The Goody Garlic Case

These Records have been copied mostly by Joseph S. Osborne, verbatim et literatim, and are brought down, in this volume, to about A.D. 1680. The material is arranged chronologically, when dated, otherwise it has been disposed as circumstances indicated to be proper.

Nothing is now known of the ``Bodie of Laws,'' procured from Connecticut. The ``Combination,'' to which it was ``Ordered yt all men shal set their hands,'' a priceless page, was cut out, evidently, and stolen so long ago ne person remembers it. Great pains have been taken at all stages of the work which, in no small degree, has been a labor of love. Where any abstract has been made, it is so noted.

JONATHAN T. GARDINER,
JONATHAN BAKER,

JOSEPH S. OSBORNE,

Committee,

Book 2, page 56. -- Samuell parsons Deposed testifieth yet on ye last fourth Day, was a senita I goeinge to Arther Howells house Arthur howells wife sittinge by ye fire to my Apprehention she was well & in good health and I asked her how she did Doe and she said she thought she had gotten some could with leaving of an vnder waistcoate & puttinge a thiner on and she said her head aked, her husband not beinge in the house, I sate with her a prettie while and did but Just step over to william Mullfords to chang a word wth Barnard Collins and cume spedily againe & yn she had bound A cloath vpon her head & complained more of it wherevppon her husband and willm Russill came in & she said to her husband love I am very ill of my head & feare I shall have ye feaver & soe sitinge together by the fire ye space of an houre still complaininge more & more she yn Desired to goe to bed her husband was at her to goe to bed before but she was not willinge for she said she feared she should not rest & soe her husband got her to bed & went to bed to her & she still complained more & more saying lord have mercy vpon me & soe iteratinge ye words again & again: she said freinds pray for me & she turned to her husband & said I pray god it may not be with me as it was wth you wn you were at yor mother Howells & were senceles she said I pray god I may have my sences whereupon wee asked her if she would suckle ye child & she said yes soe I gave her the chil & she said ah my pore child it pitties me more for thee yn for my selfe for if I bee ill to be sure thou wilt be ill to soe haveinge Done sucklinge of it I tooke it from her and presently uppon it she turned a psalme & screked out severall times together very greviously & uppon yet cried out a witch a witch: now, you are come to torter me because I spoke 2 or 3 words against you & soe Iteratinge the expressions wth vehemencie: she said in ye morning you will cum fauninge wherevpon we were all afrighted at her being taken sudenly in soe strange a maner, I said to William Russell the lord be mercifull to her I wish all be well it is well if she bee not bewitcht but we all though it best to goe for Mr Gardiner wherevpon he came Down and I tellinge him in what manner she was taken: when Mr Gardiner was there present she cried out in the same manner of a witch nameing noe boddy but being asked wt she Did se she said a black thinge at the bedds fete and stretching forth her hands used some expressions as if she would strike at it. And being there again on ye last Day at night followinge she beinge yn soe sencles yet she knew noe boddie to my aprehention goody Simons lay by her yt night & there was her husband & I & boose & we heard a noyse on ye side of ye bed as if sumthing had scratched very hard: ye candle being yn out I spedily lighted it & her husband & I looked to see if we could se any thinge but nothing we could Diserne Goody Simous beinge yn fast a sleepe & she alsoe to my Apprehensions: lying both of ym close together with their hands Downe in ye bedd lying close together covered vpp, my seeing yt made me to marvell soe much the more at ye noise: William Russell Deposed testifieth yt same wch Samuel parsons hath testified after the time of her husbands and his coming in Arther Howell testifieth ye same wch William Russell and further yt after his father came: wn she was rageing against the witch she stroke uppon ye bed as if she had stroke at sumthinge & violently Book2, page 57.] striveing to get out of my armes I haveing her in my Armes kept her downe from gettinge away. William Russell farther Testifieth yt on the Sabbath Day in ye morninge before Day he heard a very Dolefull noyse on the back side of ye fire & hee asked Arther wt noyse yet was & he answered hee did not know but to the best of his Apprehentions hee thought ye noyse was like ye noyse of a great stone throwne Downe amonge a heape of stones, & kept a great rumblinge Arthur howell testifieth this allsoe & both of ym say yet they were affrighted at the noyse: all the three Deponants testifie yt wn she sent for her father she said she was not willing yt her mother should know how she was taken: ffebruarie ye 19th: 1657 Thease Depositions were taken before John Mullford & John Hand.
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A true coppie pr me THOMAS TALLMAGE
Secretarie.

EASTHAMPTON febru: ye 24th 1657.

Book 2, page 60. -- Goodwife Simons Deposed before John Mullford John hand Thomas Backer.

The Depont Declareth yt on ye last Day of ye week wen Arthur Howells wife lay sick about 10 of the clock she being at arthur howells house his wif beinge sick he was on ye one side of ye bedd & she on ye other & she heard Arthurs wife say send for garlick & his wife & she Answered yt wn she went to call her husband from garlicke sn he was A threshinge yt he laughed and Jeared mee she said I went cryinge and because I cried Garlick laught and Jeared mee ah said she is a good one & yn she said send for goodie Garlick this she spake 3 times together. I asked wt would you have with her & she said I could teare her in peices and yn ye Depont saith she asked her whie she should send for goodie Garlick and she Answered yt she was a duble tounged woman and she asked saying did you not see her last night stand by the bed side readie to pull me in peeces and she prickt me with pins she prickt me with pins & soe a 3d time: the Depont also saith yt befor this ye first Day yt she was sick: yt she goeinge to see her she tould her yt she saw a black thinge, she said an ugly black thinge at ye feets of ye bedd Goodie Simons saith alsoe yt on yet friday at night she lay with her & yn she said Doe you see noe boddie at ye fete of yet bed & complained often saying ye prick me with pins.
-- [Crossed in original.]

A true Copie pr me THOMAS TALLMAGE Sec.

Book 2, page 61. -- The Deposition of Mrs. Gardiner taken febru. 24th, 1657 before Johm Mullford John Hand & Thomas Backer.

The Depont Declareth yt ye same night yt Samuell parsons came to call my husband he came whom againe before Day & she asked her husband how bettie Did & he said she had a feaver & yt hee went back againe to her and afterward wn it was day he came whom again & hee told me yt bettie was verie badd & I said wt shall I Doe for I cannot rise & wn I rose upp I fell back againe & I lay an houre after & yn I rose vpp & houldinge by Marie Stratton I went thither & presently went to ye bedd & asked bettie how she Did & she put out her hand oh mother & she cried & I cried & she said mother I am bewitcht & I not regarding it said you are a sleepe or a Dreamed & she tould me yt she was not asleepe & I asked her who she saw & she said Goodie Garlick in ye further corner & a black thing at ye hither corner both at feete of ye bedd & yn I charged her yet she should not tell her husband nor noe liveinge soule & I said your husband will tell:
-- [Crossed in original.]

A true Coppie pr me THOMAS TALLMAGE Sec:

Book 2, page 57. -- Goody Brookes Deposed testifieth yt she heard Mrs Gardiner say yet her Daughter was biwicht & yet it was a woman. This taken vppon oath febru: 27th 57 before vs John Mullford John Hand Thomas Backer.