Genealogy Record for Edward Cole

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Biographical material for

Edward Cole

1671 Northumberland County Court Case wherein
Edward Cole accused Mrs. Daniel Neale of witchcraft, and she accused him of defamation.

"...There were splashed across the pages of an early record book the fantastic proceedings, including many depositions, in which Edward Cole (Coles) declared that his wife 'was under an evil tongue' and accused Mrs. Daniel Neale.
The first deposition is that of Mrs. Mary Sanders and is as follows:
'Mary the wife of Capt. Edward Sanders maketh oath that the Munday after twelfth Day Mr. Edward Coles came to the house of the sd. Sanders, this Depont asked ye sayd Coles how his wife did, and he replyed she was dead, and ye Depond said she was sorry for that, and ye sd. Coles replyed... that she was not dead but bewitched, and that Mrs. Neale was the woman he did suspect and further say he not.' 19th July 1671....
Richard Smyth contributes the next statement. 'Richard Smyth aged 44 years or thereabouts being sworn saith that the last week in Janry this Depont met Mr. Edward Coles coming to his house he saying to this Depont Neighbour what do you think, ye Depont answered he would not tell what he thinks, saith he my wife is bewitched, this Depont answered bewitched? may God forbid.... Saith he it is all... woman's opinions that were with her last night, and my opinion too saith this Depont, who should bewitch her, saith he, I do mistrust Mrs. Neale, for about five weeks or... my wife saith her and Mrs. Neale had a falling out and from that tyme she never had her health thoroughly and... he had reason to mistrust Mrs. Neale, and all ye neighbourhood said he, had been to see my wife but only Mrs. Neale, and if she did not come suddenly he would fetch a warrant from Capt. Brereton or some other justice and force her... and further saith not." May 20, 1671.
In the deposition of Wm. Hartland, also dated May 20, 1671, Hartland stated that 'sometyme in March last or thereabout' he was at Mr. Neale's house and there was some 'discourse' between Mrs. Neale and the deponent, in which Hartland told Mrs. Neale that he had heard Mr. Cole say that 'he did think verily' if anybody had done his wife wrong it was Mrs. Neale.
Fran (Francis) Hawkins, in a deposition of May 20, 1671 said that he had met Mr. Coles sometimes in January last and he asked ye sd. Mr. Coles how his wife did, he told him his wife was very bad, and did think she was under an ill tongue.
Elizabeth Hawkins, wife of Francis Hawkins, testified that she heard Mr. Cole say he thought his wife was under an ill tongue 'and it would be his thoughts to his dying day that she sot and that he had not thought of noe other but of Mrs. Neale and further saith that if Mrs. Neale had not come hither when she did, he would have got a warrant to have fetched her.'
William Berry's deposition of May 20, 1671, stated that one morning about January 1st he was at the house of Dr. Edward Sanders when 'there happened Mr. Edw. Coles to come in who after some salutation and sitting by the fire, the Doctor inquired of him how his wife did, but what answer the sd. Cole made, this Depont remembers not, only in a very mournful manner did entreat Doctor to go along with him and look upon a poor dying woman whom he did imagine to be bewitched but by whom he could not tell unless by Granny Neale by reason of some words spoken to her heretofore....'
Thomas Hobson recalled in an undated deposition that sometime the 'last Autumn' he and his wife were at the house of Mr. Edward Coles, whither came 'Mr. Dan Neale and his wife some words were exchanged about a slight difference had been between her Cozen Jno. Cockrell and the sd. Mrs. Cole, who told Mrs. Neale if these words were all she had to say and must needs abuse her kinsman, the door was open, she might go when she pleased and immediately some fighting words passing between them, the sd. Mrs. Neale gave ye sd. Mrs. Coles not worse terms than she used....'
Edward Sanders (Dr. Edward Sanders) in his May 20, 1671 deposition remembered that Mr. Edward Cole came to his house, and he asked him (Cole) how his wife did. 'He answered she was dead as far as he knew for she lay speechless and further said he did verily believe she was bewitched and if when this Depont came to his house if it was his judgement that she was bewitched he would prosecute Mrs. Neale....'
Edward L. Breton gave yet another side to the story in his deposition: 'I Edward L. Breton deposeth that being aboard of our ship and Mr. Edward Cole talking them of several persons and among all the rest of Mrs. Neale saying... some years past there grew difference between them and said Mr. Cole, she made a kind of prayer that he nor none of his family might never prosper, and shortly after his people all fell sick, and much of his cattle dyed, and did say upon which... the arrival of our ship from Barbados he accused her of it.'
'And further deposeth that now that his wife was sick he did accuse Mrs. Neale of it also. But a - time he sent for Mrs. Neale to come to see his wife and she did come and after that he saw her come over the threshold where there was a horseshoe nailed and that when she was by his wife she prayed heartily for her for he was then persuaded to that.... And this I have heard him relate not above 10 days since at ye home of John Cockrell and further I know not.'
April ye 11, 1671 sign. Edward L. Breton
Sworn before: Peter Knight and Leon: Howson
The deposition of April 11, 1671 by a Mr. Bandmill, stated that the deponent had been in company with Mr. Edward Coles (at John Cockrell's house) and that the suspicion of Doctor Edward Sanders and others was that his wife was under an ill tongue and if it was so he... that it was Mrs. Neale... but since she came to his house and passed over the horseshoe nailed at the door and prayed so heartily for his wife's recovery, that suspicion was gone from him....'
April 11, 1671 sign: Bandmill
The deposition of Clement Lempiere for what he 'hath heard say to Edward Cole I being in company with Mr. Tom Bandmill... one night at John Cockrell's, I heard him speak of Mrs. Neale and several other women foul language, especially for witchcraft, the particular words I do not remember.' This was signed Lempiere and was dated April 11, 1671.
Finally comes the statement of Edward Coles in which he, in essence, begs forgiveness and eats a bit of humble pie.
'I Edward Coles acknowledge that the words I did speak concerning Mrs. Neale as tending to defame her with the aspersion of being a witch and whore was passionately spoken, not maliciously I am convinced to the contrary. Therefore I am very sorry for having spoken anything for that purpose and I do hereby oblige myself to pay the charge that Mrs. Neale hath expended in law against me by reason of the aforesaid words, it is meant the charge of the sheriff, clerk and witnesses as witness my hand this 5th day of August 1671.'
Sign: Edward Coles"

From Isabel Gough, "Witchcraft - Northumberland Style." Northumberland County Historical Bulletin 5, 1968,
referencing Northumberland County Record Book 1666-1672, pp. 101-105.




	Biographical material for Edward Cole

	1671 Northumberland County Court Case wherein Edward Cole accused Mrs. Daniel Neale of witchcraft, and she accused him of defamation. "...There were splashed across the pages of an early record book the fantastic proceedings, including many depositions, in which Edward Cole (Coles) declared that his wife 'was under an evil tongue' and accused Mrs. Daniel Neale. The first deposition is that of Mrs. Mary Sanders and is as follows: 'Mary the wife of Capt. Edward Sanders maketh oath that the Munday after twelfth Day Mr. Edward Coles came to the house of the sd. Sanders, this Depont asked ye sayd Coles how his wife did, and he replyed she was dead, and ye Depond said she was sorry for that, and ye sd. Coles replyed... that she was not dead but bewitched, and that Mrs. Neale was the woman he did suspect and further say he not.' 19th July 1671.... Richard Smyth contributes the next statement. 'Richard Smyth aged 44 years or thereabouts being sworn saith that the last week in Janry this Depont met Mr. Edward Coles coming to his house he saying to this Depont Neighbour what do you think, ye Depont answered he would not tell what he thinks, saith he my wife is bewitched, this Depont answered bewitched? may God forbid.... Saith he it is all... woman's opinions that were with her last night, and my opinion too saith this Depont, who should bewitch her, saith he, I do mistrust Mrs. Neale, for about five weeks or... my wife saith her and Mrs. Neale had a falling out and from that tyme she never had her health thoroughly and... he had reason to mistrust Mrs. Neale, and all ye neighbourhood said he, had been to see my wife but only Mrs. Neale, and if she did not come suddenly he would fetch a warrant from Capt. Brereton or some other justice and force her... and further saith not." May 20, 1671. In the deposition of Wm. Hartland, also dated May 20, 1671, Hartland stated that 'sometyme in March last or thereabout' he was at Mr. Neale's house and there was some 'discourse' between Mrs. Neale and the deponent, in which Hartland told Mrs. Neale that he had heard Mr. Cole say that 'he did think verily' if anybody had done his wife wrong it was Mrs. Neale. Fran (Francis) Hawkins, in a deposition of May 20, 1671 said that he had met Mr. Coles sometimes in January last and he asked ye sd. Mr. Coles how his wife did, he told him his wife was very bad, and did think she was under an ill tongue. Elizabeth Hawkins, wife of Francis Hawkins, testified that she heard Mr. Cole say he thought his wife was under an ill tongue 'and it would be his thoughts to his dying day that she sot and that he had not thought of noe other but of Mrs. Neale and further saith that if Mrs. Neale had not come hither when she did, he would have got a warrant to have fetched her.' William Berry's deposition of May 20, 1671, stated that one morning about January 1st he was at the house of Dr. Edward Sanders when 'there happened Mr. Edw. Coles to come in who after some salutation and sitting by the fire, the Doctor inquired of him how his wife did, but what answer the sd. Cole made, this Depont remembers not, only in a very mournful manner did entreat Doctor to go along with him and look upon a poor dying woman whom he did imagine to be bewitched but by whom he could not tell unless by Granny Neale by reason of some words spoken to her heretofore....' Thomas Hobson recalled in an undated deposition that sometime the 'last Autumn' he and his wife were at the house of Mr. Edward Coles, whither came 'Mr. Dan Neale and his wife some words were exchanged about a slight difference had been between her Cozen Jno. Cockrell and the sd. Mrs. Cole, who told Mrs. Neale if these words were all she had to say and must needs abuse her kinsman, the door was open, she might go when she pleased and immediately some fighting words passing between them, the sd. Mrs. Neale gave ye sd. Mrs. Coles not worse terms than she used....' Edward Sanders (Dr. Edward Sanders) in his May 20, 1671 deposition remembered that Mr. Edward Cole came to his house, and he asked him (Cole) how his wife did. 'He answered she was dead as far as he knew for she lay speechless and further said he did verily believe she was bewitched and if when this Depont came to his house if it was his judgement that she was bewitched he would prosecute Mrs. Neale....' Edward L. Breton gave yet another side to the story in his deposition: 'I Edward L. Breton deposeth that being aboard of our ship and Mr. Edward Cole talking them of several persons and among all the rest of Mrs. Neale saying... some years past there grew difference between them and said Mr. Cole, she made a kind of prayer that he nor none of his family might never prosper, and shortly after his people all fell sick, and much of his cattle dyed, and did say upon which... the arrival of our ship from Barbados he accused her of it.' 'And further deposeth that now that his wife was sick he did accuse Mrs. Neale of it also. But a - time he sent for Mrs. Neale to come to see his wife and she did come and after that he saw her come over the threshold where there was a horseshoe nailed and that when she was by his wife she prayed heartily for her for he was then persuaded to that.... And this I have heard him relate not above 10 days since at ye home of John Cockrell and further I know not.' April ye 11, 1671 sign. Edward L. Breton Sworn before: Peter Knight and Leon: Howson The deposition of April 11, 1671 by a Mr. Bandmill, stated that the deponent had been in company with Mr. Edward Coles (at John Cockrell's house) and that the suspicion of Doctor Edward Sanders and others was that his wife was under an ill tongue and if it was so he... that it was Mrs. Neale... but since she came to his house and passed over the horseshoe nailed at the door and prayed so heartily for his wife's recovery, that suspicion was gone from him....' April 11, 1671 sign: Bandmill The deposition of Clement Lempiere for what he 'hath heard say to Edward Cole I being in company with Mr. Tom Bandmill... one night at John Cockrell's, I heard him speak of Mrs. Neale and several other women foul language, especially for witchcraft, the particular words I do not remember.' This was signed Lempiere and was dated April 11, 1671. Finally comes the statement of Edward Coles in which he, in essence, begs forgiveness and eats a bit of humble pie. 'I Edward Coles acknowledge that the words I did speak concerning Mrs. Neale as tending to defame her with the aspersion of being a witch and whore was passionately spoken, not maliciously I am convinced to the contrary. Therefore I am very sorry for having spoken anything for that purpose and I do hereby oblige myself to pay the charge that Mrs. Neale hath expended in law against me by reason of the aforesaid words, it is meant the charge of the sheriff, clerk and witnesses as witness my hand this 5th day of August 1671.' Sign: Edward Coles" From Isabel Gough, "Witchcraft - Northumberland Style." Northumberland County Historical Bulletin 5, 1968, referencing Northumberland County Record Book 1666-1672, pp. 101-105.