Remembering Rebecca Nurse: A Visit to Salem Village’s Enduring Witness
I am grateful that so many historic houses are still open to the public to explore and to remind us of the lives lived within them. One such home is that of Rebecca Nurse, a respected, elderly woman of Salem Village who became one of the most tragic figures of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.
Despite strong community support and even an initial “not guilty” verdict, Rebecca was ultimately convicted of witchcraft and executed by hanging on July 19, 1692, at the age of 71.
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers, Massachusetts (formerly part of Salem Village) still stands today, carrying within its walls the weight of her story. Salem itself continues to hold this special and sobering history of the witch trials, reminding us of the dangers of fear and injustice and the importance of remembering.
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