Thomas Fiske is my great-something grandfather (and also the great-something grandfather of Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk (whom I do not know)). Recent years have brought much research to the Salem witch trials, which the internet has made so easy to access.
When I was staying in Salem this past week end for my son Sam's and Marya's wedding in Ipswich, I revisited a small old cemetery, this time with the knowledge that my progenitors had a hand in the killing of Rebecca Nurse, a wonderful 71-year-old woman (much like my Mary is). I ran into the Nourse gravestones (Nourse a variation of Nurse, much like Fisk and Fiske, most likely the same family.) Such a feeling of sadness with remorse fell over me.
We immediately understand how Rebecca was a victim of double jeopardy. She also was convicted with more than what we have come to call "reasonable doubt". Also telling is that witchcraft was a charge against women, who are far too likely to be killed nowadays still in domestic abuse cases -- moreso methinks than unarmed people with dark skin who are killed -- making the case that many women of color proffer, that the prejudice against them for being a woman is worse even than racial prejudice.
Fifteen days before her execution, Thomas Fiske, wrote to the court a letter that had to do with both the prejudice of the court and jury, and that there was certainly reasonable doubt in this case: The Witchcraft Trial of Rebecca Nurse -- the letter is just before the photo of Rebecca's gravemarker. This and other pertinent documents here: The trial of Rebecca Nurse
Thomas Fiske is my great-something grandfather (and also the great-something grandfather of Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk (whom I do not know)). Recent years have brought much research to the Salem witch trials, which the internet has made so easy to access.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was staying in Salem this past week end for my son Sam's and Marya's wedding in Ipswich, I revisited a small old cemetery, this time with the knowledge that my progenitors had a hand in the killing of Rebecca Nurse, a wonderful 71-year-old woman (much like my Mary is). I ran into the Nourse gravestones (Nourse a variation of Nurse, much like Fisk and Fiske, most likely the same family.) Such a feeling of sadness with remorse fell over me.
We immediately understand how Rebecca was a victim of double jeopardy. She also was convicted with more than what we have come to call "reasonable doubt". Also telling is that witchcraft was a charge against women, who are far too likely to be killed nowadays still in domestic abuse cases -- moreso methinks than unarmed people with dark skin who are killed -- making the case that many women of color proffer, that the prejudice against them for being a woman is worse even than racial prejudice.
Fifteen days before her execution, Thomas Fiske, wrote to the court a letter that had to do with both the prejudice of the court and jury, and that there was certainly reasonable doubt in this case: The Witchcraft Trial of Rebecca Nurse -- the letter is just before the photo of Rebecca's gravemarker. This and other pertinent documents here: The trial of Rebecca Nurse
Frank, thanks for posting.