Rebecca NurseKelsy Orsini

Ms. DelGregoEnglish E

Birth/Childhood Rebecca was born and baptized on

February 21, 1621. She was raised in Yarmouth, England

and lived there all of her child life and a portion of her adult life.

Rebecca moved to Salem when she was 24 with the rest of her family before the witchcraft hysteria began.

Family Life Rebecca is the daughter of William

Towne and Joanna Blessing. She has two sisters; Mary Easty, and

Sarah Cloyes. She married Francis Nurse in 1642. They had eight children together. At midnight on the night Rebecca was

hanged, Francis and her kids found her body and carried it home for a proper burial.

Education Rebecca learned very little because she was

a women and because of the time period. The only thing she was educated on was the

Holy Bible. When she went to school, she was only

educated on how to take care of a house and how to manage children.

She learned to sew, clean, cook. Rebecca learned to manage a house and

how to attend church services.

Career/religious practice She was a midwife and stayed home all

day to take care of her eight children. She cleaned the house, cooked the

meals, took care of the animals and also looked out for the children and their best interest.

She was the most respected person in her community.

Rebecca was one of the most religious people in her community.

Involvement in the Salem WitchHysteria

After finding out a couple of women’s names who were involved, Rebecca found out that she was becoming a suspect.

"I am innocent as the child unborn, but surely, what sin hath God found out in me unrepented of that He should lay such an affliction on me in my old age.“

After saying this, Edward and John Putnam put in a complaint and got her arrested.

Involvement Rebecca was then indicted on June 2 and had a

physical examination by a jury of women. One reason she was accused was because of all

the Disputes she had with the Putnam family. During the search, some judges found what they

thought was “a mark of the devil” but 2 judges thought it was naturally caused.

Rebecca’s son, son-in-law and daughter-in-law spoke in her defense and over 40 people from the community signed a declaration about defending her character.

Involvement At first, the jury came back with the verdict

“not guilty”. The Governor was even on her side and signed

a reprieve, but then it was withdrawn when her accusers renewed their statement about her being a witch.

After a while, and a second look at everything, the judges came back with the verdict of guilty.

She was accused by four girls who initiated the witch craft hysteria and several members of the Putnam family

Death She was put to trial when she was 71

years old. She was hanged on July 19, 1692 in

New England along with Sarah Good, Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe, and Sarah Wildes.

Interesting facts Both Rebecca’s sister’s and her mother were also

accused of witchcraft. Mary and her mother were killed but Sarah was

released. “This venerable lady, whose conversation and bearing

were so truly saint-like, was an invalid of extremely delicate condition and appearance, the mother of a large family, embracing sons, daughters, grandchildren, and one or more great-grand children. She was a woman of piety, and simplicity of heart.” This was said about Rebecca after she was accused of witch craft.

One of her signers for the petition was someone who had first accused her. Jonathon Putnam.

Work Cited http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects

/ftrials/salem/sal_bnur.htm http://

www.mayflowerfamilies.com/enquirer/rebecca_nurse.htm

http://ruby-slipper.hubpages.com/hub/Salem-Witch-Trials