Eunice Cole

Family

Her husband was William Cole. There are no records of this union producing children, although since they came to this country when they were already well past childbearing age, it is certainly possible that they had children in England. Both of them were indentured servants of Matthew Craddock, a wealthy London merchant. After their service with Charles/Matthew Craddock was over, the Coles were released from Craddock's service they came to New England with their passage furnished, for £10. In Boston they were granted 2 acres (8,100 m²) of land in Mount Wollaston (now Quincy), Massachusetts on February 20, 1637, though they left for Exeter, New Hampshire before the year was out. Both of the Coles were followers of Reverend John Wheelwright, who believed in antinomianism. Very soon after, they moved to neighboring Hampton, New Hampshire, receiving a 40-acre (160,000 m²) parcel of land. The 5-acre (20,000 m²) house lot was situated slightly east of where the Baptist church stands today on Winnacunnet Road. The other 35 acres (140,000 m²) was a good source of income, considering William Cole was a carpenter. William Cole died on May 26, 1662.

Witchcraft accusations and death

Cole was formally accused of witchcraft three times in her lifetime, the first time in Boston in 1656 when several townspeople testified against her. She was imprisoned until in 1660, but was released until 1662 when she was returned to prison until sometime between 1668 and 1671. She was accused again in 1673, but acquitted, and once again in 1680, and although she was not indicted, she was still kept in prison.

Upon her death in 1680, she was hastily buried in an unmarked grave in Hampton; its whereabouts are still not known with any certainty to this day, although it is believed to be near the site of today's Tuck Museum. Local legends suggest that a stake was driven into her body after her death "in order to exorcise the baleful influence she was supposed to have possessed," and a horseshoe hung on the stake, just to be on the safe side. Goody Cole was almost certainly unpleasant in the extreme - Hampton historian Joseph Dow referred to her as "ill-natured and ugly, artful and aggravating, malicious and revengeful" - but certainly not a witch. Such behaviour is unsurprising given the accusations leveled against her and her treatment by those in her community.

Goody Cole in the 20th century

In anticipation of the 300th anniversary of the town of Hampton in 1938, people organized in 1937 to clear Cole's name, forming "The Society in Hampton Beach for the Apprehension of Those Falsely Accusing Eunice (Goody) Cole of Having Familiarity With the Devil"—usually shortened to the "Goody Cole Society" A doll in her image was made and sold locally.

In 2003, a barbecue restaurant opened in Exeter with the name "Goody Cole's Smokehouse," relocating in 2006 to Brentwood, New Hampshire.

In 2013, the Progressive Rock project, Telergy (led by composer Robert McClung) released the album "The Legend of Goody Cole". Which tells the Goody Cole story using epic, classically inspired, progressive rock music. The album features a myriad of famous musicians, including Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider.

In literature

John Greenleaf Whittier tells Cole's tale in his poem, Wreck at Rivermouth.