THE WITCH, MARY NASSON - A New England Tale, in York Village, Maine.
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THIS STORY:
It was the late 1700's.
Mary Nasson was a successful and respected herbalist in the community.
But she was also skilled at performing exorcisms.
Legend says that Mary was a witch ----and she was executed.
But was she?
MUSIC:
Copyright paid for at this site: Pond5, LINK: www.pond5.com
Song 1 - "140523928-salem-witch-trials-dark-magic-"
THIS CHANNEL:
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The Angel face you see is the Haserot, named “The Angel of Death Victorious". The stoic angel is seated on the marble gravestone of canning entrepreneur Francis Haserot and his family. Holding an extinguished torch upside-down, it represents a symbol of life extinguished. Wings are outstretched and the gaze is straight ahead.
IN THE END, DEATH ALWAYS WINS. LEST THE FACES NOT BE FORGOTTEN...
This channel is focused on casually walking and viewing a handful of the thousands of forgotten names and faces at various cemeteries near and afar. Seeing their faces up close. And when able, telling the stories behind their names.
Most graves are unknown and lost to history.
Some are famous.
And some infamous....
....and some with tragic endings.
#graves #cemeteries #death
Ron, Thank you so very much for doing this story. Also, thank you for digging deeper into the familys background. With every answer we discover surrounding Mary only brings about more questions.
Now, we know that Mary was a well known herbalist... however we also know that the Puritans frowned upon any all natural herbalist "healers" (or "white medicine) in the 1630's in the New England states. Now she passed away August 18 1774. Also, what were the views of the extremely (almost radical) religious Puritans having a herbalist woman healer performing an exorcism... did the church approve? Did she eventually fall under scrutiny? Why did she die so young for a herbalist healer? So many questions.
Whatever Mary's story truly is, the fact that she died so very young (29 years old) and she seems, well, essentially abandoned and alone. No husband, no children...or any relatives whatsoever buried beside her. Isolated, segregated all alone away from everyone else in the community. So many questions surrounding her death.
As for my family we Lacey's have ties to the Salam Witch trials ourselves. You can read all about the Lacey's in book: In The Shadow of Salam the Andover With Hunt by Richard Hite.
Again, thank you for doing this particular story. Of all known, documented, historical American "witches" this particular woman is shrouded in so much local mystery, legend and folklore here in Maine.
This video is beautifully done. Cheers!
I was hoping you would like it Michael!!
thank you!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍
@@Sunnybrook-69 That sounds interesting! ✌️
@@Sunnybrook-69 absolutely. Private message me and let's compare notes. Let's see what we come up with.
My husband’s Great x 9 Grandfather is William Ballard who came over on the Mary and John in the early 1630’s. His son John Ballard was the Constable of Andover who served the alleged witches their warrants. The brother of John, Joseph Ballard and his wife Elizabeth, I believe were the accusers of the Lacey/Lacy witches. As time progressed and families grew, the surveyor Efraim Ballard travelled with his wife Martha Moore Ballard to Maine on behalf of the Massachusetts Bay Company. Martha has a movie about her midwifery in the 1740’s called ‘A Midwife’s Tale’ at PBS because of her detailed diary that was unusual for a woman to keep at that time. Martha’s sister married a Barton, and her Granddaughter was Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. So Martha was a midwife, herbalist, and mortician a couple of hours South of Mary at the same time, although there is no recording that she also performed excorcisms to my knowledge, hence she was not accused of being a witch. In checking a fact as I wrote this, we did not know Great x 8 Uncle Joseph has a house that is a historical monument.
I would check the date of the last childs birth. More often than not women died during child birth. And if she was accused of witchcraft then im certain her family would run as their fate would only be certain death also. Im sure no women was sanctioned by the church for anything. Women were considered the property of their husbands. Many faiths still consider women " unclean" or unworthy of participating as any ranking in the church.
The "skull" you refer to on the old gravestones is called "the angel of death" ( notice it has wings). I have studied New England history for just shy of 50 years and done extensive genealogies. You have a great channel. The horizontal large slabs on the ground are called "wolf slabs" to keep the body safe from being dug up by animals
That is interesting! Thanks for sharing this information 🙏 😊
I was going to suggest that perhaps it wasn't a skull, that in fact is an angel because I saw the wings too!!!
looks more like a Owl to me...
The skull and wings on the stone is known as the death’s head motif which was very common on 17th and 18th c slate stones. The large flat stone is called a ledger stone. They’re still used today though much less frequently. Wolf stones, while used on more shallow graves to prevent animals from digging up the remains, are fairly rare in full grave size (though occasionally seen).
Thanks for sharing that information!
As a German, I always have to smile when US Americans talk about "old" and mean villages and towns from the 19th century, the 18th century, or the 17th century. When we in Germany or Europe use the term "old", we mean really, really old.
Well yes, our American perspective is totally understandable, not to mention perfectly accurate.
You live in a different bubble of course. This "US American's" country over here is really only 300 years old. It is all a matter of your location perspective. Not sure what is humorous, unless someone has a delusional feeling of superiority....well, thats how it comes off, smug.
Myself as a German, I smile when when European Germans mock us US Americans.
@@FacesoftheForgotten You have absolutely misunderstood me. I neither made fun of your statement, nor laughed at you, nor did I find it humorous. I have translated the German word "lächeln" with the English word "smile". As far as I know there is no other translation for it. If that came across negatively to you, then I'm sorry. But it was absolutely not meant by me.
I just can't get enough of history, especially witchcraft history. It breaks my heart 💔 knowing what these poor people went through for no reason! Thank you for the history lesson.
The real reason they accused women of witches is because the women were successful doctors and midwifes and healers. The men didn't like women completing. They felt women were taking away business for the men so they killed the woman that were smart. Very sad
do u practice witchcraft ?
i agree its really sad
Thank you for this story, so interesting, and so respectful of you to leave her a flower! I don’t think she was a witch either, that was so awful for them!
Thanks for the nice story Ron! In my country, the Netherlands, the oldest grave stones were found in the Sint-Servaas church in Maastricht, they are from the 5th (!) century.
Wow, now that would be AMAZING to see, 5th century??!!
That was very much like an old English grave yard lots of the gravestones have skulls and cross bones on them it was the fashion of the time my local graveyard in Kent England has lots and some super old ones at Canterbury Cathedral. thanks for a great video..stay safe . V R..
The words on the stone are quite beautiful. That man must have loved her so much. When everyone sat round the fire in the olden days, l expect they told the tales of witches but Ron, she couldn't have been a witch as she was so obviously loved . Thank you for making it possible to see this unusual grave and hear of her life.
lol. even witches have loved ones..
The head stones with the angel wings reminds me of folk art.
I am related to the Rev. Sewall who was the witch judge. My mother's maiden name is Sewell but originally was spelled, Sewall. When you came across his gravestone I was excited to see where he was buried. I'm not glad that he sent that poor woman to her grave though. So, so sad. Mary Nasson, no doubt, was just an Herbalist and believed in natural healing. I am so glad our society has come a long way from burning/killing who they thought were witches. When you showed Mary's grave I felt such deep and instant heartfelt sympathy for her.
OMG, THANK YOU!!! When I was 9(currently 37), I had broken my leg during our family 4th of July party. A week or so after we left for vacation at York Beach ME. Becasue I was in a cast I couldn't do a lot. I could go swimming due to having a water proof case but I would tired easy. So one day my Dad decided he would take me on the trolly tour. The only story from the tour guide I remember was the story about the witch. I am sooo elated to find it here. My dad passed July 2020 and this helps me feel close to him.
I've always wanted to go back there. Looks so beautiful and green. Such a sad part of history, especially the Salem witch trials. So sad.
I think the headstones made of slate seems to be the clearest to read for the longest length of time. I came across a video about a master craftsman who still today carves stones like these, including intricate lettering and designs - by hand!!
I use to live in Boston MA, and visited Salem at lot . Its a beautiful place. To be a woman back then was complicated. I'm left handed and would most likely been deemed a witch. God Bless these ladies. Very much enjoy your story telling
I have a brown eye and a green eye. I definatly would of been a witch plus I lived in Salem.
@@lunarwolf5288 It honestly wasn't left handed right handed or both handed. It was hallutionations from moldy rye that made them behave and admit to witchcraft. If these extra features were seen after the person was jailed for hallucinating it only added to there guilt.
@@farrierette5216 And moldy rye was responsible for the hallucinations of seeing werewolves in London, too!
I'm left-handed too and I've heard and read that many times. We would have been in trouble back then. So much superstition, most of it born of jealousy and/or gossip.
Thanks for the trip to Portsmouth and York. I lived in Portsmouth and worked in York. I lived the old cemeteries in this area.
This is my 5th Times Great Grandmother, thank you for doing this story. there are pictures showing a head and foot stone, the slab was place there by her husband he didn't want the cows walking all over her grave.
very cool, thanks for coming/watching, thanks for sharing. what an awesome family legacy you have...I think!
In Bucksport, Maine the grave stone of Captain Jonathan Buck has a heart and a woman’s leg on the stone. He was cursed by the local witch who was in love with him. If you believe the story, stonemasons have sanded the marks down and they always reappear. I lived in York 40 years ago. It is full of history. Great drone footage and accompanying music.
Rebecca towne nurse is my 9th great grandmother . She was one of the first accused to be a witch and hung ! Rest in peace to all .. gone but never forgotten.
Very interesting
The image on her stone is just so gorgeous and interesting. I'm just amazed at all of the headstones. I'm with Ron we don't have headstones like this in Texas.
Somebody should start up their own company and
make those old beautiful slate gravestones. I'm obsessed.
I'll help! lol
I love that opening!
I don't think it would have been good for me to live in those days the way I love Halloween,cats, and cemeteries.
The drone footage was so, SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!
RIP Mary Nasson!! XXXX 🌹💔
The second type of decorative motif used on Boston's seventeenth-century gravemarkers was the "death's head." A death's head, often with wings or crossed bones, or both, was a stylized skull. Some have speculated that winged skulls were intended to symbolize a combination of physical death and spiritual regeneration.
I love those kind of tomb stones that we have here
@@Rags2Itcheshere in Pittsfield, we have the same kinds of stones.
I absolutely thought of Marie Laveau and that New Orleans style when I saw that likeness!
Makes you sad that those cremated with no headstone will be forgotten in time.
The drone shots are so breathtaking! Thank you for all these historical videos!
Thank you Cherie, most of my episodes here in New England have the drone “Lil Jimmy” workin!
They are great.
Nothing but pure history in that
cemetery.
you have that right!!!!!!!
I like when you do these stories on the 1692 witch trials Ron. I think the graves of those who died during the witch trials back in 1692 are interesting. Their gravestones were made in unique ways. Those who were murdered didn’t deserve to be treated that way. The witchcraft they were accused of was never proven, innocent lives lost based on rumors.😢
Stay safe on your journeys Ron.🙂💟
You know it wouldn’t surprise me if one of these stories got out and it was put in movie theaters. Your awesome in what you do brother.
wow, ty Terry
The cemetery in my town has those faces on them! So cool!
Thanks so much for revealing our history. Wonder how they were able to etch the headstones so beautifully? 1660's wow ❤
The history of accused witches and what went on behind the scenes is mysterious and sad. I often wonder if anyone who didn't conform and wasn't afraid of speaking their mind, became an easy target to accuse. I loved the spooky music and drone work, absolutely beautiful. I used to live in Maine and its so beautiful. The old gravestones are such a treasure. But Mary's, so unusual, I've never seen one quite like that! Excellent story Ron, thank for this adventure!!!
So beautiful and so sad 💜🇬🇧
I’m a lifelong New Englander. The legend of Mary Nasson being a witch took hold in the 19th century, long after her death, which occurred less than a year after the birth of her last child. There are photos of her intact grave (easily found on the internet) taken years ago before people decided it would be cool to take a piece of her home with them. Originally, both stones on her grave faced out, away from the center ledger stone. Her footstone faced in the same direction as the rest of the cemetery and looked just like any other period stone, with the death’s head motif and her life/death info. The more intimate carving and inscription is the only stone remaining intact today. I suspect her grave was and remains so unique because she was very much loved by a husband she left far too soon, nothing more.
Mary's grave is right in the ☀. Oh divinity 🙏 🌻
I like seeing and hearing about these kinda things . 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Funerary iconography is fascinating. So glad for your channel and your authentic respect for those no longer alive.
I like the T-shirt Sir. Facinating story and place. The history of witch hunts was sad and terrible with the loss of so many lives. Also, I recently read about the Congressional Cemetery and the interesting people who are resting there. Thanks, good luck on the next stop.
We lived in mid coast Maine for many years as well as the Bar Harbor area. Heard about this woman from a few native Mainers. Thanks for the great video and the very interesting story.
I feel like I grieve her to... thank you for your sensitivity
Fantastic figure carving on her headstone. I do not think she was a witch either. RIP and nice you left a yellow rose.
Great video! I love Maine and the cello playing in the intro. Love witch stories too!
Im from Fort Myers on vacation with the family in Boston. We decided to randomly pick a few towns with no research to explore. We ended up in York today. We found that Cemetary and were intrigued by that grave. Thanks for the insight. Great little town rich in history. Fun day.
Enchanting from the first drone footage & music to the very end. R.I.P. Mary Nasson~ Thank you Ron. p.s. I couldn't help but wonder how that area, including the graveyard, looked at the time of her passing.
Thank you for this information … very interesting and rounds out the story.
Your drone work is amazing. It’s beautiful seeing the air view of the cemetery. A very interesting grave. I absolutely love old graves. It is very neat how far back the cemetery goes.
Very interesting grave of Mary Nasson....Ron this story was very interesting and awesome 👍 thanks for sharing this video with us Ron ...thanks for all you do...rip Mary Nasson....sad she wasn't buried with her husband and children....safe travels and take care Ron ....💖💖🥾🥾🚗🚗
Thank You for Being You
Thank you for your kindness).
Thank you for being the person you are:
kind and thoughtful, 💖💗 smiles that last forever and ever kindly Melody aka Mel
I grew up here. In Grade School in the seventies we would take field trips here and do grave stone rubbings. ....tons of 'winged death heads'!!
l like looking and walking through old cemeteries. thanks for sharing
A very interesting story Ron, & Mike! I don’t believe in witches, these poor women were killed for no good reason, just for being healers or having knowledge about herbs etc. Maybe she did haunt the people responsible for her death in the afterlife, who knows! 👻 Any stories related to the 1700s are amazing, imo. Fascinating! Thank you Ron!
Hi ron make's you think what where these ppl thinking different time different mindset RIP mary ✝️great drone work thank's for sharing
Great work! New England is filled with great history!
Thank you for coming to our great state of Maine! I so enjoy walking through the old sections of cemeteries around here. You wondered why Mary’s stone was plain, but it appears to be a very fancy stone with the special carving at the top and extensive writing about her. Remember that Puritans didn’t approve of any thing decorative! We have many more stories for you to tell, hope to see you back some time. I thoroughly enjoy your channel, thank you!
Again! Ron! The Drone footage and music 🎶 perfect! We are spoiled!
Thanks for sharing this story! That poor Woman! If she was an herbalists and had preformed exercizems (Spelling?) She really would have been seen at the time as different and a witch 🧙♀️ 😳 💀 So sad!
Those stones are holding up so very well, it's amazing! You know, I watch now to see if the roses 🌹 move! 😆 🤣
I trust you are home 🏡 safe? You always forget to call 📞 😕 🙄 Someone has to bug 🐛 you! 🙏 💕
I find the facial carving of Mary to be somewhat sphinx-like. Interesting story, Ron. Lovely cemetery with gorgeous trees.
I've been here when I was young. Did a cemetery tour with family
I love those stones and the artwork carved on them. Absolutely amazing and beautiful. 🪦
Have you heard about Captain John Baker? He is buried under railroad tracks at Cresaps bottoms near Wheeling West Virginia. He is my 4th Great grandfather.
I can't wait till you come to this area. We have graves with early & mid 1700's DOD. Being young at funerals I'd always note the graves of those who were my age and wonder how they died. Later in college I could match some to flu epidemics Small Pox etc
Mary's stone is still so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
I have a little drone.... sits in the palm of your hand.. Belonged to my late daughter. Let me just say I have mad respect for your drone skills lol. Love the shots you open with.
Great story... beautiful cemetary.
ty!
Hiya, mate. Thanks once again.
Puritans weren't as pure as "labeled" many people who were easily duped caused so much panic, and then you've got those who took a disliking to some were just evil and started rumors, etc,etc.
Poor Mary was knowledgeable in naturel healing, that's where the stone gathered the moss. RIP Mary and your family that were probably shunned.✝️🙏🏼🙌🏼🕊️💜💛💖💞
"Pure" was the way they worshiped and expected everyone else to worship as well.
Fantastic story. I don't believe she was a witch. I think she was eccentric in her beliefs and that made her an outcast. She lived in a time period where being different was not acceptable and thats why they called her a witch. Love the old stones. I traveled through New England with my husband and we visited many graveyards. They were all really old and had those same strange faces on them. Cant wait to visit New England again.👍👍❤❤❤
right on Linda!!
Super excited to see this video as it's in my home state! As always, I appreciate all you do for everyone 💯 #allthelove from Maine 🇺🇸
Very beautiful headstone. Some religious people do modest graves, they avoid being flashy even in death ….. I would love to know more about her.
Ron, I do have a story about my great grandfather that is quite haunting. My grandmother told me the witchcraft that she witnessed from him 1st hand. Quite interesting story. He was a so-called evil man, but resisted the last lesson of becoming a warlock, which required him to give the Bible to Satan. Can you imagine?
Wow auch old graves amazing!
🙃like your shirt...my favorite band of all time!
I love these stories on these
Thanks Ron❤️
Love the Zeplin shirt!!
Great story.
Thanks once again Ron for this wonderful story....from a fan here in the South Pacific. 🙏❤️❤️🙏
This was very interesting although I don't believe she was actually a witch if there really ever was a real witch.
This was such a hauntingly beautiful opening. It set the mood perfectly for the tragic story to follow.
Hi Ron greetings from Cape Town South Africa 🇿🇦
Me too ✋ 💛💛
Amazing, I love the dates on the headstones. That is OLD!!!! WOW
Mary Nasson story is also on New England Ghost Stories from a few years ago. On Season 2 Episode 04 in the series it shows her grave with stones at each end of the slab. I tried to copy it but couldn't, it's such a great but sad story. Thanks so much.
Yes. I grew up here. On school field trips in the seventies we would visit here often to do grave stone rubbings. There were definitely two headstones then
Yes, definitely had two stones. Does anyone know what happened to the one that’s missing? I’ve contacted both the church and historical society and got the runaround, especially after telling them I’m a descendant.
So sad, I dont really believe in witches, but maybe if she was a doctor she did things that were to advaned for people to believe RIP Mary 🙏 🕊
The drone footage was very well done Ron and well piloted by you. I wouldn't have any idea how to do that, LoL. Bob.
This is exciting news for me as I'm a New Englander. I'm from NH and I love hearing about all the old history. Thankyou
I'm sure women in general were treated as outcast so anything out of the ordinary was considered taboo, so with her having exorcisms would've been the straw that sealed her fate as a Witch. Ron, I agree with you I not sure if she was a Witch but it does make for great stories a the way you come into the cemetery is simply fantastic 👌 😀
Thanks.
Great entrance with the drone to the cemetery. If you had an enemy or rival that you wanted to get rid of - the witch trials were the way to go. Anyone, ANYONE could claim someone was a witch.
The witchcraft history disturbs me as much as the Holocaust. 😥
I just love the stories you tell of people from the past again, Ron u are such a master storyteller! Keep em coming you rock! Btw love ur Led Zeppelin t shirt!!
My grandparents lived in Southampton Massachusetts, I visited one year with my mom and we went to York Beach, Maine with Marilyn her girlfriend. I'm not sure if it's the same area, but it certainly sounds like it, thank you for this great story!!!
This was a good one Ron. Buried at 29 that is so sad 😞. This grave is epic.
The Cemetery is nice very interesting tombstones and it was a really good story.
But Mary Nasson's tombstone that was carved out very nice looking. 👍
Thank you for sharing this! Great story!
Incredible the ages of these stones and the carvings are in such good shape too. I love witch stories and I think every kid in Chicago had a witch house in their neighborhood. I know I did. No one would walk past it, we all ran like invisible people were chasing us 😅
Another awesome band ❤️ I ❤️ Zeppelin
👍🤟🏽
Ron , wonderful video, the opening with the music, very haunting! Thank you 🤗
That is so tragic. They always persecuted the women who knew how to heal, help the community and had physical beauty. All brought attention to the woman- and with that, jealousy. The best and the brightest.🙏🏼😔
So sad what these mostly young women went through during that awful period of time. I don’t believe she was a witch, and it’s such a beautiful gesture to place the infamous yellow rose. Good story.
Thanks!
wow, ty Cindy-Lou
Ron been to the same cemetery, the site is also in remembrance to a massacre that happened back in 1692. Love knowing about history. We were told by a guide that the stone covering her grave was to keep her in the ground.
Wow this is what I was telling you about Ron! So glad you listened to Michael!
Rest in peace Mary, Blessed be
Ron, have you ever thought about going to Adams, Tennessee? The historic grave of the Bell Witch and the cave there? I have still yet to get into the cave there but I I have been around the property. I understand they just opened up the cave again for the season and a friend of mine went and took pictures. The story is fairly well known because they made a movie about it but there are still a lot of people who've never heard of it.
Yes I know of the Bell Witch, but my friend at “DD Explores” TH-cam channel did that episode. What can I add?….she did a great job!!
th-cam.com/video/KbQkp0scS9A/w-d-xo.html
Although now that I’m looking at it, is this another Bell Witch??
Ha.
Oh THAT would be GREAT!!!! I Have always wanted to go to that town after watching a documentary about The Bell Witch I'm actually in Johnson City Tennessee not very far from Sevierville/Gatlinburg
@@FacesoftheForgotten yes about 45 min away from Nashville there's a movie with Donald Sutherland and Sissy Spacek about it a Lady named Mary Mary Bell who was supposedly a witch
@@thatgardeninggirl2864 That is the Bell Witch. John Bell and family were terrorized hy her.
@@FacesoftheForgotten can't seem to find DD Explores video though.