The Salem Witch Trials - Our Connection

Home of Rebecca Towne Nurse
Salem Village, Massachusetts

Ernest Raymond McLellan of Bass River (3rd Cousin - twice removed) married one. So did Amos Geddes Peppard of Great Village (3rd Cousin, 3 times removed). William O'Brien Esq.  (Husband of 1st cousin, 4 times removed) of Noel, Hants married one too.  So who were all these ladies?  Each one and a few more in our family tree are descendants of Rebecca Towne Nurse - also known as Goody Nurse, who was hanged for witchcraft at Salem on July 19, 1692.  Here is a bit of her story.

Rebecca was 70 years old when she went before the Court of Oyer and Terminar (Hear and Determine) court.  She was a fragile elderly woman who had lived a good life, even if on her own terms to some extent, was 'cried out' upon and hung at the Gallows Tree.


She was considered intelligent, pious and devout. She bought some land in 1678 and had to go to court to fight for it against one Zerubabel Endicott, where he lost.

This incurred his hostility. Part of the disputed land was made a portion of Ipwich, MA and controversies about boundries of Salem and Ipwich arose. John Putman and others of his large family met the Nurses and the Esteys  on the land and angry words were exchanged. This controversy was long and bitter.

Memorial stone at the site of the
Witch Hangings
Salem

The charge was for afflicting Ann Putnam Jr. and Abigail Williams. Ann Putnam, Sr. testified that the ghosts of Benjamin Houlton, Rebecca Houlton, John Fuller, and her sister Baker's children (6 of them) as well as her sister Bayley and her three children came to her at various times in their winding sheets and cried for justice of being murdered by Rebecca Nurse.


Rebecca stoutly denied this. Asked if she believed the afflicted persons were bewitched, she said they were. She remained in jail until June 1. On June 2, 4 indictments were returned against her for afflicting persons.

The trial was delayed until June 28.

Several witnesses testified they were afflicted by her, that her apparition pinched and chocked them and were threatened by death. Rebecca's body was examined for a "witchmark" which one was found.


Rebecca's two sisters were also accused for many of the same reasons. Several years earlier Rebecca's mother had been accused of witchcraft. She was, however, never tried.  Mary Towne Easty, Rebecca's sister was also hanged on September 22, 1692.

Local gossip during the trials suggested the profession was passed down from mother to daughters.

The trial itself was a sham and a virtual mockery of the judicial system. The complaint was signed by Edward and Jonathan Putnam.

At her trial, testimonials regarding her Christian behavior, care, and education of her children brought a verdict of not guilty.

William Stoughton then politely asked the jury to again retire and reconsider their verdict. So much for not being tried twice for the same offense.

Rebecca's Grave

On July 3, 1692, the Reverend Nicholas Noyes had Rebecca brought from her prison cell to the church. When she arrived, the Reverend excommunicated her before the congregation. How shattering would this be to such a deeply religious person as she was known to be?

A petition was drawn up and signed on May 14, 1692 by most of the richest and most influential people such as Israel Porter (his name appears first), Daniel Andrews, even John Putnam, Sr. and his wife along with 35 other were cosigners of the petition. The petition was sent to Governor Phipps who responded with a temporary reprieve.

The reprieve ran out and Rebecca, along with four other ladies, was carted to the summit of Gallows Hill and hanged on July 19th.

Grave charges have been made against the chief of justice in this case as he practically forced the jury to reverse their not guilty verdict.

She was buried in such a shallow grave on that rocky hill that some body parts remained exposed. Her family came in the dark of night, collected her remains, and reburied her on the family's property.

EPITAPH:

Rebecca Nurse

Yarmouth, England 1621

Salem, Mass. 1692

O Christian Martyr who for truth could die

When all around thee owned the hideous lie!

The world redeemed from Superstition's sway

Is breathing freer for thy sake today.

Rebecca's house still stands and is now under the care of Salem Historical Society.

Descendants of Rebecca Towne Nurse at the
dedication of a monument in her memory
Danvers, Massachusetts
July 1855