Rebecca Nurse

Background

Rebecca Nurse was born on February 21, 1621 in Yarmouth, England. She was the daughter of William Towne and Joanna (Blessing).

Career

It is not known when Rebecca came to America.

Her husband purchased a farm in Salem Village (the present Danvers) and removed thither with his wife and eight children. The Nurse family were involved in various local squabbles and had acquired some enemies who took advantage of the witchcraft frenzy which started in this community in 1691. By absenting themselves from meeting out of disgust at the commotions raised by "possessed" wenches of Danvers, they attracted unfavorable attention and Rebecca was denounced.

Although she was feeble, ill, and seventy years old, and although thirty-eight respectable citizens testified that "her life and conversation were according to her profession" and had given no cause to be suspected, she was arrested and examined, March 24, 1692, in the presence of her four accusers. She repeatedly denied her guilt: "I can say before my Eternal Father, I am innocent, and God will clear my innocency"; but the wenches counteracted this by throwing fits timed to her every movement. She was indicted on June 2; a jury of women examined her and found what the majority believed to be a mark of the devil. Two of the women, however, dissented, and Goody Nurse petitioned for another examination, a plea which the court evidently disregarded.

At her trial, June 29, the jury at first returned a verdict of "not guilty, " but the judges demanded if they had well considered one expression of the prisoner's, how when she was confronted with one Goody Hobbes, a confessing witch, Mrs. Nurse had muttered, "She is one of us. " The jury retired for further debate, returned to ask the accused what her remark had meant, and, upon receiving no answer from her, reversed their verdict. She later explained that she had only meant that she and Goody Hobbes had been held in prison together, and that "being something hard of hearing and full of grief" she had not been aware of the jury's question. Governor Phips granted her a reprieve, whereupon her accusers renewed their outcry and certain gentlemen of Salem prevailed upon him to recall his order.

On July 3 Rebecca Nurse was solemnly excommunicated by her church and on July 19 was executed at Gallows Hill. With the rapid reaction of the colony from the excesses of the delusion, her innocence speedily became apparent; in 1712 the very pastor who had cast her out of the church had the congregation by a formal and public act cancel the excommunication.

Achievements

• In Howe's novel, Nurse is used as a character foil for the main character, Deliverance Dane. Nurse can also be found as a supporting character in Katherine Howe's historical fiction, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane.

Connections

Rebecca married Francis Nurse, a tray-maker, who lived in Salem, Massachussets. They had eight children.

Father:

William Towne

Mother:

Joanna (Blessing).

Spouse:

Francis Nurse

tray-maker

References

• Salem Witchcraft (Dover Occult)