Background
Isaac Eastey, along with his father in law Jacob Towne, were lifelong enemies of the Putnam family (who were later the main accusers in the witch trials).
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Isaac Eastey
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Career
Isaac played a significant role in the witch trials, which is often overlooked in history. Despite being one of the primary reasons for Mary"s accusation, he desperately tried to clear his wife"s name and put an end to the trials altogether. Early Isaac had been a highly prosperous farmer throughout his life, which resulted in a large and upscale home with a generous owning of land and property.
The tension between the two powerful families originated with bitter warfare over the ownership of woodland.
Isaac and Jacob at one point snuck onto Putnam property and chopped several of their trees down. This, and several other similar incidents, led to a full on, physical confrontation between a band of Putnam men, and several Eastey mentor
However the Putnam clan outnumbered Isaac Eastey and his group, and the Putnam"s proclaimed a victory. Despite this, the feuding over land ownership between the Eastey"s and Putnam"s would last nearly a century.
In 1655, Isaac Eastey married Mary Towne, the couple raised eleven children together, with only three of them surviving into adulthood.
Isaac Junior. (B:1656,Doctorate:1714), Joseph (B:1657,Doctorate:1739), Sarah (B:1660,Doctorate:1749). Not surprisingly, Anne Putnam Junior., Mercy Lewis, and several other young "afflicted" girls in Salem Village viciously accused Mary Eastey of being a witch.
Residents of Salem Village, Topsfield, and other neighboring towns were shocked to learn a woman of such pious character was accused of being a witch.
However, townsfolk were well aware of the bitterness and hostility the Putnam"s held against Isaac Eastey, and Mary"s father, Jacob. Isaac"s wife,Mary was hanged on September 22,1692. Later Isaac and his family did however receive compensation,(20 pounds), from the Massachusetts Bay Colony government, after Mercy Lewis admitted she wrongfully accused Mary of being a witch in 1711.
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Isaac, along with his and Mary"s friends,family,and neighbors, all vigorously tried to defend Mary during her examination and trial, but did not succeed.
Membership
Isaac and Mary were both highly respected members of the Salem Village Church, and the community in general.
