Carl I. Hammer is research associate at the University of Pittsburgh.

Carl I. Hammer skillfully integrates three incidents at the frontier town of Hadley, Massachusetts—interesting in themselves, but not obviously of more than local importance—into the larger canvas of the evolution of New England during the latter half of the seventeenth century. He contends that ‘declension’ from the founders’ ideals ought to be understood as ‘secular,’ i.e., political and social as much as religious. Not the least appeal of this engaging book is Hammer's account of the further adventures of the regicide William Goffe, the legendary ‘Angel of Hadley.'

• Introduction: “Liberty to Inhabit in Any Part of this Jurisdiction Already Planted”: Hadley’s BeginningsEpisode 1: “Peeping through the Crevises of my Close Cell”: The Angel of Hadley, William Goffe, in Hadley and HartfordEpisode 2: “A Worme at the Roote of Theocraticall Government”: Hadley’s Opposition to the Half-Way CovenantEpisode 3: “A Trust Committed to Us by Solemn and Solemnly Ratified Covenant”: Governor Edward Hopkins’ Grammar School at HadleyPostscript: “Declension from the Primitive Foundation Work”

Carl I. Hammer is research associate at the University of Pittsburgh.

Carl I. Hammer skillfully integrates three incidents at the frontier town of Hadley, Massachusetts—interesting in themselves, but not obviously of more than local importance—into the larger canvas of the evolution of New England during the latter half of the seventeenth century. He contends that ‘declension’ from the founders’ ideals ought to be understood as ‘secular,’ i.e., political and social as much as religious. Not the least appeal of this engaging book is Hammer's account of the further adventures of the regicide William Goffe, the legendary ‘Angel of Hadley.'

• Introduction: “Liberty to Inhabit in Any Part of this Jurisdiction Already Planted”: Hadley’s BeginningsEpisode 1: “Peeping through the Crevises of my Close Cell”: The Angel of Hadley, William Goffe, in Hadley and HartfordEpisode 2: “A Worme at the Roote of Theocraticall Government”: Hadley’s Opposition to the Half-Way CovenantEpisode 3: “A Trust Committed to Us by Solemn and Solemnly Ratified Covenant”: Governor Edward Hopkins’ Grammar School at HadleyPostscript: “Declension from the Primitive Foundation Work”