The “demonic” disturbances at the Goodwin family home

Record summary

The Goodwin children’s reported fits and accusations against the Irish washerwoman Ann Glover became one of colonial Boston’s best-known pre-Salem supernatural controversies. Cotton Mather described the case in Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions (1689), presenting it as evidence of diabolic activity. For anomalous-place research, the lead connects household disturbances, witness testimony and printed transmission. The underlying events are uncertain, and the account reflects theological expectations, social conflict and later editorial shaping rather than a verified haunting.