Historic Hartford: Hartford, located at the end of the navigable portion of the Connecticut River, was settled in 1623 as a Dutch trading post called House of Hope. In 1636, a group of English settlers led by the Reverend Thomas Hooker left Massachusetts and formed a colony here. The settlers made peace with the local Algonquin Indians, who called the town Saukiog, and renamed it after Hertford, England.
Rev Ensign William Goodrich emigrated from England to the American Colonies aboard the brig Abigail in 1635, settling first in Watertown, Massachussetts, and later relocating in Wethersfield, Connecticut where he held significant land possessions at Wethersfield. He was one of 26 soldiers at Wethersfield who took part in the capture of the indian fort at Mystic in the Pequot Campaign. The Pequots were a warlike tribe centered along the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut.
In the colonies, colonists held strong religious beliefs, and after years of fighting Native Americans, floods, and epidemics, may have been looking for someone or something to blame for their hardships. At Hartford, Connecticut, the Rev Ensign William Goodrich participated in the trial of ELIZABETH SEAGER, who was charged with alleged witchcraft in 1665 and aquitted by a jury in March 1665, when the court set her free. She was charged again on July 2, 1665 but was acquitted and then she was charged yet a third time on July 16, 1665 when she was found guilty and after a years imprisonment was released. Upon her release she moved to Rhode Island.
Regarding witchcraft, it was primarily women and often those envied, disliked or on society's margins who were accused of witchcraft, but have a harder time seeing that those who accused their neighbors of capital crimes might be motivated by something other than manipulating the law to settle old scores. Feuds, gossip, and a culture that demanded conformity to rigid social norms certainly played their part, but these secular explanations are easier for us moderns to accept than the sacred, and the two were inextricably linked in 17th-century New England.
As the historical records state, it appears that Goodwife Seager who was the wife of Richard Seager had send her young daughter to deliver a mess of parsnips to a nearby neighbors (Hosmers) home. When the child arrived, Goodwife Hosmer was attending a day of fasting at the Willis's, on account of a woman named Anne Cole who was a godly woman that had been recently "taken with strange fits." Ann Cole had accused Elizabeth Seager and Rebecca Greensmith of making her have strange fits. Mrs Hosmer therefore was not at home, but at the prayer meeting. Goodman Hosmer would not take responsibility for the delivery of the parsnips in his wife's absence and sent the child home with the load of parsnips. Good wife Seager was greatly troubled at the rejection of the parships. Mr Willis at whose home this fast had taken place, cried out against his wife for being a witch.
Goodwife Seager stated this was all a bunch of hodge podge. However, she was tried three times for witchcraft, and acquitted twice. She was found guilty the last time, but was discharged "under suspicion". Accused of "disturbing" Anna Cole. (Sources: Drake, Frederick C. "Witchcraft in the American Colonies, 1647-62" American Quarterly 20 (1968):694-725, Levermore, Charles H. "Witchcraft in Connecticut" New Englander 44 (1885): 788-817)
Daniell Gabbett and Margaret Garrett--_The mess of parsnips--Hains' "hodg podg"--Satan's interference_ "The testimony of Daniell Garrett senior and the testimony of Margarett Garrett. Goodwife Garrett saith that goodwife Seager said there was a day kept at Mr. Willis in reference to An Coale; and she further said she was in great trouble euen in agony of spirit, the ground as follows that she sent her owne daughtr Eliza Seager to goodwife Hosmer to carry her a mess a parsnips.
Goodwife Hosmer was not home. She was at Mr. Willis at the fast. Goodm Hosmer and his son was at home. Goodm Hosmer bid the child carry the parsnips home againe he would not receiue them and if her mother desired a reason, bid her send her father and he would tell him the reason. Goodwife Seager upon the return of the parsnips was much troubled and sent for her husband and sent him up to Goodm Hosmer to know the reason why he would not reciue the parsnips, and he told goodman Seager it was because An Coale at the fast at Mr. Willis cryed out against his wife as being a witch and he would not receiue the parsnips least he should be brought in hereaftr as a testimony against his wife.
Then goodwif Seager sd that Mr. Hains had writt a great deal of hodg podg that An Coale had sd that she was under suspicion for a witch, and then she went to prayer, and did adventure to bid Satan go and tell them she was no witch. This deponent after she had a little paused said, who did you say, then goodw Seger sd againe she had sent Satan to tell them she was no witch. This deponent asked her why she made use of Satan to tell them, why she did not besech God to tell them she was no witch. She answered because Satan knew she was no witch. Goodman Garrett testifies that before him and his wife, Goodwife Seager said that she sent Satan to tell them she was no witch."
Tom Campbell is a descendant of Rev William Goodrich, is married to Alana and lives in Washington state.
