Before Salem by Richard S. Ross III

Author:Richard S. Ross, III
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McFarland
Published: 2017-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

The First Examination of Elizabeth Godman, May 21, 1653

The defendants in the August 4, 1653, Elizabeth Godman slander trial were named by her in her first examination before the magistrate and included Stephen Goodyeare, deputy governor of the colony, Margaret Goodyeare, the Reverend William Hooke, Mrs. Jane Hooke (the sister of Edward Whalley, one of the judges who signed the order to behead Charles I and a cousin of Oliver Cromwell), Mrs. Mary Bishop (the sister of Captain George Lamberton), Mrs. Atwater, wife of Joshua Atwater (the treasurer of New Haven Colony) and her maid Mary Miles.16

Save the maid, these individuals were leading members of the New Haven Colony and it was these people who Elizabeth Godman said suspected her of being a witch. In order to forestall a serious charge of witchcraft Mrs. Godman summoned them to court, saying these several persons had said things that “made people think she was a witch.” In court she said Mrs. Atwater was the “cause of it all” and asked that her prior examination on May 21, 1653, be read before the court. In the examination she complained against the previously mentioned individuals saying they all “suspected her for a witch.”17

Elizabeth Godman may not have been aware nor have read the deposition because for whatever reason she asked to have it admitted. Here a lawyer would probably have served her well because it was damning to her case. Given her reputation and the status of those she was suing to forestall witchcraft charges, it is not unlikely that after the preliminary examination information was added later by other witnesses to the record of which she was not aware. Secondly, one of the defendants, Stephen Goodyeare, was one of the magistrates seated as a member of the Court.18

The first complaint was against the Reverend Mr. Hooke and his wife. Elizabeth Godman was asked what she had against them. She said she heard they had something against her about their son. “Mr. Hooke said hee was not wthout feares, and hee had reasons for it; first he said it wrought suspition in his minde because shee was shut out at Mr. Atwaters upon suspition, and hee was troubled in his sleepe aboute witches when his boye, was sicke.” In addition, she often spoke about witches and “she said why doe they provoake them, [and seemed to be baiting Reverend Hooke] why doe they not let them come into the church.” Mr. Hooke was “horrified of such laxity of sentiment and by such disloyalty to the laws of Moses.”19 At other times she spoke for no reason about witches and said “if they accused her for a witch she would have them to the governor, she would trounce them. Another time she was saying she had some thoughts, what if the Devill should come to sucke her, and she resolved he should not sucke her.”20

Hooke said she had foreknowledge of what was done in Church meetings even though she was not there. The magistrate had even interviewed Mr.

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