12witchtrials

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WITCH TRIALS
and our family
Page 12

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A long stemmed, thorny, black rose, dripping a single drop of deep red blood.

MARY (TOWNE) EASTY

This mother of 7 was accused and
EXECUTED
Later, her family was compensated with 20 pounds
from the government, for her wrongeful execution.

baptised: 24 Aug 1634 at Yarmouth, Norfolk County, New England
married: about 1640 at Watertown, MA
died: 22 Sep 1692 at Salem, Essex, MA

Mary is the sister of REBECCA (TOWNE) NURSE (see page 7)
and sister of SARAH (TOWNE) CLOYCE (see page 14)

Mary Easty and Sarah Elizabeth Rose

are 12th cousins 13 times removed,

through their shared ancestor,

Hawise DE Quincy

1. Mary Easty was the daughter of William Towne, of Yarmouth,
Norfolk County, New England, where she was baptized on
August 24, 1634. Two of Easty's sisters, Rebecca Nurse,
and Sarah Cloyse were also accused of Witchcraft during
the Salem outbreak, although there is ample evidence that
all three were innocent.
At the time of her questioning, Easty was about 58 years
old and was married to Isaac Easty, with whom she had had
seven children. Isaac owned and lived upon a large valuable
farm. Her examination followed the pattern of most in Salem:
the girls had fits, and were speechless at times, and the
magistrate expostulated with her for not confessing her
guilt, which he deemed proven beyond doubt by the
sufferings of the afflicted.
"How far have you complied with Satan?" "Sir, I never
complied with him but pray against him all my days. What
would you have Easty do?" "Confess if you be guilty" "I
will say it, if it was my last time, I am clear of this sin."
During the exam, when Easty clasped her hands together, the
hands of Mary Lewis, one of the afflicted were clenched and
not released until Easty released her hands, and when she
inclined her head, the afflicted girls cried out to have her
straighten her neck, because as long as her head was inclined
their necks were broken.
Easty was committed to prison after her examination. For a
reason not disclosed in any of the remaining records, Easty,
after spending two months in prison, was discharged on the
18th of May. She and her family believed she would now be safe
from further accusations. They were wrong. The release seems
to have been very distasteful to the afflicted girls, they
became determined to not let the matter rest, and redoubled
their energies to get her back into prison. On the 20th, Mary
Lewis spent the entire day experiencing fits of unprecedented
severity, during which time she said she was being strangled,
and claimed "they will kill Easty out right." Several of the
other afflicted girls claimed that they could see the apparition
of Easty afflicting her, and people came from all around to see
the fits. That evening a second warrant was issued for Easty's
arrest. At midnight, after experiencing two days of liberty and
being reunited with her family, Easty was rousted from her sleep
by the marshall, torn from her husband and children, and taken
back to prison where she was loaded with chains. Once Easty was
back in prisons with chains, Lewis's fits stopped.
Easty was tried and condemned to death on September 9th. She was
executed on September 22, despite an eloquent plea to the court
to reconsider and not spill any more innocent blood. The court
had long since ceased to pay any attention to anything that was
said by the condemned. On the gallows she prayed for a end to the
witch hunt.
Easty's parting communications with her husband and children were
said by those who were present to have been "as serious, religious,
distinct, and affectionate as could be expressed, drawing tears from
the eyes of almost all present."
In November, after Easty had been put to death, Mary Herrick gave
testimony about Easty. Herrick testified that she was visited by
Easty who told her she had been put to death wrongfully and was
innocent of witchcraft, and that she had come to vindicate her cause.
Easty's family was compensated with 20 pounds from the government
in 1711 for her wrongful execution. --KS
The above came from:
http://womenshistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/
offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=womenshistory
&cdn=education&tm=9&f=00&tt=14&bt=1&bts
=1&zu=http%3A//www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/
projects /ftrials/salem/SAL_BEAS.HTM Mary Easty
And I thank them for it.
An animated picture of a crystal dangling from a necklace chain

2. THE EXAMINATION OF MARY EASTY, APRIL 22, 1692

At a Court held at Salem village 22.Apr. 1692 By the Hon. John
Hathorne & Jonathan Corwin. At the bringing in of the the accused
severall fell into fits.

Doth this woman hurt you? [EXAMINERS' NOTE: Many mouths were stopt,
& several other fits seized them Abig: Williams said it was Goody
Eastie, & she had hurt her, the like said Mary Walcot, & Ann Putman,
John indian said her saw her with Goody Hobbs.] What do you say,
are you guilty?

EASTY: I can say before Christ Jesus, I am free.

You see these accuse you. There is a God-- Hath she brought the book
to you? Their mouths were stopt. What have you done to these children?

E: I know nothing.

How can you say you know nothing, when you see these tormented, &
accuse you that you know nothing? Would you have me accuse my self?

E: Yes if you be guilty.

How far have you complyed w'th Satan whereby he takes this
advantage ag't you?

E: Sir, I never complyed but prayed against him all my dayes,
I have no complyance with Satan in this. What would you have me do?

Confess if you be guilty.

E: I will say it, if it was my last time, I am clear of this sin.

Of what sin?

E: Of witchcraft.

Are you certain this is the woman?

[EXAMINERS' NOTE: Never a one could speak for fits.By and by Ann
Putman said that was the woman, it was like her, & she told me
her name; It is marvailous to me that you should sometimes think
they are bewitcht, & sometimes not, when severall confess that
I never knew? Her hands were clincht together, & then the hands
of Mercy Lewis was clincht Look now you hands are open, her
hands are open. Is this the woman? They made signes but could not
speak, but Ann Putman afterwards Betty Hubbard cryed out Oh, Goody
Easty, Goody Easty you are the woman, you are the woman Put up her
head, for while her head is bowed the necks of these are broken.]

What do you say to this?

E: Why God will know.

Nay God knows now.

E: I know he dos.

What did you think of the actions of others before your sisters
came out, did you think it was Witchcraft?

E: I cannot tell.

Why do you not think it is Witchcraft?

E: It is an evil spirit, but wither it be witchcraft I do not know,

[EXAMINERS' NOTE:Sevrall said she brought them the Book and then
they fell into fits.]

Salem Village March 24'th. 1691/2.

Mr Sam'l parris being disired to take in wrighting the Examination
of Mary Eastie hath delivered itt as aforesaid

Upon heareing the aforesaid, and seeing what wee then did see,
togeather with the Charge: of the persons then present Wee
Committed s'd. Mary Easte to theire Majest's Goale

John Hathorne
Jonathan.Corwin

The above came from:
http://womenshistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1
/XJ/Ya&sdn=womenshistory&cdn=education&tm=2&f=00&tt=14&bt=1&b
ts=1&zu=http%3A//www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/ASA_EASX.HTM
and I thank them for it. A long stemmed, thorny, black rose, dripping a single drop of deep red blood.

E MAIL ME

PAGE 1 WITCHTRIALS KATHERINE PALMER	PAGE 2 WITCHTRIALS MARY BRADBURY Part 1	PAGE 3 WITCHTRIALS MARY BRADBURY Part 2	PAGE 4 WITCHTRIALS ELIZABETH KNAPP Part 1	PAGE 5 WITCHTRIALS ELIZABETH KNAPP Part 2	PAGE 6 WITCHTRIALS SUSANNAH (NORTH) MARTIN
PAGE 7 WITCHTRIALS REBECCA (TOWNE) NURSE	PAGE 8 WITCHTRIALS MARY (BLISS) PARSONS Part 1	PAGE 9 WITCHTRIALS MARY PARSONS Part 2	PAGE 10 WITCHTRIALS SARAH WILSON SR. & JR. Part 1	PAGE 11 WITCHTRIALS SARAH WILSON Part 2	PAGE 13 WITCHTRIALS INFANT DAUGHTER DEWOLF
PAGE 14 WITCHTRIALS SARAH (TOWNE) CLOYCE Part 1	PAGE 15 WITCHTRIALS SARAH CLOYCE Part 2	PAGE 16 WITCHTRIALS ELIZABETH (HUTCHINS) HART	PAGE 17 WITCHTRIALS ANNE PUTNAM	PAGE 18 WITCHTRIALS EARLY CT LAWS

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