who fled into the rigging. The natives ordered the man to come down, which he did. He was kept as a slave for about a year. Eventually he was ransomed to a visiting ship and taken to Hawaii where he told his story to John Young, who passed it on to other captains who visited the islands. The Eleanora was not the only ship captured by the Haida in 1794. The brig Resolution, under captain Josiah Roberts, was seized by the Haida of Chief Cumshewa
and, as with the Eleanora, all but one of the crew killed.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1735–1794) was a British American
British American
British Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in the United Kingdom . The term is seldom used by people to refer to themselves and is used primarily as a demographic or historical research term...
surveyor and one of the first American maritime fur trade
Maritime Fur Trade
The Maritime Fur Trade was a ship-based fur trade system that focused on acquiring furs of sea otters and other animals from the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast and natives of Alaska. The furs were mostly sold in China in exchange for tea, silks, porcelain, and other Chinese...
rs to visit the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
coast. As early visitors to the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
, Metcalfe and his son Thomas unwittingly provided Western military weapons and advisors for Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
, helping him win strategic battles and unify the Hawaiian Islands.
Life
Simon Metcalfe was born in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in September 1735, the son of Simon and Elizabeth Colton Metcalf. In 1763 he married Catherine Humphrey, and together they had at least nine children. The family moved to the Province of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
about 1765, settling first in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Metcalfe found employment as a surveyor and worked on the survey of the Fort Stanwix Treaty line
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
The Treaty of Fort Stanwix was an important treaty between North American Indians and the British Empire. It was signed in 1768 at Fort Stanwix, located in present-day Rome, New York...
in about 1769, and was promoted to Deputy Surveyor in the Province of New York by 1770.
In 1771 Governor Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore was a British peer and colonial governor. He was the son of William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore, and his wife Catherine . He is best remembered as the last royal governor of the Colony of Virginia.John was the eldest son of William and Catherine Murray, and nephew...
of New York granted 30000 acres (121.4 km²) of land to Simon Metcalfe and his wife. This land was called Prattsburgh and is now part of Swanton
Swanton (town), Vermont
Swanton is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 6,203 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 61.7 square miles , of which 48.4 square miles is land and 13.3 square miles is...
and Highgate
Highgate, Vermont
Highgate is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,397 at the 2000 census. The town is on the border of Quebec, Canada and is a border town of Philipsburg, Quebec.-History:...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. His family settled on this land and he established a fur trading post at the mouth of the Missisquoi River
Missisquoi River
The Missisquoi River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately 80 mi long, in northern Vermont in the United States and southern Quebec in Canada. It drains a rural area of the northern Green Mountains along the US-Canada border northeast of Lake Champlain, and an area of Quebec's Eastern...
.
During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
Metcalfe supported the American cause. He was taken prisoner by the British and held in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Two of his children were born in Montreal around 1778 and 1779. Property he owned on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
was destroyed during the war. After the war was over Metcalfe settled his family in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
Maritime fur trade
In the 1780s, Metcalfe took a consignment of seal furs from the Falkland IslandsFalkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
that were being stored in New York City. In 1787 he acquired the brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
Eleanora (sometimes spelled Eleanor). In September 1787 he set sail on the Eleanora with a cargo of furs for China. He continued as a maritime fur trader for the next seven years. He probably did not return to New York after leaving in 1787.
Metcalfe might have been the first American to sail to the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
coast in search of furs. In command of the Eleanora, he may have been on the Northwest Coast in 1787 or 1788, perhaps before the arrival of Robert Gray and John Kendrick
John Kendrick (American sea captain)
John Kendrick was an American sea captain, both during the American Revolutionary War and the exploration and maritime fur trading of the Pacific Northwest alongside his partner Robert Gray.-Early life:...
in August and September of 1788.
In 1789 both Simon Metcalfe and his son Thomas Humphrey Metcalfe were caught up in the Nootka Crisis
Nootka Crisis
The Nootka Crisis was an international incident and political dispute between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Spain, triggered by a series of events that took place during the summer of 1789 at Nootka Sound...
at Nootka Sound
Nootka Sound
Nootka Sound is a complex inlet or sound of the Pacific Ocean on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Historically also known as King George's Sound, as a strait it separates Vancouver Island and Nootka Island.-History:The inlet is part of the...
. Although the events at Nootka were mainly directed toward British merchant vessels, the Spanish naval officer Esteban José Martínez
Esteban José Martínez Fernández y Martínez de la Sierra
Esteban José Martínez Fernández y Martínez de la Sierra, or simply Esteban José Martínez was a Spanish navigator and explorer, native of Seville...
seized Thomas Metcalfe's small schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
, the Fair American. Simon Metcalfe approached Nootka Sound and the Eleanora was almost captured as well, but he managed to escape. The Fair American and its crew were taken to the Spanish naval base at San Blas
San Blas, Nayarit
San Blas is both a municipality and municipal seat located on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Nayarit.-City:San Blas is a port and a popular tourist destination, located about 100 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, and 40 miles west of the state capital Tepic. The town has a population of...
. They were quickly released. The Metcalfes had planned to spend the winter in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. After being released,Thomas Metcalfe sailed the Fair American to Hawaii, hoping to join his father.
Olowalu massacre
The Eleanora under Simon Metcalfe arrived in the islands first. In KohalaKohala, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; Kohala , [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
on the island of Hawaiʻi
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
, Metcalfe was greeted by local chief Kameʻeiamoku. Metcalfe had the chief flogged for some infraction. Metcalfe believed in strong and immediate punishment when his rules were broken. By most accounts he was irascible and harsh. Metcalfe then sailed to the neighboring island of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
to trade along the coast. Kameʻeiamoku vowed revenge on whatever ship next came his way.
Metcalfe ran into more trouble on the coast of Maui when a boat and sailor went missing. It was discovered that the boat had been stolen and the sailor killed. His punishment in this case became known as the Olowalu Massacre. He sailed to the village of the suspected thieves, Olowalu
Olowalu, Hawaii
Olowalu is a community on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii. It was the site of an incident in 1790 that had implications on the history of the Hawaiian Islands.-Pu'u Honua:...
. Feigning peaceful intent, he invited the villagers to the Eleanora for trade. Many canoes gathered at the ship. Metcalfe directed them to come to one side, where he had loaded his cannon with ball
Round shot
Round shot is a solid projectile without explosive charge, fired from a cannon. As the name implies, round shot is spherical; its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the gun it is fired from.Round shot was made in early times from dressed stone, but by the 17th century, from iron...
and shot
Grapeshot
In artillery, a grapeshot is a type of shot that is not a one solid element, but a mass of small metal balls or slugs packed tightly into a canvas bag. It was used both in land and naval warfare. When assembled, the balls resembled a cluster of grapes, hence the name...
. He ordered a broadside
Broadside
A broadside is the side of a ship; the battery of cannon on one side of a warship; or their simultaneous fire in naval warfare.-Age of Sail:...
fired at point-blank range, which blasted the vessels to pieces. About one hundred Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S...
were killed and several hundred wounded. Because Hawaiians considered Olowalu a pu'u honua, or place of refuge, this attack had profound and long-lasting consequences, ultimately undermining the site's cultural stability. After the massacre, Metcalfe weighed anchor and sailed back to the island of Hawai'i. At Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is located on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii about south of Kailua-Kona.Settled over a thousand years ago, the surrounding area contains many archeological and historical sites such as religious temples, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places listings on...
he began what seemed to be friendly trade for provisions.
Capture of the Fair American
Meanwhile, Thomas Humphrey Metcalfe, arrived near Kawaihae Bay, in the Fair American. By coincidence the Fair American was the next ship to visit the territory of chief Kameʻeiamoku, who was eager for revenge. The schooner's was manned by only four sailors plus its relatively inexperienced 19 year-old captain. It was easily captured by the Hawaiians. Thomas Metcalfe and his crew were killed. The only survivor was Isaac DavisIsaac Davis (Hawaii)
Isaac Davis was a Welsh advisor to Kamehameha I and helped form the Kingdom of Hawaii. He arrived in Hawaii in 1790 as the sole survivor of the massacre of the crew of The Fair American. He along with John Young became friends and advisors to Kamehameha...
, who was badly injured but for some reason spared. Kameʻeiamoku appropriated the ship, its guns, aummunition, and other valuable goods, as well as Isaac Davis himself. At the time no one was aware of the family relation between the captain of the Fair American and Simon Metcalfe, whose Eleanora was anchored at Kealakekua Bay, about 30 miles (48.3 km) away. The Fair American and Davis were eventually given to King Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
.
When Kamehameha learned about the capture of the Fair American he prohibited further contact between the natives and the Eleanora. Metcalfe sent the boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
John Young
John Young (Hawaii)
John Young was a British subject who became an important military advisor to Kamehameha I during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was left behind by Simon Metcalfe, captain of the American ship Eleanora, and along with a Welshmen Isaac Davis became a friend and advisor to Kamehameha...
ashore to investigate. Young was captured, and Metcalfe was puzzled by the sudden silence. He waited two days for Young to return, firing guns in hope that the sound would guide Young back. Finally, sensing danger or becoming frustrated, Metcalfe left and set sail for China, not knowing that his son had been killed not far away. He never learned about the attack on the Fair American or the fate of his son.
These events mark a turning point in Hawaiian history. John Young and Isaac Davis were instrumental in Kamehameha's military ventures and his eventual conquest and unification of the Hawaiian Islands. Young and Davis became respected translators and military advisors for Kamehameha. Their skill in gunnery, as well as the cannon from the Fair American, helped Kamehameha win many battles, including the Battle of Kepaniwai
Battle of Kepaniwai
The Battle of Kepaniwai was fought in 1790 between Hawaii Island and Maui. The forces of Hawaii were led by Kamehameha I, while the forces of Maui were led by Kalanikūpule...
later in 1790 which defeated the forces of Maui. They married members of the royal family, raised families and received valuable lands.
Death
Little is known about Simon Metcalfe after he left Hawaii in 1790. He was on the Northwest Coast again in the summer of 1794 on the Eleanora. He visited Houston Stewart ChannelHouston Stewart Channel
Houston Stewart Channel is a strait in the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia, Canada. It separates Moresby Island and Kunghit Island....
, at the southern end of the Queen Charlotte Islands
Queen Charlotte Islands
Haida Gwaii , formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, is an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands: Graham Island in the north, and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 150 smaller islands with a total landmass of...
, and anchored in Coyah's Sound. Friendly trading with the local Haida natives of Chief Koyah
Koyah
Koyah, also Coya, Coyour, Kower, Kouyer Koyah, also Coya, Coyour, Kower, Kouyer Koyah, also Coya, Coyour, Kower, Kouyer (phonetically /xo’ya/, meaning "raven" (b.?-d. c.1795), was the chief of Ninstints or Skungwai, the main village of the Kunghit-Haida during the era of the Maritime Fur Trade in...
began. Metcalfe let a great number come aboard the Eleanora. The Haida took advantage of their superiority in numbers and attacked. Within a few minutes, and with no loss on the side of the natives, every man on board had been killed save one who fled into the rigging. The natives ordered the man to come down, which he did. He was kept as a slave for about a year. Eventually he was ransomed to a visiting ship and taken to Hawaii where he told his story to John Young, who passed it on to other captains who visited the islands. The Eleanora was not the only ship captured by the Haida in 1794. The brig Resolution, under captain Josiah Roberts, was seized by the Haida of Chief Cumshewa
Cumshewa
Cumshewa, also Go'mshewah, Cummashawa, Cummashawaas, Cumchewas, Gumshewa, was an important chief of the Haida people of the Queen Charlotte Islands on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. His name is believed to be of either Kwak'wala or Heiltsuk origin, meaning "rich at the mouth of the...
and, as with the Eleanora, all but one of the crew killed.
External links
- Letter from Captain Metcalf, 1790, to King Kamehameha
- Surprise Visitor at Nootka Sound, Tacoma Public Library
- Cultural History of Three Traditional Hawaiian Sites (Chapter 3), Overview of Hawaiian History, National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...