The “Witches” & Me
I grew up with their stories—how could I not?
Two of my ancestors were among the victims of the Salem Witch Trials.
Born and raised in New England, I was fed a steady diet of colonial history and had a front-row seat to where it all happened. The Crucible was required reading at the private school I attended (though I’m pretty sure that was true for every school in the region).
I’ve walked the Freedom Trail in Boston, marveled at how underwhelming Plymouth Rock is in person, and stood in the town squares of Lexington and Concord. And of course, no New England education is complete without a visit to Salem. Quick historical footnote for the sticklers: Salem Village—the real heart of the Trials—is now known as Danvers, Massachusetts. That’s where the hysteria truly took root.
Now then—where were we? Ah, yes. Salem Village.
Well… almost.
You see, my great-grandmother—Susannah Martin—was actually from Amesbury. She appears on my family tree as my 9th great-grandmother, and my 10th great-grandmother… twice. Look, early New Englanders weren’t exactly spoiled for options. Though she was a god-fearing woman, she was also fierce and argumentative. Might be where my sister gets it from—but I digress.
And then there’s Mary Easty—another great-grandmother—a devout woman known for her healing abilities and herbal remedies.
Susannah North Martin
Susannah, to me, was the epitome of a troublesome woman. She had a reputation for being outspoken, sharp-tongued, and—by Puritan standards—difficult. She reminds me of someone… though I can't quite put my finger on it. (Referring to myself, of course. We are sisters, after all.)
And yes, you read that right—she's listed as my 9th great-grandmother, and my 10th great-grandmother… twice.
Save yourself the cringe and never look too deeply into your family tree. Trust me on this one. My grandfather descended from not just one or two, but three of Susannah’s children. Not with each other—geez—but let’s just say colonial cousins were not shy about keeping it in the family.
Mary Towne Easty/Esty
If Susannah was a firebrand, Mary was a pillar of grace.
Her strength showed in quieter ways—in her composed, steadfast, and dignified response to being accused of witchcraft. Mary was skilled in herbal remedies, midwifery, and folk healing—practices the Puritans were often quick to condemn as suspicious or ungodly, aka witchcraft.
She wasn’t the only one in her family caught up in the trials. Her sisters, Rebecca Nurse and Sarah Cloyce, were also accused. Only Sarah survived.
While my sister and I lean more Susannah—fiery, opinionated, not exactly quiet in a (court) room—I know of only one someone who walks through chaos with Mary’s kind of calm. They are my family’s only doctor, and unlike the rest of us, they don’t shout—they simply fix it.