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LAST DAYS OF GOODY COLE

Sometime previous to the year 1671, Eunice Cole had been released from the prison at Boston, where she had been detained a prisoner ever since the result of her trial for witchcraft, which was commenced in 1656, had been finally settled by the Court of Assistants. She had now returned to Hampton and was probably living in a small house near the foot of Rand's hill, on the northeasterly side of the road. As the town had a few years before, by order of the General Court, taken possession of her husband's estate, it is most likely that the house occupied by her had been provided by the town, as that was the source whence she derived her support.

Now, in 1671, the town ordered that the inhabitants should take their turns, in the order in which they dwelt, in providing for her by the week and that any person whose proportion in the rate (that had been made for her support) amounted to less than four shillings, should join with his next neighbor, for this purpose. They were to provide her with suitable food and fuel, and each one having the care of her, was required to notify his next neighbor to make provision for her the following week. This course was adopted by the town, in order to lighten the burden of the selectmen and constable.

But the poor creature's life seemed destined to turbulence to the end; for in October, 1672, she was again arraigned on the old charge of witchcraft--in appearing under various forms, as a woman, a dog, an eagle and a cat, to entice a young girl, named Ann Smith, to live with her. The grand jury found a bill against her, and in April, 1673, the Salisbury Court ordered her once more to Boston jail to await further trial. After a few months, the following remarkable decision finally disposed of the case, and Goody Cole passed the remnant of her unhappy days in Hampton.

"In y^e case of Unis Cole now prisoner att y^e Bar not Legally guilty according to Inditement butt just ground of vehement suspissyon of her haueing had famillyarryty with the deuill

                                                           Jonas Clarke in the name of the rest."

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