Austin CocoMs. DelGrego

Junior English III CP

11/3/11

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