Various spellings of Estey
Easte, Este, Estee, Estes, Estey, Esty
Childbirth was was perilous. Around 1.5 percent of births ended in the mother's death. Since women gave birth to many children, chances of dying in childbirth were quite high.
Essex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643 by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when it ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires."
Benjamin Estey was born on April 29, 1669 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. His parents were Isaac Estey and Mary Towne. He was a bricklayer.
In 1692, his mother, Mary Towne Estey, became a victim of the Salem hysteria and was executed for witchcraft.
He married Elizabeth Goodhue on April 9, 1702. Elizabeth was born about 1675 in Ipswich. Her parents were Joseph Goodhue and Sarah Whipple. Elizabeth's sister, Sarah Goodhue married John Kimball.
Benjamin and Elizabeth's children included:
Benjamin Estey (1703),
Ebenezer Estey (1705),
Elizabeth Estey Howard (1708), and
Sarah Estey (1713).
In 1705 they moved to Dorchester/Stoughton where he purchased land from the indigenous people. Elizabeth died following the birth of her last child on July 18, 1713.
In 1712 he inherited the proceeds from the sale of the house and land that had been meant for Joshua and two cows that he already had. Joshua did not inherit because his father had had to pay some debts for him.
He married Mary Holland on December 13, 1716.
In 1727 he settled in Sharon.
He died on March 28, 1750 in Sharon, Massachusetts.
Cattle were vital to a household and an important legacy.
Unweaned cattle are calves.
Female cattle are heifers and cows (had a calf).
Male cattle are steers (castrated) and bulls.
Oxen are trained draft animals and are often castrated adult male cattle.
Three daughters of William Towne and Joanna Blessing were wrongly accused of practicing witchcraft in Salem. Rebecca Towne Nurse, Mary Towne Estey, and Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyes were persecuted in 1692. The children of people in the line below are all descendants of Mary Estey.
The settlement of New Meadows was incorporated as the Town of Topsfield in 1650. The church "gathered" on November 4, 1663. The third Meeting House was built in 1703 with Rev. Joseph Capen as pastor.
Many factors led to the witchcraft accusations in Salem.
