My aunt is working on our genealogy, and look what she found! So very cool! ... as I continue to work on our family history, I want to share what Ive found - enjoy the read! STARK Family History – and the Salem Witch Trials: In 1692, the black cloud of the witchcraft delusion descended upon Salem Village. Rebecca (Towne) Nurse was a 71-year-old invalid who had raised a family of eight children. She was among Salems most respected and religious citizens. Her story has been written in many historical and fictionalized accounts of the trials, including Arthur Millers play The Crucible. On March 23 a warrant was issued for her arrest upon the complaint of Edward and John Putnam. (The Putnam family was among those that had been involved in land disputes with Rebecca and her husband Francis Nurse). Rebecca was tried on June 29, 1692. Her accusers included the four young girls who initiated the witchcraft hysteria in Salem, Rev. Parris and several members of the Putnam family. 40 members of Salem Village and members of her own family signed a declaration defending her character. The jury at first returned a verdict of not guilty. The Governor granted a reprieve, but when Rebeccas accusers renewed their outcry it was withdrawn. On July 3, Rebecca Nurse was excommunicated -- abandoned to the devil and eternally damned. On July 19 she was driven in a cart with four other women to Gallows Hill where she was hung. One of Rebeccas sisters, Mary (Towne) Estey, was also hung on charges of being a witch. In all, 20 people were put to death (including five men), and eight others died in jail. The trials ended September 1692 because too many people of good reputation had been accused. By 1703 the General Court made payments to the heirs of the victims and 25 pounds was paid to the heirs of Rebecca Nurse. In 1706, Ann Putnam, one of the original four hysterical young women, made a written statement of remorse. She said that the devil had deceived her into accusing innocent people and mentioned Goodwife Nurse in particular. In 1712 the pastor who had cast Rebecca out of the church formally cancelled the excommunication. (I am left to wonder if the Putnam family won the land dispute they had with Rebecca and her husband). Rebecca Nurse emigrated with her family from Norfolk, England to Salem, Massachusetts in 1640 when she was 19 years old. In 1644 she married Francis Nurse and raised a family of eight children: John, Rebecca, Samuel, Mary, Francis, Sarah, Elizabeth and Benjamin. Our family line follows: 1. Rebecca Towne (Nurse) (1621-1692) 2. Elizabeth Nurse (Russell) (1665-1734) 3. Robert Russell (1685-1753) 4. Faith Russell (Bailey) (1715-1748) 5. Joseph Bailey Sr. (1730-1809) 6. Mary Bailey (Hicks) (1764-1838) 7. Martha Ann Hicks (Whitworth) (1785-1850) 8. Richard F. Whitworth (1806-1875) 9. Nancy Jane Whitworth (Stark) (1836-1879) 10. Fields Christopher Stark (1856-1945) 11. Thomas Theodore Stark (1898-1982) wife: Flora (1905-1986) 12. “Tom & Flora’s 8 children” (my father Ken 1933-1981) 13. “Tom & Flora’s 23 grandchildren” (me, my 3 siblings, and 19 cousins) 14. “Tom & Flora’s great-grandchildren” (my 4 children, 3 nieces, 9 nephews & about 70 2nd cousins) 15. “Tom & Flora’s great-great-grandchildren” (my 8 grandchildren and about 200 3rd cousins) ATTN Relatives: I would love to have photos of our ancestors - if you have any tucked away in a shoebox or an old photo album, please let me know. Many thanks. I went online and looked for pictures and found these:
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 18:49:41 +0000
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