So over 300 years and half a country away, these two families have shared an almost 20 year friendship that turned into a loving and respectful relationship. Doing our family tree I found out Rebecca was my 8th great grandmother. She was the wife of Francis Nurse, with several children and grandchildren, and a well-respected member of the community. [2] Her husband was a "tray maker" by trade, who likely made many other wooden household items. Rebecca (Towne) Nurse is my 8th great-grandmother through her son Benjamin. In the early 1850s, there was no formal school where one could become licensed as a nurse (the first one opened in 1873), so . The PBS film Three Sovereigns For Sarah features Vanessa Redgrave as one of Rebecca Nurse's sisters, Sarah Cloyce; although accused, she escaped execution. Yet I see notes on WikiTree from people declaring they "cleaning up" the descendants' line. I am also a descendant. Her married sisters Mary Eastey and Sarah Cloyce were also accused. Its a legacy that speaks to the need for the rule of law and the impartiality of the judiciary.. Thanks! W. Elliot Woodward, 1864.Kimball, Henrietta D. Witchcraft Illustrated. An error has occured while loading the map. Rebecca Nurse (February 21, 1621July 19, 1692) was a victim of the notorious Salem witch trials, hanged as a witch at 71 years of age. Rebecca (Towne) Nurse was executed for witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials. Sarah born in 1663; testified in June 1692 as being aged 28; married Michel Bowden of Marblehead and Salem after that date. From Wikepedia: O Christian Martyr who for Truth could die. In doing my family tree I have found that I am a descendent of Rebecca Nurse. The jury found Nurse not guilty but returned guilty verdicts for Good, Elizabeth How, Martin, and Sarah Wildes. The city of Salem is already planning some kind of memorial for the place, which will likely be small in keeping with the character of the residential neighborhood where it is. Interestingly, 12 year old accuser Ann Putnam Jr. formally apologized by age 26, saying she had been under Satan's delusion and the providence of God.bringing "the guilt of innocent blood" upon the community. Rebecca Nurse, Yarmouth, England 1621. Some writers allege that Nurse thus incurred his hostility, and that this was one of the incentives to the subsequent prosecution of Rebecca Nurse. SOURCE: Site of Salem Witch Trial Hangings Discovered: Why Its Important to Genealogists. Her mother was Margaret Joy Rahn (maiden name was Rahn). I was lucky enough to be stationed in Natick and took a trip to Salem to visit the site of the trials. Wait Winthrop, one of the Judges was a distant cousin. 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. John Nurse (1673-1747) 4. The Rebecca Nurse homestead is still a museum. "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane", Hyperion, 1401340903. Allrightsreserved. Mary Eastey was born Mary Towne to William Towne and Joanna Towne ( ne Blessing) in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. This dispute and another between the Putnams and several Topsfield landowners likely influenced the charges against Rebecca and her sisters Mary Esty and Sarah Cloyce, for their brother, Ensign Jacob Towne, was one of the Topsfield men (Baker 152.). As a result of his search for the truth, he was put on trial and his family placed in peril. 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. In May 1693, Phips pardoned the remaining defendants accused of witchcraft. ; Salem citing his usual copious sources.[6]. [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. [5] At age 71, she was one of the oldest accused. In 1909, Rebecca Nurses home in Danvers, Mass was purchased by the Rebecca Nurse Memorial Association and opened to the public as a historic house museum. On April 21, another sister, Mary Easty (or Eastey), was arrested after defending their innocence. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. So WHY was it left on this page for years? 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. Another sister, Sarah Cloyce, was also accused of witchcraft. Rebecca Nurse was born on Feb. 21, 1621 (some sources give this as her baptism date), in Yarmouth, England, to William Towne and Joanna Blessing. I was shocked to learn of her history. She is my 10 great grandmother on my mothers paternal side of the family. John Nurse born about 1645; his death, if this is the same man, appears in Reading, Massachusetts Vital Records on 26 Nov 1717. Towne Esq., San Francisco, Cal. I would love to hear from anyone else who shares some of these ancestors. I dont remember for sure) great granddaughter of Rebecca Towne Nurse, a witch. (should I say he was laughing at me expression). This lack of a response, probably due to Rebeccas partial deafness, was unexpected. Her entire family, including several siblings, immigrated to theMassachusetts Bay Colonysometime between 1638 and 1640. 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. The list of descendants of Nurse includes former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, "Scrubs" actor Zach Braff and "I Love Lucy" star Lucille Ball. LOL nice to meet you all cousins! 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. Privacy Policy | ContactMe 2010-2023 FamousKin.com. According to local legend, Nurses son, Benjamin, secretly rowed a boat after nightfall to the execution site to claim his mothers body so he could give her a Christian burial at her home. Geo A. Kimball, 1892.Mays, Dorothy A. In 1992, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial was built in Salem, Mass and a marker was established for Rebecca Nurse. The couple had eight children: four daughters and four sons. I am also a descendant of Rebecca, very interesting to find out. By dint of her respectability, many members of the community testified on her behalf, including her family members. An artists depiction of a witch being led to her death. View all posts by Rebecca Beatrice Brooks. .. Rebecca passed away on July 19 1692, at age 71 in Salem, Essex Co. .. 1. . RebeccaNurse.org. 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. Wadsworth Publishing Co, 1972.Records of Salem Witchcraft: Copied from the Original Documents, Volume 1. Famous descendants of rebecca nurse. 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. If not, at least good will eventually triumph over evil 30,000 descendants is quite a legacy ; ). Rebecca Nurse was executed on July 19, 1692 on Proctor's Ledge at Gallows Hill. [citation needed] Fatally, Rebecca, who was hard of hearing, did not hear the question: she later explained to her children that she was referring to this woman as a fellow "accused" witch. It would be more interesting I believe. Married Rebecca Nurses daughter Elizabeth Nurse, b. Although there was no credible evidence against her, she was hanged as a witch and died on 19 July 1692 at Proctor's Ledge, (named after Thorndike Proctor, a son of witch trial victim John Proctor, who bought the land after the witch trial delusions were over), Gallows Hill, Salem, Massachusetts Bay. , i hope you will like it about rebecca towne nurse family tree please comment if we missed anything here, please let us know. I am a descendant of Rebecca (Towne) Nurse who was unfortunately hanged during the Salem Witch Trials. She was accused and arrested on April 8. In 1672, Francis Nurse served as Salem's Constable. Salem, Mass., 1692. Twenty women and men were executed following the trials 19 were hanged, one was crushed to death and another five died in jail. Just finding out that Rebecca Nurse is also a grandmother of mine . Rebecca Towne Nurse (21 Feb 1621 19 Jul 1692) was executed for witchcraft by the government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. The controversy was a long one, going finally to the General Court for settlement. Have you taken a DNA test? "Rebecca Towne Nurse, Mary Towne Estey, Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyes . Saltonstall, like his peers of the time, believed in witchcraft but questioned the due process and the dependence on spectral evidence. It has been 89% photographed. Elizabeth born January 9, 1665; married William Russel, son of William and Elizabeth Russell, of Salem Village on October 25, 1678 [25: 8m: 1678]. I read the script and I see modern relevance in the play to the issues on our minds today.. I Thomas Fisk, the subscriber hereof, being one of them that were of the jury the last week at Salem-Court, upon the trial of Rebecca Nurse, etc., being desired by some of the relations why the jury brought her in guilty, after her verdict not guilty; I do hereby give my reasons to be as follows, viz. However, Rebecca and her sister Mary Towne Easty were hanged. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. Rebecca married Francis Nurse, and they settled initially near North River in Salem. [citation needed]. First Lady of President Calvin Coolidge. A fictional character believes her to be pious and registers surprise when seeing Nurse on her way to her execution. The young wife . This is very, very interesting! Due to the rarity of such household goods, such artisans were esteemed. Yardley, PA: Westholme, 2021. T > Towne | N > Nurse > Rebecca (Towne) Nurse, Categories: English Immigrants to America | Salem, Massachusetts | Salem Witch Trials | Accused Witches of New England | Death by Hanging | Nurse Homestead Cemetery, Danvers, Massachusetts | Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Salem, Massachusetts | Puritan Great Migration | Notables, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. The statements had no effect on the courts decision and Nurse was hanged at Proctors Ledge on July 19, along with Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Susannah Martin and Sarah Wildes. Rebecca Nurse. (2020, August 26). Biography of Rebecca Nurse, Victim of the Salem Witch Trials. Rebecca was portrayed by actress Shirley MacLaine in the 2002 CBS miniseries, Salem Witch Trials. 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. I pray your relationship with your boyfriend is flourishing. It would seem that Putnam, if anything, was united with Allen and Nurse in fighting Endicott. 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. 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. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Rebecca (Nurse), Mary (Esty) and Sarah (Bridges Cloyse) were victims of the witchcraft hysteria of 1692. They raised their family in Salem village (modern day Danvers, Massachusetts). [15] In Howe's novel, Nurse is used as a character foil for the main character, Deliverance Dane. She was fully exonerated fewer than twenty years later. My great grand father 9th removed, William Russell b.1647, England, d.22 Dec 1733, Essex Co. Mass. On July 3, the Salem Church excommunicated Nurse. According to the book Women in Early America, Nurses conviction and execution marked the beginning of the end of the Salem Witch Trials. Rebecca Nurse Homestead: Check their website for hours. (Years later, Noyes died of a brain hemorrhage; legend has it that he choked on his blood.) 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. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Lewis, Jone Johnson. 9 Jan 1656, Essex Co., Mass. Salem Witchcraft. My dad has been working on our linage for many years now and several years ago he connected us as direct descendants of John and Priscilla Alden (their son John Alden was an accused witch but escaped from prison never to be found). Elizabeth CLARKE , John TOWNES. Rebecca is 16 degrees from Jennifer Aniston, 16 degrees from Drew Barrymore, 19 degrees from Candice Bergen, 19 degrees from Alexandre Dumas, 15 degrees from Carrie Fisher, 24 degrees from Whitney Houston, 13 degrees from Hayley Mills, 13 degrees from Liza Minnelli, 15 degrees from Lisa Presley, 14 degrees from Kiefer Sutherland, 17 degrees from Bill Veeck and 17 degrees from Brian Nash on our single family tree. Famous Kin of Mitt Romney . Memorial plaque located on Masonic Temple. George Romney. On April 3, Nurse's younger sister, Sarah Cloyce (or Cloyse), came to Nurse's defense. She was fully exonerated fewer than twenty years later. In the first and much acclaimed television adaption by the BBC in 1980 she was played by Ann Dyson. I am descended from Rebecca Nurse through her son, Samuel Nurse Sr. through my maternal grandfather (Smith line). Nurse was the subject of Lectures on Witchcraft by Charles W. Upham. Rebecca was made famous in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, which was about the witchcraft hysteria in Salem Village. Rebecca Towne Nurse accused Salem witch Salem Witch Trials of 1692: 10th Great Grandmother Sarah (Towne) Cloyes, her sisters (my aunts) Rebecca Nurse & Mary Estey. Francis Jr., born February 3, 1661; died February 5, 1716 at Reading, Massachusetts. Rebeccas great granddaughter Elizabeth Nurse married John Putnams great grandson Caleb. The farm that Nurse and her husband lived on became the center of a long-standing dispute between Townsend Bishop, the farms owner who leased it to the Nurses, and Zerubabel Endicott, a neighbor who disputed the boundary of their adjoining land, according to Emerson Baker in his book A Storm of Witchcraft: The farm that Rebecca and Francis Nurse leased from Reverend James Allen was the focus of a long and complicated boundary dispute between Allen, the Nurses, and the abutting Endicott and Putnam families. #ada-button-frame { 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). According to oral tradition, Nurse's family secretly returned after dark and dug up her body, which they interred properly on their family homestead. This was taken from the book. [citation needed]. 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