Isabella Austin was born around 1633, in Colchester, England, the daughter of Francis Austin and Isabella Bland.  It is not known when she came to America, or where she landed.  But by 1657 she was living in Hampton, New Hampshire and had met Philip Towle.  They were married on November 19 of that year.[1]

            Philip Towle was born around 1616, possibly in Ireland.  As with his wife it is not known when he came to America, or where he landed.  Later in life he was a farmer, but he possibly spent his younger days as a sailor, since he stated on the deed of his property, he was

a ‘seaman’.  Having spent his youth as a

‘seaman’ , a less genteel occupation, may have

resulted in his involvement in a brush with the

law.  Phillip and five others, “for taking tobacko

neare ye meeting house in ye face of ye court,

were fined, each of them, ten shillings according

to law.”  Later, on April 15, 1664, Phillip

purchased some property.  It consisted of two

homes and approximately 70 acres.[2]

            By 1678, Isabella and Philip brought nine

children into the world.  Philip, Caleb, Joshua,

Mary, Benjamin, and Joseph, who were twins,

Francis, John, and another son named Caleb. 

Their first son Caleb was born in 1661 but was

killed by Indians and died in 1677.[3]

            Unfortunately, Isabella became embroiled in a dark chapter in New England history.  She was accused of witchcraft.  Luckily for her she was only in jail for a month before all charges were dropped.  Then in July of 1680, Isabella was accused of being a witch once again.  This incident started with the death of a neighbor, John Godfrey’s little boy.  Godfrey’s wife was sitting with her sick son on her lap near the fireplace, and her daughter Sarah.  They stated that their neighbor Rachel Fuller came in ‘with her face daubed with molasses’ and sat down by Goody Godfrey.  (The custom then was to call married women Goodwife or Goody, then their married name.)  Fuller took the child’s hand, when the mother in fear drew his hand away and wrapped it in her apron.  Then Rachel Fuller ‘turned about and smote the back of her hands together several times and spat in the fire’.  She then spread herbs on the hearth, sat down and said, “Woman, the child will be well.”  Fuller rose and went out of the house, beat herself thrice with her arms like men do in winter, to heat their hands, picked something up off the ground, and went home. 

            The next day, the children told their mother that Goody Fuller told them to put sweet bays (most likely Laurel branches) under the threshold, and it would keep a witch from entering their home.  So, they laid ‘sweet bays’ all around the house, across the threshold of the back door and halfway across the front door threshold.  Not long after, Rachel Fuller came to visit and came in the front door.  She squeezed through the door rubbing her back against the post causing her hat to be rubbed off, which was strange since she normally came in the back door.  She walked around the house making ugly faces, trying to see the sick child.  Goody Godfrey refused her and Fuller left the way she had come in, taking stock of where the bays were.  She never came back to the house again.  Not long after this occurrence the little boy

died.

            The Godfrey’s felt that the timing was too much

of a coincidence and called for an inquest to be held. 

Twelve jurors of men of Hampton were appointed and

they soon rendered a verdict.  “We find grounds of

suspicion that the child was murdered by witchcraft.”  Goody Godfrey and her daughter Sarah shared what they had witnessed, along with John Godfrey, Nathaniel

Smith, and Hezron Leavitt.  Elizabeth Denham said

that Rachel Fuller told her, “Witches did so go abroad

at night, they did lay their husbands and children

asleep.”  Fuller also told her that there were eight

women and two men in the town, who were witches and wizards.

            When pressed, Rachel Fuller would not name the men, but did share the names of eight women she reckoned were witches.  They were Eunice Cole, Benjamin Evans’ wife and two daughters, Grace (Swaine) Boulter, Mary (Boulter) Prescott, Isabella (Austin) Towle, ‘and one that is now dead.  It so happened that Goody Towle was present in court that day having been arraigned on an unnamed charge.  Then, “The Court having heard the case of Rachel Fuller and Isabel Towle being apprehended and committed upon suspicion of witchcraft do order they still continue in prison till bond be given for their good behavior of 100 pounds apiece during the Courts pleasure.”  They were held in prison until September 7, 1681, when the Hampton Court would once again be in session.[4]  Philip most likely was unable to raise the bond for Isabella’s release, but having served one year in prison she was released.  The Towle family obviously was greatly

disrupted when you consider at the time of her imprisonment, she

still had six children living at home, and Philip had a farm to run. 

You also cannot forget the fact that she was accused of witchcraft, by

someone else who was on trial for being a witch.  It was just bad luck

Isabella happened to be in court that day for another matter.[5]

            It should be remembered that these events occurred 12 years

before, and 34 miles away from Salem, Massachusetts, where the

infamous Salem Witch Trials were held.  After this horrible incident

the Towle’s did their best to return to a normal life.  They raised their

children, and Philip continued to farm until his death on December

19, 1696.  Isabella probably suffered from suspicions, and damaged character for some time.  This can be evidenced by the fact she was united with the church in her old age, July 2, 1699.[6]  Isabella lived on to the age of 86, passing away on December 7, 1719.[7]     

              

 

[1] Philip Towle, Hampton, New Hampshire.  His English Origins and Some American Descendants.  By:  William Haslet Jones.

[2] Descendants of Jonathan Towle, 1747 – 1822, of Hampton and Pittsfield, New Hampshire.  By:  Alfred F. Towle

[3] Philip Towle, Hampton, New Hampshire.  His English Origins and Some American Descendants.  By:  William Haslet Jones.

[4] History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire:  From its settlement……Volume 1

[5] Descendants of Jonathan Towle.  By:  Alvin F. Towle

[6] Descendants of Jonathan Towle.  By:  Alvin F. Towle

[7] Descendants of Jonathan Towle.  By:  Alvin F. Towle