Rebecca NurseKelsy Orsini

Ms. DelGregoEnglish E

Birth/Childhood Rebecca was born on February 21,

1621. 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.

Family Life Rebecca is the daughter of William Towne

and Joanna Blessing. She has two sisters; Mary Easty, and

Sarah Cloyes. She married Francis Nurse in 1642. They had eight children together. Both Rebecca’s sister’s and her mother

were also accused of witchcraft. Mary and her mother were killed but

Sarah was released.

Education 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 learned how

to take care of a house and how to manage children.

She learned to sew, clean, cook. Rebecca learned to manage a house She had to attend church services.

Career/religious practice 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.

Involvement in the Salem WitchHysteria

After finding out a couple of women’s names who were involved, Rebecca found out that she was becoming a suspect.

Edward and John Putnam put in a complaint and got her arrested.

"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.“

Involvement One reason she was accused was because of all

the Disputes she had with the Putnam family. Rebecca was then indicted on June 2 and had a

physical examination by a jury of women. 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.

Involvement 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a reprieve, but then it was withdrawn when her accusers renewed their statement about her being a witch.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

Death 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.

At midnight on the night Rebecca was hanged, Francis and her kids found her body and carried it home for a proper burial.

Work Cited HubPages. "The True Story of Rebecca Nurse." Salem

Witch Craft. HubPages, 23 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://ruby-slipper.hubpages.com/hub/Salem-Witch-Trials>.

Linder, Douglas O. "The Trial of Rebecca Nurse." Salem Witch Trials. N.p., 14 Mar. 1995. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/sal_bnur.htm

Perley, Sidney S. "Rebecca Nurse: A Tragedy of Injustice." Colonial Gazette. National Geographic, 1924. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/enquirer/rebecca_nurse.htm>.