Mary Towne "Salem Witch Trial-Hung"

Mary Towne Eastey was born Mary Towne in 1634 at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, to William Towne and Joanna Towne, née Blessing. The supplied family notes give her baptism as 24 August 1634. She was one of eight children. Her sisters Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Cloyce were also later accused during the Salem witch trials.

The Towne family moved to America about 1640, according to the supplied notes. Mary married Isaac Estey in 1655 at Topsfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Isaac was described as a farmer and barrel-maker. Their children are listed as Joseph, Sarah, John, Isaac, Hannah, Benjamin, Samuel, Jacob, Joshua, Jeffrey, and Isaac; the repeated name Isaac appears in the supplied list.

In 1692 Mary Eastey became a defendant in the Salem witch trials. At her examination on 22 April, Mercy Lewis and other afflicted persons made accusations based upon Eastey's movements and alleged spectral attacks. When asked by magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin how far she had complied with Satan, Eastey answered, “Sir, I never complyed with Satan but prayed against him all my dayes, I have no complyance with Satan, in this ... I will say it, if it is my last time, I am clear of this sin.”

She was released from prison on 18 May 1692, for reasons not given in the supplied material. Two days later, Mercy Lewis again claimed to be afflicted by Eastey's specter, and other girls supported the claim. A second warrant was issued that night. Eastey was returned to prison and was later tried and condemned to death on 9 September.

Mary Eastey submitted a final petition to the court. In it, she did not ask for her own life, but appealed that no more innocent people be condemned. The petition included the words: “I petition your honours not for my own life for I know I must die and my appointed time is set but the Lord he knows it is that no more innocent blood be shed.....the Lord above that is the searcher of all hearts knows that as I shall answer at the Tribunal seat I never knew the least thing of witchcraft”.

Eastey was hanged at Salem on 22 September 1692. Those executed with her were Martha Corey, Ann Pudeator, Alice Parker, Mary Parker, Wilmot Redd, Margaret Scott, and Samuel Wardwell. Robert Calef later described her farewell to her family as serious, religious, distinct, and affectionate. The supplied notes state that, at the gallows, she prayed for an end to the witch hunt.

Her sister Rebecca Nurse had been hanged on 19 July 1692. Their sister Sarah Cloyce, also accused, was released in January 1693. The supplied notes further state that Mary Herrick testified in November 1692 that Eastey's ghost had appeared to her and declared that Eastey had been wrongfully put to death and was innocent of witchcraft.

In 1711, Eastey's family received 20 pounds from the government for her wrongful execution, according to the supplied notes. Her husband Isaac was said to have lived until 11 June 1712.