She was hanged as a Witch in Salem MA in 1692 along with her sister Mary Estey
Daughter of Thomas Browning
She was hanged a witch in Salem MA in 1692 as was her sister Rebecca Nurse
Mary Towne was 58 years old when she was accused of witchcraft in Salem in 1692. Her older sister Rebecca Towne Nurse was accused and hanged. Her sister Sarah was imprisoned accused of witchcraft and subsequently escaped with the help of friends and relatives. Mary's impassioned plea to the general court shows her enormous courage and intelligence in the face of certain death.
It is unknown if this petition was written in her own hand or was written for her and if so by who.
"Your poor and humble petitioner, being condemned to die, do humbly beg of you to take it into your judicious and pious considerations that your poor and humble petitioner, knowing my own innocency, blessed be the Lord for it, and seeing plainly the wiles and subtleties of my accusers...cannot but judge charitably of others that are going the same way [as] myself...I petition to your honours not for my own life for I know I must die and my appointe time is set.
...I question not but your honours would not be guilty of innocent blood for the world but by my own innocency I know that 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 honours 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 that has belied themselves and others as will appear if not in this world I am sure in the world to come whither I am going... The ord above who is the searcher of all hearts knows that as I shall answer it at the tribunal seat that I know not the least thing of witchcraft, therefore I cannot, I dare not, bely my own soul. I beg your honours not to deny this my humble petition from a poor dying innocent person and I question not but The Lord will give a blessing to your endeavors"Mary was accused by children and servants of Ann Carr Putnam and Reverend Samuel Parris who were involved in a convoluted land disagreement with the Nurse family and were on opposite political sides in a controversy over the tenure of Reverend Parris in the Salem Church. There is some controversy over reasons for the Children's "affliction" from behavioral problems to moldy wheat. In reading the various sources this writer believes that the children exhibited behavoral disturbances associated today with abuse. The life style of the Puritan family in that time period seems to support this. There are many books written on this subject and the history of it is too lengthy to be adequately handled here.
Isaac was a cooper by trade. He owned land in Topsfield home was located on Main street.
Isaac's reaction to the arrest, trial and Conviction of his wife Mary is not recorded save for his life long crusade to have her conviction reversed and won renumeration on behalf of his family for their loss.
She was convicted of Witchcraft in 1692 but was not hanged as were her Sisters
Sarah (Towne) (Bridges) Cloyse was imrisoned and accused of witchcraft after listening to a sermon by Rev Parris in which he maligned her sisters. She left in a huff and slammed the church door (or some say the wind took it and slammed it) She was spirited out of prison in the fall of 1692 by freinds who visited her in prison. She was hidden by friends in Topsfield until the spring of 1693 when she joined her family in hiding in Framingham MA. The family lived in caves in Framingham for several months until local officials agreed not to punish them.
Source: The Framingham Connection: Joyce Cunningham About Towne Towne Family Association quarterly newsletter; Framingham Historical Reflections
Martha E Dewar and M. Joan Gilbert 1975Middlesex Daily News Framingham MA October 31, 1991 Jason Levine