Kate Eveland Miss DelGrego

English III CP E

MARY EASTY

My name is Mary Easty and I was born to William Towne

and Joanna Blessing Towne. My birthplace was in Great

Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, and I was baptized on August

24, 1634 in the Saint Nicholas Parish Church.

BIRTH

MAP OF ENGLAND

My family and I moved to America around 1640, where my

sister Sarah was born. Like any young girl during my

childhood, I helped my mother with the household and

learned how to run it so I could run my own household in

my future. My sisters and I were very helpful to our mother

by helping her with the simple chores, but sometimes we

were being childish and got in her way.

CHILDHOOD

My parents are William Towne and Joanna Blessing Towne, and I

was one of eight children.

Rebecca, later called Rebecca Nurse, and Sarah, later to be called

Sarah Cloyse, are my sisters. Sadly they were also accused of

Witchcraft during the Salem outbreak, although there was plenty of

evidence that proves they were innocent. Rebecca was hanged, but

luckily Sarah was able to out live the Salem witch hysteria.

I had four brothers: John, Edmund, Jacob, and Joseph. Including

Rebecca and Sarah, I had one other sister and her name was

Suzanna.

FAMILY

Most of my education was in my childhood home and it

included simple reading, so I could read the Bible and other

important literature. My older siblings helped me learn how

to do the basic things because my mother was so busy

running the house. I was also taught how to write.

EDUCATION

I married Isaac Easty, a well-to-do farmer born in England,

1655. We had eleven children, but sadly only seven survived

to see their days in childhood. Together Isaac and I lived

across the street from my parents in Topsfield on a lovely

farm. Isaac became a well known figure in town and

became a selectman in the town.

HUSBAND AND CHILDREN

I ran the household day to day, and my daughters helped

me do simple chores like I did with my mother. My sons

helped their father in the field in the Spring, Summer, and

Harvest season.

I was also a well respected, kind religious woman, and I

would be found at the church every Sunday.

CAREER

I formed into the Puritan religion so I was dedicated to the

church. My Sundays were always spent at the church. My

regular visits and visitors were other religious households

like mine. Some were just to visit, but others were for

prayer groups.

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

In April 1692, I was accused of witchcraft. The accusation shocked my

village. Unlike some of the other alleged witches, I was not a social

outcast or an outspoken woman who may have offended the villagers.

Perhaps the accusation was inspired by envy or maybe I was a likely

target after the conviction of my sister, Rebecca. 

At the time of my questioning, I was about 58 years. My examination

followed the pattern of most in Salem. The girls that accused me had fits

and were speechless at times. The magistrate argued with me for not

confessing my guilt, which he deemed proven beyond doubt by the

sufferings of the afflicted.

SALEM WITCH HYSTERIA INVOLVEMENT

I was calm and respectful during my examination this part of the examination with the magistrate proves it,

‘“How far have you complied with Satan.’

‘Sir, I never complied with him but pray against him all my days. What would you have Easty do?’

‘Confess if you be guilty’

‘I will say it, if it was my last time, I am clear of this sin.’ (Easty and Magistrate)

During the exam, when I clasped my hands together, the hands of Mary Lewis, one of the so called “afflicted”, were clenched

and she did not release until I released my hands. When I inclined my head, the “afflicted” girls cried out, because as long

as my head was inclined their necks were broken.

SALEM WITCH HYSTERIA INVOLVEMENT

The “afflicted” girls’ cries were consistent, and I was sent

to the Salem Jail. After two months, I was released back to

my family. My family and I thought that I was safe from

further prosecution, but we were wrong. Apparently the

“afflicted” girls were not pleased with my release. Their fits

became more frequent, especially the fits of Mercy Lewis.

SALEM WITCH HYSTERIA INVOLVEMENT

An officer woke me from my sleep and took me from my

husband and children to be brought back to jail. When I

was back in a cell, confined with chains, Lewis’s fits

stopped. I was tried on September 9, despite my plea,

“I never complied, but prayed against [Satan] all my days

… I will say it, if it was my last time, I am clear of this sin.”

No one in the village was able to change what my fate was.

SALEM WITCH HYSTERIA INVOLVEMENT

I was hanged on September 22nd, 1692.

Before my execution, I wrote a letter to the judges asking

that “no more innocent blood be shed.” My letter raised

sympathy and doubt in Salem Village, but still no one could

save me.

Five years after my death I was proven innocent like my

sisters.

DEATH

"Mary Eastey-Salem Village." Victims. Salemfocus, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.

     <http://salemfocus.com/Victims.htm>.

Mary Easty. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/

     projects/ftrials/salem/sal_beas.htm>.

"Mary Easty." Witch Caves, Salem End Road, Esty. Ed. David V. Boudillion. N.p.,

     n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://www.boudillion.com/witchcaves/

     witchcaves.htm>.

"Mary Towne Easty." "Witches" of Massachusetts. Legends of America, n.d. Web. 14

     Oct. 2012. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-witches-e.html>.

WORK CITED

Salem Witch Trials Important Persons. Mary Easty, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.

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     texts/names.xml&style=salem/xsl/

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Salem Witch Trials- The People- Mary Easty. Discovery Education, n.d. Web. 14

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     salemwitchtrials/people/easty.html>.

Odrowaz-Sypniewska, Margaret. "The Children Of William Towne." The Towne Family

     Line. Angelfire, 3 Sept. 2005. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.

     <http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/Towne.html>.

WORK CITED