Kelsy Orsini Ms. DelGrego English E

 Rebecca was born and baptized on February 21,  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.

 Rebecca is the daughter of William Towne and Joanna Blessing.  She has two sisters; Mary Easty, and Sarah Cloyes.  She married Francis Nurse in  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.

 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.

 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.

 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.

 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.

 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  The Governor was even on her side and signed a reprieve, but then it was withdrawn when her accusers renewed their statement about her being a witch.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

 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.

 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.

 rials/salem/sal_bnur.htm rials/salem/sal_bnur.htm  irer/rebecca_nurse.htm irer/rebecca_nurse.htm  slipper.hubpages.com/hub/Salem- Witch-Trials slipper.hubpages.com/hub/Salem- Witch-Trials