Rebecca Towne

One of the most unlikely victims of the Salem Witchhunts, Rebecca had been a pious and respected member of the community for her 71years. The Putnam family, who were the prime instigators of the Witchhunts in Salem, had a longstanding feud with the Towne family. Perhaps this choice of Rebecca and her two sisters, Sarah Cloyce and Mary Easty, as early targets of accusation by the gange of teanagers who were concocting stories of being attacked by apparitions of various townspeople. Eleven-year old Ann Putnam, seventeen year old Mercy Lewis and Mary Walcott, along with Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, gained much attention by putting on acts of being afflicted by supernatural forces and of seeing the spectures of witches in the town attacking them. So soon after this attention started in February 1692, they named Martha Corey, Rebecca Nurse, Sarah Cloyce and Mary Easty as practicing witches. Young Ann Putnam's mother, Ann wife of Thomas Putnam, soon joined in the accusations as well. At Rebecca's trial, a large number of townsfolk gave testamony on Rebecca's behalf, swearing to have known her for all her life, and that she has always been true to her "profession", and that they had never had any cause to suspect her of anything that she is being accused of. Interesting, many of these testifying on her behalf were Putnams, including John Sr. & Rebecca, Jonathan & Lydia, Benjamin & Sarah, Joseph, and Nathaniel Putnam, along side dozens of others. However, Sarah Holton, widow of Benjamin Holton, testified that Rebecca Nurse had had a heated argument with them just days before Benjamin Holton fell ill with the malady that eventually killed him, in which Rebecca was furious that the Holton's pigs had gotten loose and had rooted up her garden. She stated that Benjamin's final days had been painful and filled with contortions consistent with a curse of witchcraft. (The widow Sarah Holton eventually remarried one of those who testified on Rebecca's behalf, Benjamin Putnam). Also, Ann Putnam Sr. (wife of Thomas Putnam) testified that the apparition of Rebecca Nurse appeared to her and tried to choke her, and had taken credit for killing several and consipiring in witchcraft with several other accused. Rebecca Nurse petitioned the court, maintained her innocence, begged for mercy, and made the famous statement "for my Lyfe Lyes Now in Yo'r Hands under God" to the court. The jury initially returned a verdict of not-guilty; however, William Stoughton, noted "witch-hunter" and leader of the proceedings instructed the jury to go back and reconsider their verdict. The jury came back the second time with a guilty verdict. March 19, 1692: Rebecca Nurse was denounced as a witch in Salem, Mass. March 24, 1692: She is examined by magistrates Hathorne and Corwin. April 3, 1692: Her sister, Sarah Cloyce, is accused of Witchcraft. June 29-30, 1692: Rebecca Nurse, Susannah Martin, Sarah Wildes, Sarah Good and Elizabeth Howe were tried for witchcraft and condemned. Rebecca Nurse exclaims, "Oh Lord, help me! It is false. I am clear. For my life now lies in your hands...." July 19, 1692: Rebecca Nurse is executed. BURIAL: A monument inscribed with words written by John Greenleaf Whittier marks the grave of Rebecca Nurse, and reads: "O Christian Martyr Who for Truth could die, When all about thee Owned the hideous lie! The world, redeemed from superstition's sway, Is breathing freer for thy sake today." BIOGRAPHY: Biographies of Rebecca Nurse can be found at: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_BNUR.HTM http://www.rootsweb.com/~nwa/nurse.html http://www.wizard.net/~aldonna/rn.htm