Rebecca Nurse Homestead Salem Village Witch Witchcraft Trials of 1692 Danvers Massachusetts USA

Rebecca Nurse Salem Witch Trials of 1692

On March 23, 1692, a warrant was issued for Rebecca Nurse arrest based upon accusations made by Edward and John Putnam. Upon hearing of the accusations, the frail 71-year-old Nurse, often described as an invalid, said, "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."

A public outcry greeted the accusations made against her, as she was considered to be a woman of very pious character, who lived in amity with her neighbours, and had a reputation for benevolence as well as piety: even her neighbor Sarah Holton, who had accused Rebecca of acting quite unreasonably in a quarrel over some trespassing pigs, later changed her mind and spoke in Rebecca's defence.[4] Thirty-nine of the most prominent members of the community signed a petition on Nurse's behalf.[5] At age 71, she was one of the oldest accused. The examining magistrates, John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, who normally regarded the guilt of the accused as self-evident, took a notably different attitude in Rebecca's case, as they also did in the case of her sister Mary Eastey. They told Rebecca openly that if she was innocent, they prayed that God would show her innocence, for "it is a sad thing to see church members accused".[6] Hathorne was no doubt influenced by the fact that his sister Elizabeth Porter was a close friend of Rebecca, and one of her staunchest defenders.

Her trial began on June 30, 1692. In accordance with the procedures at the time, Mrs. Nurse, like others accused of witchcraft, represented herself since she was not allowed to have a lawyer. By dint of her respectability, many members of the community testified on her behalf, including her family members. Often the "afflicted" would break into fits and claim Nurse was tormenting them.[8] Such so-called "spectral evidence" was allowed into the trial to show that Satan was afflicting others in the community at the behest of the accused. In response to their outbursts Nurse stated, "I have got nobody to look to but God."

In the end, the jury ruled Nurse not guilty. Due to the public outcry and renewed fits and spasms by the "afflicted", the judges reviewed her case with the jury. One particular point was emphasized, and the jury requested a second chance of deliberation (a legal practice used in those days). The jury asked Rebecca to explain her remark that another accused witch, Deliverance Hobbs, was "of her company", the implication being that they had both signed a pact

Salem Town, Massachusetts Bay Colony, location of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692

Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Reverend John Higginson and daughter Anne Higginson Dolliver estate property currently occupied by the Salem Witch Museum.

Happy Halloween October 31st, The Blessed Samhain Festival, Witch's New Year, All Hallow's Eve, Wiccan Sabbat, Pagan Holiday, Fall Foliage season, Autumn Harvest, Autumnal Equinox, Blessed Mabon, Lammas / Lughnasadh, Haunted Happenings celebrations in Salem Town, Massachusetts Bay Colony, New England, USA

The City of Salem is a coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States and the location of The Salem witch trials of 1692.

The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693.

Salem Town is approximatley 5 miles from Salem Village which is now known as Danvers, Massachusetts

Salem is located approximately 25 miles from Boston and is available via public transportation:
From North Station, take Ipswich or Rockport trains. At Salem station, exit up stairs to Washington St.

For more information on the month of October Haunted Happenings celebrations and parade visit:
Salem Haunted Happenings
Destination Salem
Salem City Hall
93 Washington Street
PO Box 630
Salem, MA 01970
978-744-3663


Salem Witch Museum
19 1/2 N Washington Square,
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-1692



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SALEM ZOMBIE WALK WEEKEND 2022

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Salem Village, Essex county, Commonwealth of Massachusetts state, USA The United States of America country, North America continent
October 1st 2022