Our Salem Witch
April 10, 2009 by Luxegen Genealogy and Family History
Filed under Massachusetts, Scotland, USA, genealogy
The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex counties of colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693. Over 150 people were arrested and imprisoned, with even more accused but not formally pursued by the authorities. The two courts convicted twenty-nine people of the capital felony of witchcraft. Nineteen of the accused, fourteen women and five men, were hanged.*
One of those women, Mary EASTEY was my husband’s 7th Great Grandmother.
Mary Towne Eastey (also spelled Esty, Easty, Estey, or Estye) (August 24, 1634—September 22, 1692) was a victim of the Salem witch trials of 1692. Mary’s sisters, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Cloyce, were also accused of 
witchcraft; Rebecca was executed, but Sarah was not.**
Mary gave an impassioned appeal to the judge that brought tears to the eyes of the spectators but to no avail. She was tried and condemned to death on September 9, 1642. She was hanged, along with 7 others on September 22, 1642. To read more check out the references at the end of this post.
Our connection, partially shown on the left, leads to New Brunswick to our Ira MILLER who married Salome Estey HARTLEY.
Are you related to any of the Salem witches? Are you related to our Salem Witch Mary Eastey?
Comments are welcomed.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Eastey
I descend from their daughter, Sarah. Several geneabloggers descend from one of the Towne sisters.
Hi Joan, I came across your site in searching my roots in New Brunswick, I’m a Jamieson, descended from Samuel Jamieson/Jameson/Jemison (take your pick!) and Mary P. Miller whom I thought was the daughter of Salome Hartley Miller, but when I see your Ira Miller genealogy, now I’m not sure. I’m looking for Samuel’s father and mother. I was told they were John Jemison and Harriet Pine but I can’t find anything linking them to Samuel. One curious thing though is that Samuel is listed as Native in the 1851 census, then English/Scot is the 1881 census. When I do find a listing for a John Jemison and Harriet Pine the same is true of them. Have you come across this?
And do you have a Mary P. Miller in your Miller genealogy.
Thanks,
Nora
Hi Nora,
I do have a Mary “Polly” Miller born about 1804, died June 16, 1887 who was married to George Hillman. This is from the research of another individual and I’ve hadn’t a a chance to verify the connection to our family yet. I don’t have a mother and father for her listed.
We have a Salome Estey Hartley married to our Ira Miller with many children listed (source: census records)
I looked for Jameisons (any spelling variation) in our database and ancestry.ca and didn’t find it.
Good luck with your research and thanks for stopping by.
Joan
Hi Joan, thanks. I realize that we are related, Salome Estey Hartley was married to Ira Miller, their daughter Mary P. Miller married Samuel Jameson in New Brunswick, Canada and had my grandfather, Theodore Jamieson.
Nora
trying to find out what rebecca nurse was teaching or practicing she is my great great grandmother.
yes
Hi Nora,
It is always great to find a connection. (this is why I have my webpages – for the family connections!) I will be in touch to compare notes with you.
Joan
Hi Mark,
Thanks for stopping by. I’m afraid I don’t know much about Rebecca Nurse other than her famous last words before she was hanged “Oh Lord, help me! It is false. I am clear. For my life now lies in your hands”. *
I suggest visiting libraries or achives to get the complete story. Libraries can do interlibrary loans. Check out worldcat.org to see what is available.
Good luck!
Joan
*Source: “Witchcraft Hysteria in Colonial New England” by Janet Elaine Smith, Heritage Quest Magazine September/October 2002 Volume 18. Number 5. Issue 101.