Mary TOWNE

1634 - 1692  (58 years)

• Name	Mary TOWNE
  Birth	1634	Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
  Christening	24 Aug 1634	Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
  Gender	Female
  FamilySearch ID	LBMP-LLG
  Death	22 Sep 1692	Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America
  	Cause: Execution by hanging
  Burial	25 Sep 1692	Burying Point Cemetery, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America
  Notes	Mary Towne Estey (many variations of Estey/Easty/Estie) was the daughter of William Towne and Joanna Blessing of Yarmouth, Norfolk County, England, where she was baptized on August 24, 1634. She was married to Isaac Estey, with whom she had 7 surviving children. Mary, along with two of her sisters (Sarah and Rebecca) were accused of witchcraft during the Salem outbreak, and all three were innocent. Rebecca and Mary did not escape a martyr's death during this time. Mary died and her parting communications with her husband and children were said by those present to have been as "serious, religious, distinct, and affectionate as could be expressed, drawing tears from the eyes of almost all present." she was Hanged on Sept. 22, 1692. Mary was sentenced to death on 9 September 1692. She accepted her fate with calm resignation. After her sentencing and saying her last farewells to her family, Mary bravely addressed the court and the governor with a petition so eloquent and keenly distressing as to evoke tears from almost all present: "Your poor and humble petitioner, knowing my own innocence (blessed be the Lord for it)...and seeing clearly the wiles and subtlety of my accusers... I petition to your honors not for my own life, for I know I must die and my appointed time is set. But the Lord he knows that if it is possible no more innocent blood may be shed, which undoubtedly cannot be avoided in the way and course you go in. I question not but your honors does to the utmost of your power in the discovery and selection of witchcraft and witches, and would not be guilty of innocent blood for the world. But by my own innocence I know you are in the wrong way. The Lord in his infinite mercy direct you in this great work. If it be his blessed will that no more innocent blood be shed I would humbly beg of you that your honors would be pleased to examine these afflicted persons strictly and keep them apart some time, and likewise to try some of these confessing witches, I being confident there is several of them has belied themselves and others, as well appear if not in this world, I am sure in the world to come whither I am now going. And I question not but you'll see an alteration of these things, they myself and others having made a league with the Devil we cannot confess. I know and the Lord knows, as will shortly appear, they belie me and so I question not but they do others...The Lord knows that... I know not the least thing of witchcraft, therefore I cannot, I dare not belie my own soul. I beg your honors not to deny this as my humble petition from a poor dying innocent person and I question not but the Lord will give a blessing to your endeavors."
  Person ID	I2679	Main
  Last Modified	13 May 2020

  
  

  Father	William TOWNE,   b. 18 Mar 1599, Heydour, Lincolnshire, England d. 24 Jun 1673, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America (Age 74 years)
  Mother	Joan BLESSING,   b. Bef 22 Jun 1595, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England d. 10 Apr 1683, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America (Age > 87 years)
  Marriage	25 Apr 1620	St. Nicholas Church, Braceby, Lincolnshire, England
  Family ID	F844	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Isaac ESTEY,   c. 17 Nov 1627, Freston, Suffolk, England d. 11 Jun 1712, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, United States (Age ~ 84 years)
  Marriage	1655	Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, United States
  Children	1. Isaac ESTEY, Jr.,   b. 1656, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America d. Apr 1714, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America (Age 58 years)   2. Joseph ESTEY,   b. 5 Feb 1658, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, British Colony d. 25 Oct 1739, Stoughton, Massachusetts, British Colony (Age 81 years)   3. Sarah ESTEY,   b. 30 Jun 1660, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America d. 29 Jun 1749, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America (Age 88 years)   4. John ESTEY,   b. 2 Jan 1662, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America d. 1720, Middleton, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America (Age 57 years)   5. Hannah EASTY,   b. 1667, Topsfield, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, British Colonial America d. 5 Nov 1741, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America (Age 74 years)   6. Benjamin ESTEY,   b. 29 Apr 1669, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America d. 28 Mar 1750, Stoughton, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America (Age 80 years)   7. Samuel ESTEY,   b. 25 Mar 1672, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, United States d. Abt 1708 (Age 35 years)   8. Jacob ESTEY,   b. 24 Jan 1674, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, British Colonial America d. 3 Oct 1732, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, British Colonial America (Age 58 years)   9. Joshua ESTEY,   b. 2 Jul 1678, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America d. 25 Apr 1718, Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, United States (Age 39 years)
  Family ID	F971	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	28 Oct 2024