This place has a very earthy smell too it and seemed to always have a hazy cloud hovering above it. I found your ROYAL connections.King George I (and should I say, the worst King in history)..really dad you couldnt do better than that?. Ive known since I was a teenager that I was related to her, but only just connected the dots via family tree recently. Also located at the homestead is the Nurse family cemetery and a replica of the Salem Village Meetinghouse. Ann Putnam Jr. Is my 2nd cousin 10x removed and Captain John Putnam was my 10 Great Grandfather. Rebecca Nurse. My grandfather Richard Edgar Nourse was my grandfather on my moms side. Others like author, historian, and Salem State University interim dean and professor Emerson Tad Baker, focus on the rush to judgment and the innocent lives and families that were destroyed by the 1692 trials. Having a family connection to the witch trials is not unusual. TOWNE Family Genealogy Rebecca TOWNE was born 21 February 1621 in England. "Rebecca Towne Nurse, Mary Towne Estey, Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyes . When I was a kid, I found information in my grandmothers attic that showed we were descended from Rebecca Nurse, one of the women executed. These sources are attached to each ancestor so that you can personally judge their reliability. In the original Broadway production in 1953 she was played by Jean Adair, who died shortly afterwards. In 1706, her accuser, Ann Putnam, Jr., gave a public church confession upon entering the Salem Village congregation. On July 3, the Salem Church excommunicated Nurse. Was Doug Coldwell ALIVE during the 17th century to compile "firsthand knowledge" of Rebecca Nurse? View all posts by Rebecca Beatrice Brooks. Rebecca (Towne) Nurse migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1620-1640). https://www.thoughtco.com/rebecca-nurse-biography-3530327 (accessed March 1, 2023). Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. On May 25, judges John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin ordered the Boston jail to take custody of Nurse, Corey, Dorcas Good (Sarah's daughter, age 4), Cloyce, and John and Elizabeth Parker for acts of witchcraft committed against Williams, Hubbard, Ann Putnam Jr., and others. Thank you for visiting rebecca towne nurse family tree page. Christopher Child, senior genealogist at New England Historic Genealogy Society in Boston also traces his family to Rebecca Nurse through her brother. After all, all of Rebecca Nurses accusers, including Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Jr, Ann Putnam, Sr., Edward Putnam, Thomas Putnam, Henry Kenney, Mary Walcott, and Elizabeth Hubbard were either Putnam family members or friends of the family. A few years ago I learned that I was descended from the Putnam family. It is believed that her family came and collected her body that evening, taking her home to be buried in an unmarked grave on the homestead. He admits to being influenced by his connection to Rebecca Nurse. He then proceeded to say, Well then maybe you will find the next bit of news good news then. Rebecca Nurse (February 13, 1621 July 19, 1692) was a woman who was accused of witchcraft and executed by hanging in New England during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. I have a book written in 1930 by Charles Sutherland Tapley all about the family and the trial. . Im an 8th grader currently working on my project focused on the Salem Witch trials and your article helped me so much! She was the wife of Francis Nurse, with several children and grandchildren, and a well-respected member . 5671, 111, 136, 268, 27089, 290, 292, 480, 483. However, Rebecca and her sister Mary Towne Easty were hanged. I am a descendant of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse who was unfortunately hanged during the Salem Witch Trials. The verdict was not surprising as Nurse was well-liked in Salem and 39 people had risked their lives to sign a petition in support of her. I have always enjoyed the puzzle of genealogy, said Child. All but one of their children were married by 1692. Please note: The ancestor reports on this website have been compiled from thousands of different sources, many over 100 years old. Francis Nurse died on Nov. 22, 1695, two years after the trials had ended. display: none; Through my brother, I have learned that we are 6th 7th or 8 generation of her grandchildren through my father who was a Tracy. Yet, historian Winfield S. Nevins doesnt agree and believes it was a different dispute that earned Rebecca Nurse the wrath of the Putnams, as he discussed in an article in New England Magazine in 1891: The first trouble appears to have come to this family after the purchase of the Bishop farm. Rebecca Towne (1621-1692) 2. This guide goes over what we do know about Rebecca and explains . Rebecca TOWNE was the child of William TOWNE and Joanna BLESSING Rebecca was an immigrant to the United States, arriving by 1637. The human legacy of the witch trials is equally important. pennsylvania nurse aide registry reciprocity. She expressed great remorse for her role against Rebecca and her two sisters, Mary Eastey and Sarah Cloyce, in particular: "I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence that befell my father's family in the year about '92; that I, then being in my childhood, should, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons. One of her sisters, Sarah Towne Cloyce survived. Her trial and death are elements of the Doctor Who novel The Witch Hunters. By Linda Greenstein Globe Correspondent, Updated October 14, 2019, 12:05 p.m. 16. Looking at old maps to discover where family farms were once located and where that property is today will give descendants at least a general idea of the resting places of their witch trial victim ancestors. Ben Wheatley's new adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's acclaimed novel Rebecca has an ending that differs considerably from the original story - though it stays true to the circumstances of Rebecca de Winter's death. Gallows Hill is a place of unspeakable sorrow. this site was amazing it helped me so much on my project thank you !!!!! In this way, she probably incurred the displeasure of Ann Putnam and her mother her principle accusers. [11] In 1711, her children petitioned the government for a reversal of attainer and were granted compensation for Rebecca's wrongful death. Taylor Trade Publishing, 1993.Boyer, Paul S. Salem-Village Witchcraft: A Documentary Record of Local Conflict in Colonial New England. There is certainly a headstone for her in the family cemetery today, though it was erected long after the execution, in July 1885. [citation needed]. In 1712, the Salem Towne church reversed the verdict of excommunication it had passed on her: "that it be no longer a reproach to her memory or an occasion of grief to her children".[12]. This occurred during a time when parts of the government and people of the Province of Massachusetts Bay were seized with witch-phobia. And also it gives a list of the descendants from each child. I have more information on most of these people in my genealogical database which I have not posted here yet. ThoughtCo. Public accusations of witchcraft in Salem Village began on Feb. 29, 1692. A plaque commemorating this family, donated by TFA hangs in St. Nicholas Church. Sometime around 1644, she married Francis Nurse (or Nourse; 16181695), who was also born in England. Since my Mother is a Noyes her Great x 12 Grandfather was Nicholas Noyes (The Minister giving Sarah her last rites) Its amazing how each one of us have cross over each others path throughout the ages. Rebecca Nurse was the daughter of William Towne, of Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England where she was baptized Feb. 21, 1621. She was fully exonerated fewer than twenty years later. SOURCE: Site of Salem Witch Trial Hangings Discovered: Why Its Important to Genealogists. I am hopeful that sharing these historical events with others will prevent the Putnams of the 21st Century from having the the Nurses and the Martins of the world killed. The notes about merging at the top of this profile are from March 2019. They were considered unfit for a Christian burial in a churchyard. On June 2, Nurse, Bridget Bishop, Proctor, Alice Parker, Susannah Martin, and Sarah Good were forced to undergo physical examinations by a doctor with a number of women present. This also makes sense, as the soil on the ledge is too thin to make a shallow grave for even one person, much less a pit for nineteen convicted witches] not deserving of a Christian burial due to the charge of witchcraft. 1880. In 2017, the Proctors Ledge Memorial was built in Salem, Mass and a marker was established for Rebecca Nurse. I am also a descendant. She was condemned to hang. I need clarification . under CHILDREN - #2 Rebecca married Thomas, son of Robert.. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. CENOTAPH FOR REBECCA NURSE: A cenotaph was erected in July 1885 in Rebecca's memory. Just one grandparent can lead you to many Another deposition detailed accusations of afflictions on March 21 and 23 caused by Nurse's specter. I cant tell you how much horror and shame I have felt knowing what my ancestors did. LOL nice to meet you all cousins! The jury found Nurse not guilty but returned guilty verdicts for Good, Elizabeth How, Martin, and Sarah Wildes. I dont remember for sure) great granddaughter of Rebecca Towne Nurse, a witch. (should I say he was laughing at me expression). Nurse's trial was featured in an episode of the CBS radio program "CBS Is There," which aired on July 28, 1947. If he doesnt appear soon I can take care of this. Have you taken a DNA test? Please include para on the "Towne" Sisters, . In 1957, Massachusettsformally apologized for the trials, but It wasn't until 2001 that the last 11 of those convicted were fully exonerated. Sarah Towne Cloyse (1642-1703) - (daughter) accused of witchcraft, but released from custody. I am a descendent of Rebecca Nurse as well. I am working on cleaning up this line. All five were hanged on July 19 on Gallows Hill. Rebecca is my 9th great grandma. Rebecca Nurse Homestead: Check their website for hours. Will be merging children etc. In 1885, the descendants of Rebecca Nurse placed a granite memorial at her grave at what is now known as the Rebecca Nurse Homestead cemetery, located in Danvers . However, the family of Rebecca Nurse, according to legend, got to her body, removed it from the ditch in Salem and buried it in secret on the family farm in Salem Village (now Danvers, Massachusetts) .. Several years after her execution, it was agreed that she had been innocent of being a witch. In 1678 they were offered the opportunity to lease-to-own a 300-acre (120ha) farm in the rural village area of Salem (today Danvers, Massachusetts), originally a part of a grant given to Townsend Bishop in 1636. It is no coincidence that we see witch hunt in the news today, Baker said. They had 9 children: Francis Nurse Jr.. Oxford University Press, 2014.Fowler, Samuel P. An Account of the Life, Character, & c. of Reverend Samuel Parris. Rebecca Nurse was blamed for the death of all of Ann Putnam's children, except for one. Rebecca Nurse HomesteadWebsite: www.rebeccanurse.orgAddress: 149 Pine Street, Danvers, Mass, Salem Witch Trials MemorialAddress: Liberty Street, Salem, Mass, Proctors Ledge MemorialAddress: 7 Pope Street, Salem, Mass, Site of the Salem Witch Trials ExecutionsAddress: Proctors Ledge, wooded area between Proctor Street and Pope Street, Salem, Mass. 094) Rebecca Nurse, Examination of Rebecca Nurse of Salem Village, https://www.thoughtco.com/rebecca-nurse-biography-3530327, The Historical Collections of The Topsfield Historical Society, https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Putnam-1362-2, Nurse Homestead Cemetery, Danvers, Massachusetts, Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Salem, Massachusetts. (c1598/9 - c1673) Great Migration Immigrant 1639, Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. John, we hope you will continue to watch over this profile. She was accused by townspeople Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, and Elizabeth Hubbard as well as by Ann Putnam Sr., who "cried out" during the proceedings to accuse Nurse of trying to get her to "tempt God and dye." The critically tragic fact was specific community members testified in a false or delusional manner leading to the state executions. Six of their children, Rebecca, John, Susan, Edmund, Jacob, and Mary were baptized there. George Burroughs and the Salem Witch Trials, Biography of Martha Carrier, Accused Witch, M.Div., Meadville/Lombard Theological School. She is my ninth great grandmother, Im 62. I must tell a story. By the autumn, the court banned the use of spectral evidence in trial, rendering most of the accusations baseless and eventually brought the trials to an end in 1693. The world redeemed from Superstition's sway. Some children appear to be incorrect - have no sources that indicate that there were more children than these eight: John, Samuel, Francis, Benjamin, Mary Tarbell, Sarah Boden, Rebecca Preston and Elizabeth Russell, all named in Francis division of his estate. While she displayed a gentle spirit in the early recordings in thLabane Bible, there is much questionable behavior in the . I descend from their son Samuel. The dispute culminated in John Putnam and members of his family meeting the Eastys and the Townes on the disputed land where they got into a heated argument. She is also mentioned in passing in Robin Cook's suspense novel Acceptable Risk. In 1885, Nurse's descendants, members of the First Church of Danvers (originally known as The Church of Christ in Salem Village), and local townspeople, dedicated the Rebecca Nurse Monument in her memory. According to the book Women in Early America, Nurses conviction and execution marked the beginning of the end of the Salem Witch Trials. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 2 vv., v. 1 p.80, v. 2 pp. He was soon called upon to defend it against the claims of Zerubabel Endicott, who claimed a boundary line to the Endicott possessions that pushed back the eastern bounds of the Bishop farm. The Topsfield controversy Nevins mentions was a dispute that began in 1658 when a portion of disputed land in Topsfield that a number of Topsfield residents had already settled on was made a part of Ipswich by the General Court. S. Nancy Newton . 43rd Governor of Michigan. W. Elliot Woodward, 1864.Kimball, Henrietta D. Witchcraft Illustrated. The people who most like to visit, according to the curator and president of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Kathryn Rutkowski, are historians fascinated with the period and descendants of. First Lady of President Calvin Coolidge. Today with the focus on tourism, there is much more interest in being a descendant.. I cant tell you how much horror and shame I have a hazy cloud above... 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