Shes my 9x great grandma on my maternal grandmothers side. Nurse can also be found as a supporting character in Katherine Howe's historical fiction, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. We were fortunate enough to visit the homestead this Summer. Born in Yarmouth, England in 1621 to William Towne and Joanna Blessing, her entire family immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony sometime between the years 1638 and 1640. I have lived in Salem all my life, said John Keenan, Salem States president. This is a cenotaph erected in Rebeccas memory. Ancestor charts showing the family relationships of Mitt Romney (1947-) to other famous people. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. In this way, she probably incurred the displeasure of Ann Putnam and her mother her principle accusers. They raised their family in Salem village (modern day Danvers, Massachusetts). Mary Ellen (mom) is now 81 and doesnt look her age at all. Allen was the principal, and he kept his promise to defend the title. "Rebecca Towne Nurse, Mary Towne Estey, Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyes . It is always preferable to locate primary records where possible. Knowing where the site of the hangings took place means descendants of those involved in the trials can visit it and honor their ancestors there. we call are grandmother a witch ever since we found out as a joke (Shes okay with it though considering I can be called a witch by inheritance/ wizard), Our grandmother* BTW when I mean shes okay with it, I mean the annoyed but not grounded okay with it. Research devoted solely to this person has either not yet taken place or it is currently in progress. On Ash Wednesday of 2017 I ran into my dad after our respectful services and Mass at Captian Ds restaurant. Gagnon, Daniel A., A Salem Witch: The Trial, Execution, and Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse. Rebecca married Francis Nurse, and they settled initially near North River in Salem. Samuel, born February 3, 1649; died July 3, 1715; married Mary Smith, daughter of John on April 5, 1677. 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. Several spectators adopted head motions indicating that they were in Nurse's thrall. It is no coincidence that we see witch hunt in the news today, Baker said. Baker is particularly enthused about the new play, not because of the past, but because of the current social climate in the country. Due to the rarity of such household goods, such artisans were esteemed. Salem was a manufacturing town. I am so appreciative of thorough research of these despicable acts and am beginning to see parallels in our own society. Rebecca Towne was born in 1621 in England and moved to Salem, MA circa 1635 with her family. If you are not a descendant, then you probably know someone that is., Keenans career as an assistant district attorney, legislator, and college president has focused on social justice. [5], "In most cases, the bodies of those hanged or pressed were cast off into a shallow ditch [ Update September 2021: There is no room to build gallows on Proctors Ledge. They told Rebecca openly that if she was innocent, they prayed that God would show her innocence, for "it is a sad thing to see church members accused". I am descended from Rebecca Nurse through her son, Samuel Nurse Sr. through my maternal grandfather (Smith line). 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. Sarah Cloyce: Accused in the Salem Witch Trials, Profile of Elizabeth How, Persecuted Salem Witch, Abigail Williams of the Salem Witch Trials, Mary Easty: Hanged as a Witch in Salem, 1692, Biography of Martha Corey, Last Woman Hung in the Salem Witch Trials, Biography of Elizabeth Parris, Accuser in the Salem Witch Trials, A Brief History of the Salem Witchcraft Trials, Rev. Flowers have been left at the memorial in Salem to Rebecca Nurse, who was executed for witchcraft. Rebecca Nurse, Yarmouth, England 1621. She married Isaac Estey, a farmer and barrel-maker, in . 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Rebecca TOWNE was the child of William TOWNE and Joanna BLESSING Rebecca was an immigrant to the United States, arriving by 1637. 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. In 1712, Salem Church reversed Nurse's excommunication. The controversy was a long one, going finally to the General Court for settlement. Would it be possible to somehow mention that her main accuser, Ann Putnam,Jr., recanted in 1706. Shared note. St. Nicholas Church at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/640804/nurse-homestead-cemetery, Site of Salem Witch Trial Hangings Discovered: Why Its Important to Genealogists, https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818f6cee93790ec8b81a8b3, https://archive.org/details/salemwitchcraftw02upha_0/page/268, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-FSRB, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-ZTS2, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-S45M, http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/n12.html#n12.4, https://www.mass.gov/doc/resolves-of-1957-chapter-145/download, https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2001/Chapter122, https://ancestralfindings.com/site-of-salem-witch-trial-hangings-discovered-why-its-important-to-genealogists, The Salem Witchcraft Papers (SWP No. She was born at Salem 1: 2m: 1671, daughter of John and Margaret (Buffum) Smith. Back then it wasnt a big deal in my family, or in Salem. Rebeccas great granddaughter Elizabeth Nurse married John Putnams great grandson Caleb. John Keenan, a descendant of Rebecca Nurse, at the Salem Witch Memorial, where a stone bears the witchs name. Since many Salem residents who criticized the witch trials and the people involved were often accused of being witches themselves, Nurses criticism made her even more of a target. I believe it the 7th generation. This is so interesting! Eventually the Nurse family homestead was sold to Phineas Putnam, a cousin of Rebecca's great-great grandson Benjamin, in 1784. This made them wonder if any of the other accused witches were possibly innocent. His Salem State University biography states, This tragedy shapes his commitment to social justice and human rights.. TOWNE Family Genealogy Rebecca TOWNE was born 21 February 1621 in England. Massachusetts Gov. Francis Jr., born February 3, 1661; died February 5, 1716 at Reading, Massachusetts. Mary was convicted and executed, but Sarah managed to survive. descendants. Thomas Fisk. William Towne (c1598/9 - c1673) Great Migration Immigrant . Nurse was the subject of Lectures on Witchcraft by Charles W. Upham. Rebecca, the daughter of William Towne and Joanna Blessing, was baptized Feb 21, 1621 in England. 1857.Roach, Marilynne K. The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege. This guide goes over what we do know about Rebecca and explains . My grandfather Richard Edgar Nourse was my grandfather on my moms side. I have a book written in 1930 by Charles Sutherland Tapley all about the family and the trial. Rebecca was christened 21 on February 1620/21 in Norfolk, England, the daughter of Joanna (Blessing) and William Towne. If he doesnt appear soon I can take care of this. She also had three brothers, Edmund (baptized June 1628), Jacob (baptized March 11, 1631 or 1632) and Joseph (born c. 1639). A few years ago I learned that I was descended from the Putnam family. This fact, along with the lack of reports of any gallows being built for the witch trial executions, and no debris being found at the site led researchers to conclude the convicted witches were hanged from trees. Rebecca Nurse. 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]. Privacy Policy | ContactMe 2010-2023 FamousKin.com. Cummings : Descendants of Isaac Cummings (1601-1677) of Topsfield/Ipswich, his son Isaac Cummings Sr. (1633-1721) and grandson Isaac Cummings Jr. (1664-1746) and his wife Alice Howlett accused Elizabeth (Jackson) Howe (1637-1692) of witchcraft. She was fully exonerated fewer than twenty years later. In addition, Rebecca Nurse often criticized the afflicted girls for dabbling in fortune-telling prior to the witch trials, according to the book An Account of the Life, Character, & c. of Reverend Samuel Parris: It had been said that Rebecca Nurse was an object of special hatred to Parris, but this we have failed to discover. Rebecca (Towne) Nurse Family Tree along with family connections to other famous kin. 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. Witch Trials. Also located at the homestead is the Nurse family cemetery and a replica of the Salem Village Meetinghouse. (2020, August 26). In 1706, her accuser, Ann Putnam, Jr., gave a public church confession upon entering the Salem Village congregation. Hi Era, she said that during her pre-trial examination on March 24. John, we hope you will continue to watch over this profile. [16], Rebecca Nurse is the ancestor of several notable people, including Mitt Romney, Zach Braff, and Lucille Ball.[17]. Username and password are case sensitive. [2] and gives the couple the following children (sources added where found so far; these children are also detailed in Ames' "Nurse FamilyFive Generations" but again without primary sources usually listed[7]): [NOTE: Mary and Tamesin Smith were sisters that married Samuel and Benjamin Nurse, Mary & Tamesin were daughters of John and Margaret (Thompson?Buffum) Smith of Salem.}. Her sister Mary (also accused and put to death for witchcraft) married Isaac Easty. I will be taking a trip to Salem this September as a tribute to my beloved 9th great-grandmother. Keenan and Child plan to see the play, and Baker will be a guest speaker following the performance Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 20, there will be a special descendants performance at 2:30 p.m., followed by a post-show conversation with Roach and Rachel Christ, director of education at the Salem Witch Museum. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 2 vv., v. 1 p.80, v. 2 pp. She and the Putnam family had fought in court several times over land. 5671, 111, 136, 268, 27089, 290, 292, 480, 483. Rebecca Nurse was a 71-year-old grandmother and wife of a local artisan when she was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Chicago, Illinois. 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. Fiske waited briefly, then returned to the jury, and soon came back with a verdict of guilty. Shortly afterwards, the Towne family immigrated to Topsfield, Massachusetts. And also it gives a list of the descendants from each child. Born February 13, 1621, her baptism is recorded as February 21, 1621. The Internet has built communities of people with witch trial lineage and there are gatherings where they share their history and connections. pennsylvania nurse aide registry reciprocity. Also, the ground penetrating sonar has revealed no bodies at the site. It is far more likely that the Topsfield controversy engendered ill-feeling between the Village people and the Nurse family. (Nevins 718). Although her exact resting place has never been confirmed her descendants erected a tall granite memorial in the family plot in 1885 at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead cemetery in Danvers (formerly Salem Village), Massachusetts. RebeccaNurse.org. Rebecca Nurse (February 21, 1621-July 19, 1692) was a victim of the notorious Salem witch trials, hanged as a witch at 71 years of age. Geneanet. Torrey in "New England Marriages to 1700" is equivocal about their marriage date and location, saying this: NURSE, Francis (-1695, ae 77) & Rebecca [TOWNE] (1621-1692); 24 Aug 1646, ca 1645? Wait Winthrop, one of the Judges was a distant cousin. ", The Nurse family accepted Ann's apology and were reconciled with her:[10] by contrast, they never forgave Samuel Parris, the village minister, whom they held personally to blame for their bereavement "none can know what we suffered by the loss of such a mother" and they did not rest until Parris was removed from office in 1697. Im a descendant if Rebecca Nurse too via her son John and grandson Benjamin Nourse. 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?. Due to the public outcry and renewed fits and spasms by the "afflicted", the judges reviewed her case with the jury. Rebecca Nurse was the daughter of William Towne, of Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England where she was baptized Feb. 21, 1621. A deposition written by Thomas Putnam, signed on May 31, detailed accusations of torment of his wife, Ann Putnam Sr., by Nurse's and Corey's "specters," or spirits, on March 18 and 19. On December 17, 1711, the General Court awarded the Nurse family 25 in restitution for Rebeccas wrongful conviction and death. Its a legacy that speaks to the need for the rule of law and the impartiality of the judiciary.. [1][2], She and her five siblings migrated with their parents to Salem in New England by 1639. Her married sisters Mary Eastey and Sarah Cloyce were also accused. Rebecca Nurse was a 71-year-old grandmother and wife of a local artisan when she was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. In doing research on my Great-Great Great Grandgfather, Benjamin Nourse Fairbanks, I learned that I am a descendant of Rebecca Towne Nurse (her grandson changed spelling to Nourse and moved to Westborough, MA). 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. 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. An artists depiction of a witch being led to her death. Mary Towne Eastey (1634-1692) - (daughter) Executed by hanging on 22 Sept 1692 at Salem witch trials. https://www.thoughtco.com/rebecca-nurse-biography-3530327 (accessed March 1, 2023). Could she get a "Notable Sticker" or is there some reason you don't want to do that? History Lesson Plans History Class Us History Family History American Literature, Discover the family tree of Rebecca Nurse for free, and learn about their family history and their ancestry. LOL nice to meet you all cousins! On March 23, 1692, a warrant was issued for her arrest based upon accusations made by Edward and John Putnam. Grandmas siblings were siblings were Dora, William & Frances (female). lol! Growing up, my family never spoke about our connection to the witch trials. This is very, very interesting! The notes about merging at the top of this profile are from March 2019. Executed for Witchcraft, Salem 1692. The accusers and spectators protested loudly when the verdict was announced. She was fully exonerated fewer than twenty years later. She was born on February 21, 1621 and her birthplace is England. , Hey Cuz! I am a descendant of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse who was unfortunately hanged during the Salem Witch Trials. In 2017, the Proctors Ledge Memorial was built in Salem, Mass and a marker was established for Rebecca Nurse. Anderson in the "Great Migration Directory" lists a William Towne of unknown origin who immigrated to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1635 and a William Towne of Great Yarmouth who immigrated to Salem in 1639 making it seem most likely that this family, known to have lived in Salem, were the 1639 immigrants. The way the profile reads now, one would not know that. Who is Rebecca Nurse in the Crucible?She was a real person living in Salem, MA, during the 17th century. There will be 10 performances from Oct. 17 to 27; tickets start at $19.50. The daughter of William and Joanna Blessing Towne, Rebecca was born in Great . Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/rebecca-nurse-biography-3530327. Cutter claims, without source, that Rebecca Towne married Francis Nurse (various spellings) 24 Aug 1644 in Salem. Visitors walk by the Salem Witch Memorial. (#3579) She knows its just for laughs, wow really idk what number she is to me but she is my great grandmother as well!!!! Linda Greenstein can be reached at greensteinlm@gmail.com. She is a former faculty member of the Humanist Institute. Both women were church members and respected, prominent members of the community. Great Yarmouth, Great Yarmouth Borough, Norfolk, England. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. [13] In 1892, the community erected a second monument recognizing the 40 neighbors, led by Israel and Elizabeth (Hathorne) Porter, who took the risk of publicly supporting Nurse by signing a petition to the court on her behalf in 1692. Gallows Hill is a place of unspeakable sorrow. Rebecca married Francis Nurse in 1640 and raised a family of eight children on a farm in Salem Village. 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