Many factors led to the witchcraft accusations in Salem.
The town of Ipswich was established on August 5, 1634, from common land called Agawam. On October 18, 1648, that portion called the "Village" at the New Meadows was set off as Topsfield. The boundary line between Ipswich and Topsfield was established, February 28, 1694.
Sarah Estey Gill Ireland was born on June 30, 1660 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her parents were Isaac Estey and Mary Towne.
She married Moses Gill of Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. Moses was born on December 26, 1656 in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts and his parents were John Gill and Phebe Buswell.
On her marriage she received “her full propotion out of my estate upon her marriage in Cattle bedding or otherwise."
Sarah and Moses' children included: Benjamin Gill (1688/89),
Moses Gill (1685) and
Sarah Gill Glover (1691, married Edward Glover).
Sarah became a widow when Moses died March 1, 1690 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Their daughter, Sarah Gill, was baptized on May 3, 1691 and son Benjamin Gill was baptized on September 27, 1691.
In 1692 her mother, Mary Towne Estey, became a victim of the Salem hysteria and was executed for witchcraft.
Before her father's will was written, Sarah’s married a man named Ireland.
In 1712 when her father died she did not inherit, since she had already received her share, but her daughter Sarah received ten pounds.
Sarah died June 29, 1749 in Topsfield, Massachusetts.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
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.
American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (orli) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency.
In 1688, during theGlorious Revolution, the Protestant king and queen,William and Mary, took the English throne from Catholic King James II. The bloodless revolution profoundly impacted the American colonies.
