Col William Goffe
In Memory of the Regicide
Col William Goffe
A member of the High Court of Justice which in 1649 tried and condemned King Charles 1st of England and a signer of the kings death warrant. He served with distinction in the Parliamentary Army and in 1655 was appointed one of the major generals who governed England under Cromwell. He was in turn a member of both Houses of Parliament. At the restoration of the monarchy he fled to New England with his father in law Col Edward Whalley. After several years of concealment in New haven the two regicides went to Hadley Massachusetts there remaining until the death of Whalley. Tradition relates that in 1675 during King Philips war Col Goffe suddenly appeared and rallied the citizens against the Indians and then vanished. From 1676 – 1679 he lived in Hartford under the name of T Duffell but of his death and place of burial nothing is known.
Marker can be reached from Temple Street 0.1 miles south of Elm Street, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
