User:WilyD/William Case/Franklin Metcalf

Franklin Metcalf was a circuit rider in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Metcalf was born 6th June, 1778 in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Baptist parents. Around 1797, he moved with them to Seneca Falls, New York. Soon after, his father died. In 1802, a Methodist revival took place in Seneca Falls, which his brother attended. Their mother was opposed to the brother's attendance, and sent Franklin to retrieve him. Franklin instead prayed with the group, which began his conversion to Methodism. Upon finishing school, he apprenticed as a doctor. He found himself unhappy with the profession, feeling it was not his true calling, and abandoneded it in 1816 or 1817.

He was received on trial as a circuit rider at the 1819 conference. His first assignment was the Hallowell circuit, where he rode alongside Thomas Madden. Before the end of the year, he was moved to the Belleville circuit to fill a vacancy after John Tuke had his preaching licence suspended. In 1820, he was reassigned to the Hallowell circuit, where he rode alongside James Wilson. Membership on that circuit increased by 86. In 1821, he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte circuit, where he rode alongside Calvin Flint.

He was entitled to end his trial period at the 1822, be received into full connexion, and receive his deacon's orders. He was unable to attend the conference, however, owing to an operation on his foot, and his promotions were all deferred. That year, he was assigned to the Perth circuit. He arrived late on the circuit, the opening of the year the circuit riding was done by Philander Smith in his absence. A few weeks later, Metcalf arrived at the circuit. A quarterly meeting was held that year in Perth, with more than 150 attendees, where between twenty and thirty people joined the Methodist church. Over the course of the year, one hundred and one people joined the church on the circuit.

In 1823, he was assigned to the Perth and New Settlements circuit, where he rode alongside Solomon Waldron.