Page 75 - September 2022 Magazine - Bumper Edition

We’ll never know why but one of the other accused ‘witches’ shouted across the courtroom “She’s one of us” - Rebecca was asked to respond but remained silent which was taken by the Jury to be an admission of guilt. She was hard of hearing and later explained to her children that she simply had not heard the question.
The jury found her guilty, and she was sentenced to death.
(undoubtedly unjustly) convicted of being witches.
This incredible story of blatant injustice was still not over. In 1706 in front of the congregation of the church in Salem, Ann Putnam, the main prosecution witness, who was primarily responsible for the instigation of the Salem Witch Trials, admitted she had lied. None of the people she accused were, in fact, practising witches and her testimony and ‘fits’ in court were not real.
In yet another twist in this story, she claimed that because of her early age the Devil himself was able to possess her and it was he that was responsible for her actions.
Unbelievably, her (performance) of repentance and re-declaration of her devotion to God, not only convinced the congregation of Salem but also the family of Rebecca, who forgave her.
As a convicted witch, Rebecca was not allowed by church authorities a proper Christian burial and was placed in an unmarked shallow grave. Shortly after, her family removed her body so that she could be buried on the family homestead.
Many years later (in 1885) her descendants had a granite memorial stone made for her final resting place, which today is known as the Rebecca Nurse Homestead Cemetery. It’s in a place called Danvers (previously known as Salem Village). Massachusetts.
It’s the only place where anyone can pay their respects to those that perished in the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
In yet another bizarre turn to this case, the Governor of Massachusetts (in response to the clear evidence of her piety and good character) granted her a reprieve.
The public outcry, led by the Church and fueled by fear and ignorance, resulted in the reprieve being rescinded within days.
So, in accordance with the judgement, Rebecca was publicly hanged, along with four other women
The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - The Shame of Salem | 75