For a history writer, uncovering an engaging but forgotten story among dusty and long-untouched archives must be like the prospector who catches the glint of gold among the dirt in the bottom of his pan. And Christopher Pagliuco ’99 is one such history writer, with a new book, The Great Escape of Edward Whalley and William Goffe: Smuggled through Connecticut (The History Press), to show for his efforts.

The book tells the story of Puritans Edward Whalley and William Goffe, who joined the parliamentary army against the tyrant, King Charles I, in the English civil wars. Under their battlefield leadership, the army trounced the Royalist forces and then cut off the king’s head. Yet when Charles II regained the throne, Whalley and Goffe fled to the colonies aboard the ship Prudent Mary—never to see their families or England again. Even with the help of New England’s Puritan elite, including Reverend John Davenport, they struggled to stay a step ahead of searches for their arrest in Boston, New Haven (where they hid out in Judges Cave), and the outpost of Hadley, Massachusetts. Forced to live as fugitives, these former major generals survived many frontier adventures in 17th century New England.

Besides working as a freelance writer, Chris teaches high school history in Madison, Connecticut, and serves as town historian in Essex and on the editorial team of Connecticut Explored, a quarterly history magazine. He lives with his wife, two daughters and two dogs in Ivoryton, Conn. If you remember Chris, or have read his book, drop him a line.