Post on 13-Dec-2015
Birth and Death of Goody NurseBorn Rebecca Towne in 1621
Born to William Towne and Joanna BlessingBorn in England
Yarmouth, Norfolk County
Died in 1692Hanged with 4 other womenSalem Witch Trials
Moving to SalemGoody Nurse moved before married
Moved- 1640 Wasn’t only Towne
Sisters Mary and Sarah moved too
Married- 1645 Francis Nurse
Constable- 1672 Tray maker
Family in SalemGoody Nurse started a family in Salem
8 kids 4 boys
John Nurse Samuel Nurse Francis Nurse Benjamin Nurse
4 girls Rebecca Nurse Sarah Nurse Mary Nurse Elizabeth Nurse
What was Goody Nurse’s Reputation?
PietyAttended church regularly
GoodnessMother of 8
Children good71 y/o
Elderly rarely have strength for witchcraft
Who, When, Why was Goody Nurse Accused?
Who:Edward PutnamJohn Putnam
When:March 23, 1692- warrant issued
Why:Land
Nurse family involved in land disputes w/neighbors Putnam family included
The TrialWhen:
March 24, 1692Who presided:
Judge John Hawthorne Jonathan Corwin assisted
Who testified against:Reluctant to testify
Betty Parris Abagail Williams Sarah Holton
Who Came to Goody Nurse’s Aid?Testifiers for Goody Nurse
Nathaniel Putnam Sr., John Putnam Sr. Israel + Elizabeth Porter Daniel Andrew Peter Cloyce
Petition of 40 namesOther, private petitions also circulated
The Verdict:Originally “Not Guilty”
June 30Asked to reconsider
“One of us”- Nurse Never responded why
She was hard of hearing She meant “also being tried”
Jury returned with “Guilty”June 30Granted a reprieve by Governor Phips
Retracted
ExcommunicationGoody Nurse excommunicated July 3
Excommunication: cut off from churchRev. Samuel Parris
Father of Betty Parris Testified against Goody Nurse
Uncle of Abigail Williams Testified against Goody Nurse
DeathCarted to death
July 19With 4 othersHanged
Gallows Hill Body in shallow mass grave
Francis, sons, sons-in-law supposedly buried Goody Nurse at family burial grounds
AftermathAnn Putnam apologized- 1706
Mentioned Goody Nurse specifically in apologyExcommunication lifted- 1712General Court of Britain paid for losses- 1703
25 poundsGoody Nurse’s heirs
A Family Heritage of WitchcraftMary Estey
Goody Nurse’s sisterTried
Found guilty Hanged
Ann CloyceGoody Nurse’s sisterTried
Not killed
Works CitedDrake, Samuel Adams. “Nooks and corners of the New
England coast.” Mayflowerfamilies.com. 1998. 2 Nov.2011
http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/enquirer/rebecca_nurse.htm.
Linder, Douglas O. “Rebecca Nurse.” Famous American Trials: Salem Witch Trials 1692. 2009. 2 Nov. 2011
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_BNUR.HTM
Madden, Matt. “Examination of Rebecca Nurse of Salem Village.” Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Process. 2001. 2 Nov. 2011
http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/people/nursecourt.html