In the quiet, windswept community of East Hampton, Long Island, a dark chapter unfolded in 1657 that would predate the infamous Salem witch trials by several decades. Elizabeth "Goody" Garlick, a resident of this burgeoning settlement, found herself at the heart of a chilling accusation that sent ripples through the fledgling colonies of North America.
The seeds of suspicion were sown with the untimely death of 16-year-old Elizabeth Howell, the daughter of prominent citizen Lion Gardiner and the wife of Arthur Howell. Young Elizabeth, who had recently given birth, fell gravely ill in February 1658. Her illness was marked by haunting visions and terrifying nightmares. In her fevered state, she claimed to see a "black thing at the bed's feet" and accused Goody Garlick of standing by her bed at night, ready to pull her "in pieces." Her delirious cries of "A witch! A witch! Now you are come to torture me because I spoke two or three words against you!" echoed through her home, seeding fear and suspicion among the townspeople.
As the community grappled with Elizabeth Howell’s death, local magistrates launched a thorough investigation. Rumors of Goody Garlick's malevolent powers spread like wildfire. Several townsfolk came forward, accusing her of using black magic to harm people and livestock. Testimonies from Goodwives Edwards and Davis added fuel to the fire, blaming Garlick for their children's mysterious illnesses and the deaths of two other children.
In the spring of 1658, the shadow of fear and superstition drove Elizabeth Garlick from her home to stand trial for witchcraft in Hartford, Connecticut, the jurisdiction overseeing East Hampton at the time. The trial, held on May 5, 1658, was brief but harrowing. Goody Davis testified against Garlick, asserting that she had caused the death of one of her children. However, the trial took a dramatic turn when Jeremiah and Katherine Vaile, servants of Lion Gardiner, countered Davis's claims. They revealed that Goody Davis had taken in an Indian child to nurse and, for the sake of a little wampum (valuable shell beads), had starved her own child.
Presiding over the trial was Connecticut Governor John Winthrop the Younger. The indictment was severe: “Elizabeth Garlick…that not having the fear of God before thine eyes thou hast entertained familiarity with Satan the great enemy of God and mankind, and by his help since the year 1650 have done works above the course of nature to the loss of lives of several persons (with several other sorceries) and in particular the wife of Arthur Howell of East Hampton, for which both according to the laws of God and the established law of this commonwealth thou deserveth to die.”
Despite the damning accusations, the jury reached a verdict of not guilty. Elizabeth Garlick was released, but not without conditions. Her husband had to post a bond of thirty pounds, ensuring their good behavior and their appearance before the next court in East Hampton to confirm that Garlick had not been a source of disorder.
Elizabeth Garlick's fate after the trial remains shrouded in mystery. Her exact date of death is not recorded in local records, but she was ultimately laid to rest in the South End Burying Ground in East Hampton.
The case of Goody Garlick stands as a haunting reminder of the perils faced by those accused of witchcraft in early America. It underscores the dangerous power of superstition and fear in shaping the lives and destinies of individuals during a dark and tumultuous period in history.