Sarah TOWNE

1637 - 1703  (66 years)

• Name	Sarah TOWNE
  Birth	11 Jan 1637	Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, United States
  Christening	3 Sep 1648	Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America
  Gender	Female
  FamilySearch ID	LZSS-S4L
  Death	21 Mar 1703	Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America
  Notes	The sister of Rebecca Nurse and Mary Estey, both of whom were convicted of witchcraft and hanged during the Salem Witch Trials. Sarah was accused herself and condemned and jailed. Sarah's parents, William and Joanna Towne, were married in St. Nicholas' church. "In this church, founded in A.D. 1123, dedicated to St. Nicholas, in 1251, and still retaining the name were married, March 25, 1620, William Towne and Joanna Blessing, and here their six first children were baptised." William and Joanna (Blessing) Towne emigrated to Salem, Massachusetts in 1635. They had two more children in Salem. Birth/Baptism: 3 day, 7 month, 1648 (3 Sept, their calendar began in March) Sarah Towne first married Edmund Bridges, son of Edmund and Alice Bridges, at Salem, Massachusetts, on 11 Jan 1659/60. He died by 1682, and Sarah married second Peter Cloyes, son of John and Abigail Cloyes. On April 4, 1692, a conspiracy complaint was filed against Sarah Cloyse. On April 11, 1692, she was arrested. She was examined before Thomas Danforth (the deputy governor), Issac Addington (the secretary of the province), John Hawthorne, Major Samuel Appleton, James Russell, Captain Samuel Sewall, and Jonathan Corwin. The last five were Assistants to the Governor and were members of the upper legislative chamber. She refused to confess. In response to testimony by John Indian, she said: "Oh! You are a grievous liar." She was imprisoned at Salem and was later moved to Boston. Sarah's sister, Rebecca (Towne) Nurse, was executed for witchcraft by the government on July 19, 1692 at Salem. Sarah's sister Mary (Towne) Estey (or Eastey) was hanged on September 22, 1692, with seven others accused of witchcraft. Sarah defended her sisters, and was accused herself of witchcraft but was never indicted. On January 3, 1693, the Superior Court of Judicature at Salem dismissed the charges against her. Her husband paid the prison fees. They left Salem and moved to Marlborough, Massachusetts. The later moved to Sudbury, Massachusetts. Years later, after the mania had passed, the preachers involved asked forgiveness, and the government made restitution to the families.
  Person ID	I3719	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