The Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials - The True Story of Rebecca Nurse
Up to date on October 22, 2015
In 1640, English immigrants William Towne and Joanna Blessing Towne settled their giant household in Salem, Massachusetts, the place three of their daughters would later be accused of witchcraft, and encourage the famous play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller.
In the late seventeenth century the Massachusetts counties of Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex have been in the grip of mass hysteria; delusions of witches and devils introduced on by spiritual fervor, and the stress on the neighborhood by the numerous land disputes erupting throughout the realm. In complete 98 individuals had been accused of witchcraft, and 18 executed, including two of my very own ancestors.
Rebecca (Towne) Nurse, and her sisters Mary Easty and Sara Cloyes were accused by a group of young women of bewitching them, inflicting matches. In accordance with the eyewitness account of Rev. Deodat Lawson, the ladies screamed and made strange noises, threw things, crawled under furniture, and contorted their bodies.
Rebecca Nurse Memorial Stone
Salem Witch Trial Monument
Salem Witch Museum
Items of Curiosity

On the time of her arrest, Rebecca Nurse was 71 years old. She was a pious girl and a respected member of the community. Her husband, Francis Nurse, was a prominent land owner, and concerned in disputes with Thomas Putnum, father of Ann Putnum, Jr. Ann was among the many eight women who accused and testified in opposition to Rebecca and her sisters.
There was a great public outcry on the arrest of Rebecca Nurse. Quite a few individuals testified on her behalf, and it was stated that she was, due to her age, appearance, and place, the only person the justice of the peace seemed reluctant to indict. Years later Ann Putnum would publicly resign her accusation of Rebecca, her pastor studying the following to your complete congregation:
"I need to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling windfall that befell my father's household within the yr about ninety-two; that I, then being in my childhood, ought to, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument for the accusing of a number of persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom, now I've simply grounds and good reason to believe they have been innocent individuals; and that it was an excellent delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I've been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of harmless blood; although, what was mentioned or carried out by me in opposition to any particular person, I can really and uprightly say, earlier than God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill will to any particular person, for I had no such factor towards considered one of them; but what I did was ignorantly, being deluded by Devil.
And notably, as I used to be a chief instrument of accusing Goodwife Nurse and her two sisters, I need to lie within the mud, and to be humble for it, in that I used to be a cause, with others, of so sad a calamity to them and their families; for which cause I need to lie within the dust, and earnestly beg forgiveness of God, and from all those unto whom I've given simply reason behind sorrow and offense, whose relations had been taken away or accused."
On July 19, 1692 Rebecca Nurse was hanged for her supposed crimes, alongside Sarah Good, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe and Sarah Wildes. On September 22, 1692, her sister Mary Eastey was also exicuted, with Martha Corey, Ann Pudeator, Samuel Wardwell, Mary Parker, Alice Parker, Wilmot Redd, and Margaret Scott. The third sister, Sarah Cloyes, was later released, having outlived the hysteria.
Though the victims of the witch trials have been buried in shallow, unmarked graves, it's rumored that the Towne family stole back the stays of Rebecca and Mary below the duvet of night, and gave them a correct burial. The household erected a monument to Rebecca's memory on the grounds of the Nurse homestead in 1882.
In 1992, the Massachusetts Home of Representatives determined to difficulty a resolution honoring those that had died through the trials. When it was lastly signed on October 31, 2001 by Governor Jane Swift, greater than 300 years after their deathes, all of the accused were finally proclaimed innocent. There are many groups and societies which might be devoted to preserving and honoring the reminiscences of the women and men involved within the Salem witch trials, in addition to the Towne household.
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Ramona Lengthy 2 weeks ago
I am also related to Rebecca Nurse. She is my 8th nice grandmother on my father's side.
Maggie Nelson 4 weeks in the past
I'm a descendant of Rebecca as nicely! It's superb there are such a lot of of us.
Garrison 5 weeks ago
Rebecca Nurse is my eleventh great grandmother! This can be a fairly fascinating paper to study her! lol
Jadetatsu 7 weeks ago
You overlooked another particular person; Tituba. She was an African Slave who was also executed as being a witch.
Thanks
MissNurse 19 months ago
Im a direct descendant of Rebecca Towne Nurse. The information on this post is the same as each other one you come throughout on the web.
English trainer 19 months ago
It's nicely written and attention-grabbing. You may have spelled executed fallacious.
Catherine Towne 23 months ago
"Although the victims of the witch trials were buried in shallow, unmarked graves, it is rumored that the Towne family stole again the stays of Rebecca and Mary underneath the duvet of evening, and gave them a proper burial."
Yeah, I wouldn't put that previous my household.
aleyna 2 years ago
people mustn't die due to what others imagine are happening if they do not have hard true details not just superstisions
kk 2 years ago
marvin 2 years ago
ignorance is blissful. one cannot be held liable for not figuring out. witch craft remains to be used today by docs and even the church, catholic especially the pentagram was as soon as a christian symbol i'm a practitioner of the liberal arts and have been known as names as nicely. we as individuals generally tend to fear what we do not understand. so it's secure to say we're all witches by proxy, life it's self may be very magical if we may only see it. to vary something for the higher doesn't imply that it is evil.
Hannah Mahusky 2 years ago
I'm related to the Nurse (Towne) family. I came upon just lately from my grandma. I am undecided what facet i am related however i'm at the moment researching the subject myself for my english class.
Michael towne three years ago
Michael Towne. Decended from Dale Towne( grandfather) most of this.to us.is true. Would like to explore. Trancended through my father ( james towne) we now have skilled some what of a curse. Excuse the punn: all the men from grandfather to son to son have died. Leaving the wifes and mothers alone. three generations. Does this return additional?
RaeGina Nurse McMahon three years in the past
I could also be related on my father's aspect. This story has always fascinated me and I've tried to analysis the Nurse title.
Karen Kruger 4 years ago
I too am related to Mary Easty (Esty), Rebecca & Sarah on my mom's mother's facet. Superb!
casey cotter four years in the past
Lavina Leavell 4 years in the past
I've simply discovered that Sara, Mary and Rebecca's father and mother had been my nice, great, great, great, great grandparents. Studying the accounts of the trial and the hangings make me very unhappy. What an awful thing that happened to those women all due to lies from their accusers and jealousy over land disputes by the Putnam household and later the land of my ancestors fell into their fingers after such a mistrial of justice and lies. The accusers, in my view, have been those that have been possessed. No apologies can undo what they did.
Jenniewest 5 years in the past
Mary Towne Eastey is my 8th great grandmother. I'm glad for the decision honoring them. Leilani, thanks for the data.
Leilani Towne Calzadilla 5 years ago
This complete factor is fascinating to me. I am a descendant of one among Rebecca Nurse's brothers, Edmund Towne. So, that makes me twelfth Technology American Towne. For huebie, I found on-line the "Towne Family Association" ( I feel). You should be part of to get the best data. However, it is solely $20 for an annual membership. They have annual conferences/"household reunions" in different locations across the U.S., and subsequent year they're even making a visit to England!
huebie 5 years in the past
Thanks, Ruby. Especially for Ann Putnam's recanting statement. I solely not too long ago discovered that Rebecca Nurse is my great x8 grandmother. Perhaps we're related : ) Each place I search it seems I learn of people which might be related to a kind of executed or accused. I wish there was a location for all of us to talk collectively and share data realized, relationships, and genealogy. Have you learnt of such a spot?
Jennifer Gilbert (nee Nurse) 5 years in the past
I am glad to have found such a exactly written abstract of what happened to my grandparents from the 1600's (I can not count how many generations down the tree I am simply but) as I'm looking for extra information about them. I simply cannot wait to get to Salem from Australia and be taught more firsthand
Marilyn 6 years in the past
Two of the ladies, Mary Easty and Rebecca Nurse, have been my husband's eighth great grandaunts. One sister, Sarah Cloyes escaped execution. Their father was my husband's ninth great grandfather. Such a tragic and horrible time.
samboiam 6 years ago from Texas
Such a sad story. My heart breaks for the innocent lives that have been shattered due to ignorance and prejudice.
Cow Flipper 7 years in the past from Southern Oregon
Ignorance is no excuse or purpose to take a life. Faith and those that proclaim to be spiritual can be flawed and sometimes are in the identify of their beliefs. So many instances all through history folks have been accused and executed beneath the guise of religion, those that imagine so blindly often are blinded to the fact of what it is they see.
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