Angel of Hadley facts for kids
The Angel of Hadley is a famous story about a mysterious hero. It mixes events from England, like when King Charles I was put to death, with events in America, like King Philip's War in Hadley, Massachusetts. The tale says that General William Goffe, who was wanted for his part in the king's death, was hiding in Hadley. In 1675 or 1676, when the town was attacked, Goffe, even though he was old, supposedly came out of hiding. He led the townspeople to successfully defend their home against the attackers.
This story has some true parts, but some details might have been hidden on purpose. This was likely done by writers like Increase Mather to protect Goffe. There is good evidence that Goffe was in Hadley during some attacks. Many leaders and writers at the time knew he was there and felt sorry for him. However, there are different ideas about which attack he was involved in. There is also confusion about where the soldiers were who supposedly fought off the attackers.
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What is the Angel of Hadley Legend?
The legend of the Angel of Hadley is a dramatic tale. It tells of a mysterious hero who appeared when a town was in great danger.
How the Legend Begins
King Philip's War started in southern New England in 1675. This war began because of disagreements between Metacom, the leader of the Wampanoag tribe (also called King Philip), and the English colonies. The war spread across southern New England in 1675. Many English towns on the edge of the wilderness were attacked.
The Mysterious Hero Appears
According to the legend, one such attack happened in Hadley, Massachusetts. This is most often said to have happened on September 1, 1675. The town seemed to be losing all hope. Suddenly, a white-bearded man appeared. He looked powerful and carried an old sword. He quickly organized the town's local fighters. Then, he led them to victory against the many native warriors. After the fight, he disappeared just as suddenly as he had arrived.
Who Was William Goffe?
The legend of the Angel of Hadley is closely linked to a real person named William Goffe. He was a military officer from England.
Goffe's Role in England
William Goffe was a soldier who supported the Parliament during the English Civil War in the 1640s. He was one of 59 people who signed the order to put King Charles I to death in 1649. After the king's death, Goffe continued to be important in the English government. This was during the time when Oliver Cromwell ruled England in the 1650s.
Fleeing to New England
In 1660, Charles II became king again. Many people who had opposed the king were forgiven. However, those who signed the death warrant for Charles I were not. Goffe and his father-in-law, Edward Whalley, who also signed the warrant, fled to New England. They were known to people like Increase Mather and Daniel Gookin. They could move freely in Boston for a while. But when they learned King Charles II would likely order their arrest, they had to move again.
Hiding in Hadley
Goffe and Whalley fled to the New Haven Colony. There, a kind minister named John Davenport helped them hide. The leaders of the colony said they did not know where Goffe and Whalley were. It is thought that Davenport connected them with John Russell. Russell was the minister in Hadley, Massachusetts. The two men eventually settled there and lived a very hidden life. Only a few people are believed to have known their secret location.
Goffe was able to send letters to his wife in England. Increase Mather, an important minister in Boston, helped with this. Daniel Gookin, a political leader, also helped manage some of their money. Edward Whalley is thought to have died around 1675. Goffe wrote that Whalley had a stroke and was not well.
Goffe's Later Life
Goffe is believed to have been in Hadley during some of the attacks on the town. However, by late 1676, his letters show he had moved. He went to the Hartford, Connecticut area. It is believed he died there some years later.
Attacks on Hadley During King Philip's War
The legend of the Angel of Hadley is connected to two possible attacks on the town.
The September 1, 1675, Event
The first event happened on September 1, 1675. Increase Mather, who wrote one of the first accounts of the war, called this an "alarm." This means it might not have been a real attack. It could have just been an urgent warning that an attack had happened nearby.
The June 12, 1676, Attack
The second event was on June 12, 1676. Mather wrote a bit more about this one. He suggested that soldiers from Connecticut helped fight off the native attack. These soldiers had been stationed nearby.
There is some question about where the Connecticut soldiers were on that day. They had been sent north as part of a plan to sweep through the Connecticut River valley. They were supposed to meet up with Massachusetts soldiers coming from the east. The Connecticut troops were known to have arrived in Hadley a few days before June 12. But there is evidence that on the day of the attack, they were across the river in Northampton.
Why Was Goffe's Role Kept Secret?
Many people involved in the events around the June 12 attack knew Goffe was in Hadley. These people might have tried to hide his involvement.
Who Knew Goffe Was There?
- Major John Talcott, who led the Connecticut forces, was related to John Russell. Russell was the minister hiding Goffe.
- The governor of Massachusetts was John Leverett. He had served in the same army as Goffe during the English Civil War. He is known to have visited Hadley while Goffe and Whalley were there.
- Increase Mather helped with Goffe's letters. Mather also wrote one of the most important early stories of the war.
- The political leaders of the Connecticut Colony, Robert Treat and William Leete, had helped Goffe and Whalley when they first arrived.
The Idea of a Cover-up
Historian Douglas Wilson thinks that some of these people might have worked together to hide any role Goffe played. They all felt sympathetic towards Goffe. There are not many records of the June 12 event in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Wilson found a letter from John Russell to Increase Mather, written in 1677. In it, Russell wrote that he hoped no one would disagree with Mather's story of the events. This suggests that there might have been an effort to control the story.
The Angel of Hadley in History and Stories
The story of the Angel of Hadley has been told and retold over the years.
How the Story Spread
The first time the Angel of Hadley tale appeared in print was in the late 1700s. Thomas Hutchinson wrote about it in his book, History of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. He said the story came from Governor John Leverett's family. Later historians picked up the story and added more details.
Looking at the Story Critically
In the late 1800s, historians started to look at the story more closely. George Sheldon specifically said it was not true in 1874. Because of the problems Sheldon pointed out, many historians in the 1900s believed the tale did not actually happen. It became widely known as a legend, not a fact. However, Douglas Wilson looked at all the evidence again in 1987. He concluded that it might have happened. He suggested that Goffe's protectors covered up his involvement.
Influence on Fiction
The legend of the Angel of Hadley has inspired many writers.
- Sir Walter Scott used ideas from it in his book Peveril of the Peak.
- James Fenimore Cooper used it in The Wept of Wish-ton-Wish.
- It is also likely the source for "The Grey Champion." This is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It features an old Puritan man who uses a sword to defend his people.
- Jack Dunn wrote The Diary of General William Goffe in 1982. This was also printed in weekly parts as "The Angel of Hadley."
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