Massachusetts History

William Goffe and Edward Whalley were 2 (of 76)appointed judges that sentenced Charles I to death. In 1649 the execution took place in England….

Unfortunately, for the judges , Charles II became king in 1660. He pardoned everyone BUT the judges. William Goffe and Edward Whalley were 2 of only a handful that escaped the country. They were chased around New England for a while…Until finding themselves in Hadley, Massachusetts, where an 1850 book states..

“Goffe and Whalley, two of the judges of Charles I. were concealed from the rage of their pursuers for several years, in the Rev Mr Russell’s cellar. One of them was there for a long time , and was so carefully screened from the public eye, that none of Mr Russell’s neighbors had any knowledge of the circumstance.

The tradition is that on a certain occasion, when the town was beset by Indians, an aged man of a remarkably venerable aspect with a long beard, white as the driven snow, suddenly rushed into the engagement, fought with wonderful adroitness, animated the soldiers by his cheering language and valiant conduct. Afetr repelling the enemy, immediately withdrew to his point of concealment. It was reported that an angel had appeared with a sword, and achieved the victory. ”

And another account of the event…..

“A Miracle Happens at Hadley — On a day of fasting and prayer, with most of the garrison absent, June 12, 1676, more than seven hundred Indians decided to strike a decisive blow at Hadley, which they saw was fast becoming a danger-point of English activity.

The enemy made careful plans for the success of the attack. They prepared an ambush at the southern extremity of the town into which they hoped to sweep the inhabitants at a certain stage of the battle, driving them from the north end of town and forcing them into the cunningly-devised snare. The main body of red warriors attacked the palisades at the north promptly at day-break, assailing at several points at once. The settlers fought desperately. The savages gained possession of one of the houses inside, but were beaten back with severe losses. Indian reinforcements gathering like a cloud threatened the whole northern barricade; and it seemed impossible to avert complete extermination of the settlement.

The tide of battle surged back and forth. A moment arrived when, from lack of adequate leadership, the English seemed doomed to defeat; then there suddenly appeared in the midst of the villagers , a venerable long-bearded man, in ancient garb, brandishing a sword. No one had time to ask questions. With the voice and mein of one accustomed to command, the wavering, demoralized battle-line of the whites was quickly reformed, in skilled military fashion. He encouraged here, ordered there, and brought such order out of impending chaos, that the furious enemy was repulsed on every side. The old veteran of the Cromwellian era rallied the amateur troops, and filled them with hope and courage. Whenever the attackers were approached by the white haired demon, the savages fell back. Was he not the spirit of vengeance with a flaming sword? The excited people of Hadley, regarding him as a sort of Moses, sent of God, obeyed him without demur. The Indians fled in wild confusion and panic-stricken, in all directions. The victory of the English was made absolute with the sudden arrival of Talcott reinforcements, for whom there remained nothing to do but to aid in chasing the surviving fugitives into the deep woods.

The quaint nobleman, whom the villagers could not remember ever having seen before, did not stay to share in the common thanksgiving. He had vanished as suddenly as he had come, and was not seen again. Not until some time after was it learned that for twelve years two of the English regicides of Charles I., Goffe, and his superannuated father-in-law, Whalley, both under sentence of death, had been concealed in the Hadley minister’s house. Only half a dozen people in town knew the secret, and they had kept it well. Colonel Goflfe was an experienced Cromwellian soldier, specially chosen by the Great Protector because of his military knowledge for stirring service, thirty years before. From his sheltered window in the minister’s house he could not look on and remain in hiding when he saw English compatriots in peril in the streets of Hadley. So he rushed into the forefront of the battle, and unquestionably saved the day for the Hadleyites, until the prayed-for reinforcements of Major Talcott could arrive and help in the finishing touches to the Indian rout. ”