The Penguin Book of Witches (9 page)

John Godfrey’s presence in the Essex County court records extends well beyond these readings, beginning in the 1640s and extending all the way to his death in 1675.
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While early New Englanders were notable for their litigiousness, Godfrey presents a special case, not only for his repeated appearances, but also for the substance of his various legal troubles. Whereas men appeared as accused witches from time to time, they almost universally were affiliated with—most often were married to—women who themselves had been accused. John Godfrey emerges as a unique character within the history of North American witchcraft for the simple reason that he was male, with a witchy reputation of his own, and no wife.

Employed sporadically for much of his life as a herdsman who also was unusually mobile, suggesting rootlessness and economic difficulty, Godfrey seemed to enjoy being a provocateur. He was known to speak often of the power of witches or to allude to his own association with the Devil. Like Eunice Cole and other New Englanders with long-standing poor reputations, Godfrey dodged conviction for much of his adult life. He was tried and acquitted three different times.

Another unusual aspect of the suspicion surrounding Godfrey is that after his 1659 trial, he rejoined the same community, with very little change in his circumstances.
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However, Godfrey’s quarrelsome nature and complex financial entanglements with his neighbors would result in his subsequent trial for witchcraft in 1665–1666, a trial during which he was acquitted on a technicality, though the court left little doubt as to their private opinions on his guilt.

Court List of Witnesses Against Godfrey
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To the honored court to be holden at Ipswich this twelfth month, 1658 or 1659

Whereas diverse of esteem with us and as we hear in other places also have for some times have suffered losses in their estates and some affliction on their bodies also, which as they suppose doth not arise from any natural cause or any neglect in themselves but rather from some ill-disposed person, that upon differences had betwixt themselves and one John Godfrey, resident at Andover or elsewhere at his pleasure we whose names are underwritten do make bold to sue by way of request to this honored court that you in your wisdom will be pleased if you see cause for it to call him in question and to hear at present or at some after sessions what may be said in this respect.

James Davis, senior, in the behalf of his son Ephraim Davis

John Heseltine and Jane, his wife

Abraham Whittaker for his ox and other things

Ephraim Davis in the behalf of himself

Some things we hear of and it may be they may be of consequence

Benjamin Sweet in the case of his child

Isabell Holdred hearing a voice and being afflicted in her body

Job Tyler of Andover for a bird coming to suck his wife

Charles Browne’s son for what he did see, although we say no more at present

Widow Ayres’s daughter and Goodman Procter’s daughter for a pail with something in it

Testimony Against Godfrey
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Thomas Hayne testifieth that being with Goodwife Holdridge she told me that she saw a great horse and showed me where it stood: I then took a stick and stroke on the place but felt nothing and I heard the door shake and goodwife said it was gone out at the door. Immediately after she was taken with extremity of fear and pain so that she presently fell into a sweat and I thought she would swoon away. She trembled and shook like a leaf.

Thomas Hayne

Nathan Gould being with Goodwife Holdred ong [scored out] night there appeared a great snake as she said with open mouth and she being weak, hardly able to go alone, yet then ran and laid hold of Nathan Gould by the head and could not speak for the space of half an hour.

Nathan Gould

Deposition of Isabel Holdred
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The deposition of Isabel Holdred

Who testifieth that John Godfrey came to the house [where] Henry Blasda[torn] her husband and herself were and demanded a debt of her husband and said a warrant was out and Goodman Lord was suddenly to come. John Godfrey [torn]ed if we would not pay him. The deponent answered yes, tonight [torn]morrow if we had it. John Godfrey said of must begin and must [torn] man Lord the deponent answered [illegible][foregoing in brackets scored out] for I believe we shall not [torn] we are in thy debt. John Godfrey answered that’s a bitter word said. I must begin and must send Goodman Lord. The deponent answ[torn] when thou wilt. I fear thee not nor all the devils in hell, and further [torn] deponent testifieth that two days after this she was taken with those strange fits with which she was tormented a fortnight together night and day and several apparitions appeared to the deponent in the night: the first night a humble bee,
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the next night a bear appeared, which ground the teeth and shook the claw. Thou sayest thou art not afraid. Then thinkest Harry Blasdell’s house will save thee? The deponent answered, I hope the Lord Jesus Christ will save me. The apparition then spake. Thou sayest thou art not afraid of all the devils in hell but I will have thy heart blood within a few hours. The next was the apparition of a great snake at which the deponent was exceedingly affrighted and skipped to Nathan Gold, who was in the opposite chimney corner and caught hold of the hair of his head and her speech was taken away for the space of half an hour. The next night appeared a great horse and Thomas Hayne being there, the deponent told him of it and showed him where. The said Thomas Hayne took a stick and struck at the place where apparition was and his stroke glanced by the side of it and it went [torn] the table and he went to strike again. Then the apparition fled to the [torn] and made it shake and went away and about a week after the deponent [torn] son were at the door of Nathan Gold and heard a rushing in the [torn] The deponent said to her son, yonder is a beast. He answered, ’tis one of Goodman Cobby’s black oxen and it came toward them and came within [torn] yard of them. The deponent, her heart began to ache for it seemed to have great eyes and spake to the boy, lets go in. But suddenly the oxen beat her against the wall and struck her down and she was much hurt by it, not being able to rise up but some other carried me into the house, all my face being bloody being much bruised.

The boy was much affrighted a long time after and for the space of two hours was in a sweat that one might have washed hands on his hair, [torn]their the deponent affirmeth that she hath been often troubled with a black cat sometimes appearing in the house and sometimes in the night [torn] bed and lay on her and sometimes stroking her face [torn] the cat [torn] hrice as big as an ordinary cat.

Deposition of Charles Browne and Wife
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The deposition of Charles Browne and his wife

This deponent saith about 6 or 7 years since in the meeting house of Towley, being in the gallery in the first seat, there was one in the second seat (whom he doth to his best remembrance think and verily believe it was John Godfrey). This deponent did see him yawning open his mouth and while he did yawn this deponent did see a small teat under his tongue
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and further this deponent saith that John Godfrey was at this deponent’s house about 3 years since speaking about the power of witches. He the said Godfrey spoke that if witches were not kindly entertained the Devil will appear unto them and ask them if they were grieved or vexed with anybody and ask them what he should do for them and if they would not give them beer or victuals, they might let all the beer run out of the cellar and if they looked steadfastly upon any creature it would die and it were hard to some witches to take away life either of man or beast yet when they once begin it, then it is easy to them.

Testimony of William Osgood
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William Osgood testifieth that in the year 1640
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in the month of August, he being then building a barn for Mr. Spencer, John Godfrey being then Mr. Spencer’s herdsman, he on an evening came to the frame where diverse men were at work and said that he had gotten a new master against the time he had done keeping cows. The said William Osgood asked him who it was. He answered he knew not. He again asked him where he dwelt. He answered he knew not. He asked him what his name was. He answered he knew not. He then said to him, how then wilt thou go to him when thy time is out? He said, the man will come and fetch me. The W[illiam]: I asked him hast thou made an absolute bargain. He answered that a covenant was made. He had set his hand to it. He then asked of him whether he had not a counter covenant. Godfrey answered no. William Osgood said what a mad fellow art thou to make a covenant in this manner. He said he’s an honest man. How knowest thou said William Osgood. John Godfrey answered, he looks like one. William Osgood then answered, I am persuaded thou hast made a covenant with the Devil. the then skipped about and said I ptesse, I ptesse.
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1663–1664

Deposition of John Remington
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The deposition of John Remington and Edw[torn]

These deponents being at the last court held at Ip[torn].
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Jonathan Singletary being there in the court [torn] that John Godfrey came to him in the [torn] when the prison door was locked [torn] Jonathan, and said now I can speak [torn] pay the executions you are in prison, for you may soon [torn] forth, and further Jonathan said before Godfrey came thus unto him and spake to him,
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he heard a noise and the prison shake and the locks and doors chattering as if they did open and shut at his coming in and also that he see Godfrey’s face as plain in the prison as he did in the court. Taken upon the oaths of John Remington and Edward Yeomans, 20th day, 4th month, 1663, before me, Simon Bradstreet. Copy made by Hilliard Vere, cleric.

Deposition of Jonathan Singletary
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14th day, 12th month, 1662

The deposition of Jonathan Singletary, aged about 23, who testifieth that I, being in the prison at Ipswich this night last past between nine and ten of the clock at night after the bell had rung, I, being set in a corner of the prison, upon a sudden I heard a great noise as if many cats had been climbing up the prison walls and skipping in the house at the windows and jumping about the chamber. And a noise as boards’ ends or stools had been thrown about and men walking in the chambers and a crackling and shaking as if the house would have fallen upon me. I, seeing this and considering what I knew by a young man that kept at my house last Indian harvest, and upon some difference with John Godfrey, he was presently several nights in a strange manner. Troubled and complaining as he did and upon consideration of this and other things that I knew by him I was at present something affrighted that considering what I had lately heard made out by Mr. Mitchell at Cambridge that there is more good in God than there is evil in sin and that although God is the greatest good and sin the greatest evil that the first being of evil cannot wear the scales or over power the first being of good. So considering that the author of good was of greater power than the author of evil. God was pleased of his goodness to keep me from being out of measure frighted so. This noise above said held as I suppose about a quarter of an hour and then ceased and presently I heard the bolt of the door shoot or go back as perfidy to my thinking as I did the next morning when the keeper came to unlock it and I could not see the door open but I saw John Godfrey stand within the door and said, Jonathan, Jonathan. So I, looking on him, said, what have you to do with me? He said, I come to see you. Are you weary of your place? That I answered, I take no delight in being here but I will be out as soon. As I can, he said. If you will pay me in corn, you shall come out.
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I answered no. If that had been my intent, I would have paid the marshal and never have come hither. He, knocking of his fist at me in a kind of a threatening way, said he would make me weary of my part and so went away I know not how nor which way and as I was walking about in the prison I tripped upon a stone with my heel and took it up in my hand, thinking that if he came again I would trick at him. So as I was walking about he called at the window. Jonathan, said he. If you will pay me corn I will give you two Thursday and we will come to an agreement. I answered him, saying, why do you come dissembling and playing the Devil’s part here? Your nature is nothing but envy and malice which you will vent though to your own loss and you seek peace with no man. I do not dissemble, said he I will give you my hand upon it. I am in earnest. So he put his hand in at the window and I took hold of it with my left hand and pulled him to me and with the stone in my right hand I thought I struck him and went to recover my hand to strike again and his hand was gone and I would have struck but there was nothing to strike and how he went away I know not for I could neither tell when his hand went out of mine nor see which way he went.

1665

Deposition of John Remington

Fourteenth paper: The Deposition of John Remington

This deponent testifieth that I heard John Godfrey say to my father that if he drived the cattle up the woods to winter, then my father should say and have cause to repent that he did drive them up and these words he said in a great rage and passion and of [lost] this. My father and I did drive up the cattle and I for the most part did tend them and about the middle of December last as I was a coming home from the cattle about a mile from them, then the horse I rid on begun to start and snort and the dog that was with me begun to whine and cry and it still. I made a shift to sit on the horse still for a matter of a quarter of a mile and then I smelt a sweet smell like seder
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and presently I looked up into the swamp and I see a crow come toward me flying and perched upon a tree against me and she look at me and the horse and dog and it had a very great and quick eye and it had a very great bill and then the said crow flew off that tree to another after me. Then I begun to mistrust and think it was no crow and thought if it was not a crow, it could not hurt my soul though it hurt my body
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and horse and as I was a thinking thus to myself the horse I was upon fell down upon one side in pain grown upon my leg and as soon as I [lost] the horse was fallen then the crow came and flew round me several times as if she would light upon me but she [should] [scored out] did not touch me. Then the horse rise and went about four rod
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and then stood still and I lay on the ground still and was not able to follow him for the present. Then when I came a little better to myself I made a shift to cripe
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on my hands and knees. The horse and the crow scre[lost]d and made a noise like a cat and the hollowing of a man. Then I got upon the horse and went on then. The crow appeared to me sometimes a great crow and sometimes like a little bird and so continued with me about a mile and a half farther and she flew upon the dog and beat him to the last all this while. After I fell with the horse I was taken very sick and thought I should have died til such time the crow left me and then the dog mad on me and rejoiced very much after the crow left us. And then the second day following I, being at home, John Godfrey came to my father’s house in a great rage and asked of me how I did and I told him pretty well only I was lame with the horse falling on me two days before. Then said Godfrey, every cockating
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boy must ride. I unhorsed one boy t’other day. I will unhorse thee shortly too if thee rides my horse. Then said I, I am not able to carry vittles
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upon my back. Then said Godfrey, ’tis a sorry horse cannot carry his own provender. Then said Godfrey to me, John, if thee had been a man as thee was a boy thee hadt died on the spot where thee got the fall. Then said my mother to Godfrey, how can thee tell that? There is none but God can tell that and except thee be more than an ordinary man
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thee cannot tell that. Then Godfrey bade my mother hold her tongue. He knew what he said better than she and said, I say again had he been a man as he was a boy he had died on the spot where he fell.