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An American Family History

Joshua Estey
Lady Day Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning.

The settlement of New Meadows was incorporated as the Town of Topsfield by authority of the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1650. The church "gathered" on November 4, 1663 with the Rev. Thomas Gilbert. The third Meeting House was built on the Common in 1703 with Rev. Joseph Capen as pastor.

Joshua Estey was born July 2, 1678 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Isaac Estey and Mary Towne.

When he was only 14, in 1692, his mother, Mary Towne Estey, became a victim of the Salem hysteria and was executed for witchcraft.

He married Abigail Stanley

Joshua and Abigail had at least one daughter, Mary or Marcy Estey who was born on January 12, 1701/02 in Topsfield 

Joshua only inherited half of his father's clothes when his father died in 1712. He did not inherit since his father had had to pay some debts for him.

“As for my son Joshua for whom I procured a trade and payde some debts for him, my will is yt besides what I have already done for him he have at my decease yt other half of my wearing apparel equally dividing ye same with brother Joseph which is all I can do for him.”

Children of Isaac Estey
and Mary Towne
  • Isaac Estey, Jr.
  • Joseph Estey
  • Sarah Estey Gill Ireland
  • John Estey
  • Hannah Estey Abbott
  • Benjamin Estey
  • Samuel Estey
  • Jacob Estey
  • Joshua Estey

    • Towne Sisters

    "The Towne Sisters" by Yiannis Stefinarkis, ca. 1970
    Plaster statue of Rebecca Towne Nurse, Mary Towne Estey, Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyes wearing shackles. The statue is located in the Salem Wax Museum of Witches and Seafarers, Salem.

         

     

         

    ©Roberta Tuller 2012
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com