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     Daniel Bixby was born on 25 September 1762 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.² He was baptized on 28 December 1762.² He married Sarah Towne, daughter of Archelaus Towne and Sarah Brown, on 30 October 1783 in Thompson, Windham Co., Connecticut.^3,1,4

     John Nurse was born about 1645 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married first Elizabeth Smith, daughter of John Smith and Margaret Thompson, on 1 November 1672 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴ He married second Elizabeth Very, daughter of Samuel Very and Alice Woodis, on 17 August 1677 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴ He died in early December 1719 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^3,4
     He and his brother Samuel divided some of the Nurse lands between them in 1700.⁵ On 26 November 1716 he and his second wife Elizabeth quitclaimed their interest in her deceased father's estate to Benjamin Very.³
     His will was dated 12 November 1719, and proved on 15 December 1719. He left £7 to his oldest son John, and £20 to his granddaughter Deborah, daughter of his deceased son Samuel. His wife was to receive the remainder of his estate for her use during her life. After her death half of the buildings at his homestead were to go to his son Benjamin, with the other half going to his "five other children, Jonathan, Benjamin (sic), Elizabeth Douty, Sarah Twist amd Hannah Very."³
     He and his first wife Elizabeth had one known child, John (b 12 October 1673, d bef 15 June 1747), born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴ He and his second wife Elizabeth had the following known children, all born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts: Elizabeth (b 18 March 1677/78), Samuel (b 20 August 1679, d 3 October 1719), Sarah (b 10 November 1680, d aft 29 September 1757), Jonathan (b 3 May 1682, d aft 1743), Joseph (b 20 September 1683), Benjamin (b 20 February 1685/86), Hannah (b 22 June 1687).⁴

     Samuel Nurse was born about 1649 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married Mary Smith, daughter of John Smith and Margaret Thompson, on 5 April 1677 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴ He died in January 1719/20 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³
     After his mother's execution during the Salem witchcraft hysteria in 1692, he joined with Peter Cloyse (husband of his mother's sister Sarah), John Tarbell (his sister Mary's husband), and Thomas Wilkens (father-in-law of John Willard, who was executed for witchcraft) in opposition to Rev. Samuel Parris, the Salem Village minister, who was one of the principal figures in the witchcraft trials. Together, the four were referred to by Parris as the "four displeased brethren." The battle dragged on for years, eventually involving ministers from churches in surrounding towns and various high-ranking civil authorities, with suits and countersuits between Parris and Salem Village. Parris finally resigned his position in October 1696, and the last suit was settled on 24 September 1697.^5,6
     On 24 June 1696 Samuel bought three acres of upland and swamp in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts, from Ephraim Sheldon for £9.³ He sold half of it a week later to his brother-in-law John Tarbell for £4 10s.³ Samuel and his brother John divided some of the Nurse lands between them in 1700.³ On 6 November 1701 he and John Tarbell sold ten acres of land, that they had earlier purchased from Zerubabel Endicott, to John Carter of Topsfield.⁷ In 1702/3 he gave 15 acres including the house, barn, and orchards where his father Francis had lived, to his son Samuel Nurse, Jr.³
     His will was dated 25 March 1715 and proved 2 February 1719/20. His wife Mary and son Ebenezer were named as executors. In it he left his son Samuel the house and land earlier given to him, four acres referred to as the spring meadow, plus other meadow and woodlands. His son George received the house and land previously given to him, plus one acre in the Wolfpen meadows and £10. He left his son Ebenezer half of his remaining land (he was also to receive the other half on the death of his mother Mary), plus all the buildings, stock, and tools. His wife Mary was left the household goods. His daughters Mary Daggett and Rebecca Kenney were left £30 each. His "daughter Daggett" was also to receive two acres from her brother Ebenezer for building a house. His niece Margaret Nurse, daughter of his brother Benjamin, received £10.³
     He and Mary had the following known children, all born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts: Samuel (b 7 January 1677/78, d bef 19 May 1740), Margaret (b 24 February 1679/80, d 5 December 1700), George (b 29 July 1682, d 1 March 1759), Mary (b 25 May 1685), Rebecca (b 15 September 1688), Ebenezer (b 5 August 1693, d 30 December 1765).⁴

More Information / Background

• Samuel Parris.
  

     Rebecca Nurse was born in 1647 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ She married Thomas Preston, son of Roger Preston and Martha (?), on 15 April 1669 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ She died in 1719 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³
     She and her sister Mary wrote in support of their mother Rebecca (Towne) Nurse during her trial for witchcraft in 1692, saying "We whose nams are under written: can testiefie if cald to it that goodde nurs have bene trobled with an Infirmity of body for many years which the Juree of women seme to be Afraid it should be something elce."⁴
     She and Thomas had the following known children, all born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts: Rebecca (b 12 May 1670), Mary (b 15 February 1671/72), John (b 20 November 1673, d 6 July 1744), Martha (b 21 October 1676), Elizabeth (b 1680, d 21 November 1693), Jonathan, Thomas (d bef 4 June 1742), David (b 1688).³

     Mary Nurse was born in 1659 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ She married John Tarbell, son of Thomas Tarbell and Mary (?), in a double wedding with her sister Elizabeth on 25 October 1678 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^3,4 She died on 28 June 1749 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³
     She and her sister Rebecca wrote in support of their mother Rebecca (Towne) Nurse during her trial for witchcraft in 1692, saying "We whose nams are under written: can testiefie if cald to it that goodde nurs have bene trobled with an Infirmity of body for many years which the Juree of women seme to be Afraid it should be something elce."⁵

     Francis Nurse was born on 3 February 1660/61 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married Sarah Craggen, daughter of John Craggen and Sarah Dawes, about 1685.⁴ He died on 5 February 1715/16 in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, at age 55.³
     Many published genealogies say Francis Nurse married Sarah Tarbell on 15 January 1685 in Salem, Massachusetts, but this marriage does not appear in the published records of Salem. A 1994 article in The American Genealogist by Barbara Mathews, citing the will of John Craggen Sr., proves that Francis Nurse married Sarah Craggen, and also shows that Sarah Tarbell was the wife of Cornelius Church.^4,3
     On 18 May 1698 he sold 15 acres, his share of his father's land, to his brother-in-law John Tarbell for £7.⁵
     The final account for settlement of his estate was presented on 19 September 1717 by his son Francis. The 72-acre family homestead was valued at £200, and his military arms at £2. His widow's dower had been set off on 12 June 1716. The court assigned the remainder, 2/3 of his farm and other lands, to his son Francis, who was to pay his siblings amounts set by the judge.³
     He and Sarah had the following known children, all born in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts: Francis (b 10 March 1685/86, d 15 March 1685/86), Francis (b 3 January 1687/88, d 15 May 1733), Benjamin (b 28 January 1689/90, d bef 4 December 1775), Jonathan (b 4 March 1691/92, d 26 November 1717), Josiah (b 9 September 1694, d 4 April 1718), Joshua (b 15 July 1695, d 8 June 1717), Sarah (b 27 January 1696/97), Caleb (b 15 January 1701/02, d 4 August 1727), Nathaniel (b abt 1704, d 29 May 1717), Abigail (b abt 1704, d 15 August 1718).³

     Benjamin Nurse was born on 26 January 1665/66 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married first Tamsen Smith, daughter of John Smith and Margaret Thompson, on 21 February 1687/88 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ He married second Elizabeth Sawtell, daughter of Zachariah Sawtell and Elizabeth Harris, on 16 February 1713/14 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.³ He died before 13 February 1747/48, when his will was proved, in Framingham, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.³
     He served as selectman in Framingham, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, in 1702.³
     His will was dated 1 August 1735, and proved 13 February 1748. In the will he is called a yeoman. The executors were his wife Elizabeth and son Aaron, and the witnesses were Benjamin Ball, Ebenezer Harrington, and Gideon Bridges. In it he left his wife, in lieu of a dower, the use of half his house and barn, and his orchards and land in Framingham for as long as she remained a widow; the best bed, furniture, and a warming pan; two cows; half the household goods in the dwelling room; and 1/4 of the corn, meat, and swine. She was also to be provided with firewood, and an "Able and Gentle horse." His five oldest children, in addition to what they had already received, were to be given the following sums by his son Aaron: Benjamin, £5; William, £15; Ebenezer, £5; Thamerzin Nurse, £30; and Elizabeth Philips, £30. His son Aaron, "to Enable him to Subsist in the World (being very Weakly) and to Pay the Legacies," received all his houses and land in Framingham, cattle, farm tools, household goods, and the rest of the personal estate. Aaron was to pay his father's debts and funeral expenses, and the funeral expenses of his mother Elizabeth if she were still a widow.⁴
     He and his first wife Tamsen had the following known children, all born in Framingham, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts: Tamesin (b 13 November 1691, d abt 1767), Benjamin (b 20 January 1693/94), William (b 8 March 1695/96, d 15 April 1779), Elizabeth (b 18 September 1698), Ebenezer (b 27 March 1701), Margaret (b 24 April 1703, d bef 1 August 1735), Moses (b March 1704/05, d bef 1 August 1735), Aaron (b 11 January 1707/08, prob d 31 December 1782).³

     Elizabeth Nurse was born about 1663 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ She married William Russell, in a double wedding with her sister Mary, on 25 October 1678 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^4,5 She died after 28 February 1733/34.⁶
     She and her husband William lived in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, until 1685³, when they moved to Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.³ They moved back to Salem in 1694.³
     On 28 February 1733/34 she released her dower rights in her late husband's estate to her son Benjamin, and to her deceased son Jonathan's widow Hannah, in return for their promise to care for her the rest of her life.³
     She and William had the following known children: William (b 22 October 1680, d bef 22 January 1717/18), Jonathan (b 19 August 1682, d bef 12 January 1729/30), Ebenezer (b 7 March 1687/88, d aft 15 Sep 1761), Benjamin (b abt 1691).³

     Sarah Nurse was probably born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³ She married Michael Bowden on 15 December 1669 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.³
     She and Michael had the following known children: Susannah (b 10 June 1670), Michael (b abt 1673, d 1 October 1741), Samuel (b 1675, d bef 12 June 1737), Francis (b abt 1678, d bef 24 September 1759).³

     Michael Bowden was born about 1652 (based on his testimony in 1677 that he was then about age 25), possibly in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Sarah Nurse, daughter of Francis Nurse and Rebecca Towne, on 15 December 1669 in Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He was buried on 26 August 1740 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     He and Sarah had the following known children: Susannah (b 10 June 1670), Michael (b abt 1673, d 1 October 1741), Samuel (b 1675, d bef 12 June 1737), Francis (b abt 1678, d bef 24 September 1759).¹

     Elizabeth Smith married John Nurse, son of Francis Nurse and Rebecca Towne, on 1 November 1672 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died on 22 October 1673 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, ten days after giving birth to her only child.¹
     She and John had one known child, John (b 12 October 1673, d bef 15 June 1747), born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Elizabeth Very was born about 1655.¹ She married John Nurse, son of Francis Nurse and Rebecca Towne, on 17 August 1677 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     On 26 November 1716 she and her husband John quitclaimed their interest in her deceased father's estate to Benjamin Very.² She was living as the widow of John Nurse in 1723.²
     She and John had the following known children, all born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts: Elizabeth (b 18 March 1677/78), Samuel (b 20 August 1679, d 3 October 1719), Sarah (b 10 November 1680, d aft 29 September 1757), Jonathan (b 3 May 1682, d aft 1743), Joseph (b 20 September 1683), Benjamin (b 20 February 1685/86), Hannah (b 22 June 1687).¹

     Mary Smith married Samuel Nurse, son of Francis Nurse and Rebecca Towne, on 5 April 1677 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     She was living on 2 February 1719/20, when her husband Samuel's will was proved.¹ The will was dated 25 March 1715, and she and her son Ebenezer were named executors. She received half of the land that remained after bequests to his sons Samuel and George for use during her lifetime (it was then to go to her son Ebenezer), plus all the household goods.²
     She and Samuel had the following known children, all born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts: Samuel (b 7 January 1677/78, d bef 19 May 1740), Margaret (b 24 February 1679/80, d 5 December 1700), George (b 29 July 1682, d 1 March 1759), Mary (b 25 May 1685), Rebecca (b 15 September 1688), Ebenezer (b 5 August 1693, d 30 December 1765).¹

     Thomas Preston was born in 1643 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Rebecca Nurse, daughter of Francis Nurse and Rebecca Towne, on 15 April 1669 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He died in 1697 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     In 1689/90 his father-in-law Francis Nurse granted him 52 acres of the Bishop Farm that he had purchased in 1678.²
     He was one of four complainants on two of the early arrest warrants during the Salem witchcraft hysteria, both dated 29 February 1691/92. One was against Tituba and Sarah Osborne, and the other was against Sarah Good. Sarah Osborne died in prison on 10 May 1692, and Sarah Good was hanged on 19 July 1692, the same day as Thomas Preston's mother-in-law Rebecca (Towne) Nurse.³
     He died intestate, and his widow Rebecca and son John were appointed administrators of his estate on 4 October 1697.¹ The estate wasn't finally settled until 7 June 1711, when the other heirs agreed to relinquish their rights in the estate to his son John, in return for £96 and "divers other good and lawful considerations."¹
     He and Rebecca had the following known children, all born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts: Rebecca (b 12 May 1670), Mary (b 15 February 1671/72), John (b 20 November 1673, d 6 July 1744), Martha (b 21 October 1676), Elizabeth (b 1680, d 21 November 1693), Jonathan, Thomas (d bef 4 June 1742), David (b 1688).¹

     John Tarbell was probably born about 1654 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He married Mary Nurse, daughter of Francis Nurse and Rebecca Towne, on 25 October 1678 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.^1,2 He died on 25 March 1715 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ He was buried at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹
     He served as an Ensign during King Philip's War, about 1676.¹
     In 1692 he testified on behalf of his mother-in-law Rebecca (Towne) Nurse during her trial for witchcraft in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Concerning the charges made by Ann Putnam, the 12-year-old daughter of Thomas Putnam:
     After Rebecca Nurse's execution, he joined with Samuel Nurse (Rebecca Nurse's son), Peter Cloyse (husband of Rebecca Nurse's sister Sarah), and Thomas Wilkens (father-in-law of John Willard, who was executed for witchcraft) in opposition to Rev. Samuel Parris, the Salem Village minister, who was one of the principal figures in the witchcraft trials. Together, the four were referred to by Parris as the "four displeased brethern." The battle dragged on for years, eventually involving ministers from churches in surrounding towns and various high-ranking civil authorities, with suits and countersuits between Parris and Salem Village. Parris finally resigned his position in October 1696, and the last suit was settled on 24 September 1697.^4,5
     He bought 1.5 acres of land in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts, from his brother-in-law Samuel Nurse about 1 July 1696.⁶
     On 18 May 1698 he bought his brother-in-law Francis Nurse's share of his father's land, 15 acres, for £7.² On 6 November 1701 he and his brother-in-law Samuel Nurse sold ten acres of land, that they had earlier purchased from Zerubabel Endicott, to John Carter of Topsfield.²

More Information / Background

• Samuel Parris.
  

     Sarah Craggen was born on 10 August 1664 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.² She married Francis Nurse, son of Francis Nurse and Rebecca Towne, about 1685.¹ She died before 26 March 1747, when George Flint was paid for appraising her estate, in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.²
     In 1692 she testified in favor of her mother-in-law Rebecca (Towne) Nurse during her trial for witchcraft in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, discrediting the testimony of Sarah Bibber. From The Salem Witchcraft Papers:
     She and Francis had the following known children, all born in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts: Francis (b 10 March 1685/86, d 15 March 1685/86), Francis (b 3 January 1687/88, d 15 May 1733), Benjamin (b 28 January 1689/90, d bef 4 December 1775), Jonathan (b 4 March 1691/92, d 26 November 1717), Josiah (b 9 September 1694, d 4 April 1718), Joshua (b 15 July 1695, d 8 June 1717), Sarah (b 27 January 1696/97), Caleb (b 15 January 1701/02, d 4 August 1727), Nathaniel (b abt 1704, d 29 May 1717), Abigail (b abt 1704, d 15 August 1718).²

     Tamsen Smith was born on 1 April 1671 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She married Benjamin Nurse, son of Francis Nurse and Rebecca Towne, on 21 February 1687/88 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.¹ She died before 16 February 1713/14.²
     She and Benjamin had the following known children, all born in Framingham, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts: Tamesin (b 13 November 1691, d abt 1767), Benjamin (b 20 January 1693/94), William (b 8 March 1695/96, d 15 April 1779), Elizabeth (b 18 September 1698), Ebenezer (b 27 March 1701), Margaret (b 24 April 1703, d bef 1 August 1735), Moses (b March 1704/05, d bef 1 August 1735), Aaron (b 11 January 1707/08, prob d 31 December 1782).¹