February 5, 1653;  "Job Hilliard of Salem, fisherman, hath sold to Isaac Esty of Salem, cooper, one house and land adjoining to be paid for with codfish, mackeral or caske."  Owned a part of what was later the Agricultural Society's property, adding to his holdings through the years.  His property adjoined that of his father and brothers in laws, and was part of the original division of common land.  The fifteenth lot of 10 acres was given to Isaac and later he bought lots next to this.  When the 500 acres or the remainder of common land was divided in 1722, the Esteys received additional grants  in this vicinity.  He provided his sons with property on their marriages.  (History of Topsfield; Currents of Malice - McMillen)

March 25, 1657;  A record of the meeting of the selectman of Salem, shows that Isaac and four other men were liable for cutting trees on Salem common.  (Currents of Malice - McMillen)

1661;  Name appears with William, Jacob and Edmond Towne on Topsfield's original list of thirty commoners.   His original purchase of land adjoined that of his faather in law and other members of the Towne family.   (Currents of Malice - McMillen)

  1663;  Mother and father in law,  William and Joanna Towne, deeded 2/3 of the home they live in, the barn, outhouses, yard, gardens, orchards, "lying situate and being in Topsfield, together with a parcel of broken upland by the meadow side, only a cartway reserved between the said land and the meadow towards the South, and the land of Jacob Towne towards the East, and the land of Jacob Towne and Edmund Towne towards the North, and the Lands of Isaac Estie towards the West - also another parcell of land broke up and upbroken, containing an estimation of thirty acres, bounded by the way towards the Southeast and Northeast, and a way also towards the Southwest; the land of Zacheus Gould and Edmund Towne towards the Northwest and the land of Edmund Towne and Isaac Estie towards the North.  Also a parcell of meddow lying on the North side of the river, having the river for the bounds towards the South, a highway towards the West, and a way towards the North, and meddow of Jacob Towne towards the East, containing by estimation fourteen acres." to son Joseph just prior to his marriage with Phebe Perkins; "In consideration of natural affection and the contemplated marriage of our son Joseph Towne to Phebe Perkins..."  Joseph also to have first refussal of the remaining 1/3 when it should be for sale.  (George Towne book; Pope's Pioneers of MA; NEHGS, Vol. 21, p 15)

1664;  Paid just under one pound to the minister.  (Currents of Malice - McMillen)

1673, freeman15

1675;  With Jacob Towne appointed overseer of the old road to Salem.  To view the way on the south side of Ipswich River,  a portion of the road complained of.  The town of Topsfield was presented by the town of Salem for a "defective highway between Salem bounds and Topsfield bridge"  Case dismissed as road was mended.  (Currents of Malice - McMillen)

1678;  Chosen to "inspect any person or persons that shall profane the sabbath and to proceed against any 27 that shall be faulty as the law directed"  Tythingman.  (Currents of Malice - McMillen)

1692; Involved in land dispute with Salem villagers prior to 1692 when wife accused of witchcraft14

On March 18, 1702 a petition was presented to the General Court that something be done to publicly remove the infamy from the names and memory of those who have suffered and that none of their surviving relations nor their posterity may suffer reproach on account of that. This was signed by Isaac Estey along with twenty others.

On the 20th of July, 1702 a bill was ordered up by the House of Representatives which prohibited future such actions and cleared the names of all such accused. However nothing was done until September 12, 1710 when Isaac Estey presented a strong memorial to the General Court in reference to his case. He calls for some remuneration. In speaking of the arrest and execution of his "beloved wife, my sorrow and trouble of heart in being deprived of her in such a manner, which this world can never make me any compensation for."

"To his Excellency the Governor and the Honorable Counsell and Generall Assembly for the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England Conven'd at Boston May 25th 1709 The Humble Adress and Motion of Several of the inhabitants of the s'd Province some of which had their near Relations Either Parents or others who suffered Death in the Dark and Dollfull times that past over this province in the Year 1692 under the supposition and in that Gloumy Day by Some (thought prov'd) of Being Guilty of witchcraft w'ch we have all Reson in the world to hope and beleive they were Inocent of, and others of us that Either our selves or some of our Relations have Been Imprison'd impaired and Blasted in our Reputations and Estates by Reson of the same, its not our Intent Neither Do we Reflect on the Judges or Jurors Concern'd in those Sorrowfull tryals whome we hope (and beleive) Did that w'ch they thought was Right in that hour of Darkness, but that w'ch we move and pray for is that You Would Pleas to pass some suitable Acts as in Your Wisdom You may think meet and proper that shall (so far as may be) Restore the Reputations to the Posterity of the suffurers and Remunerate them as to what they have been Damnified in their Estates thereby we Do not Without Remors and greif Recount these sorrowfull things But we Humbly Conceive that we are Bound in Consience and Duty to god and to our selves Relatives and posterity and Country Humbly to make this Motion praying God to Direct You in this and all Your Weighty Consultations.
We subscribe Your sorrowfull and Distrest Supliants
Philip English
Isack Estey sen
Benjamin Proctor
John Proctor
Thorndik Proctor
George Jacobes
John Tarbell
John Parker
Joseph Parker
John Johnson
Francis Faulkner
Isaac Estey
Joseph esty
Samuel Nurs
Benjamin Nurs
john preston
Samuel Nurs ju.
(The Salem Witchcraft Papers - Boyer and Nissenbaum)

PETITIONS FOR COMPENSATION AND DECISION CONCERNING COMPENSATION, 1710 -1711 (Account of Isaac Easty -- Case of Mary Easty) Topsfield Septemb'r 8 th. 1710
Isaac Esty of Topsfield in the county of Essex in N.E. having been sorely exercis'd through the holy & awful providence of God depriving him of his beloved wife Mary Esty who suffered death in the year 1692 & under the fearfull odium of one of the worst of crimes that can be laid to the charge of mankind, as if she had been guilty of witchcraft a peice of wickedness witch I beleeve she did hate with perfect hatered & by all that ever I could see by her never could see any thing by her that should give me any reason in the lest to think her guilty of anything of that nature but am firmly persuaded that she was innocent of it as any to such a shameful death-Upon consideration of a notification from the Honored Generall Court desiring my self & others under the like circumstances to give some account of what my Estate was damnify'd by reason of such a hellish molestation do hereby declare which may also be seen by comparing papers & records that my wife was near upon 5 months imprisioned all which time I provided maintenance for her at my own cost & charge, went constantly twice aweek to provide for her what she needed 3 weeks of this 5 months she was in prision at Boston & I was constrained to be at the charge of transporting her to & fro. So that I can not but think my charge in time and money might amount to 20 pounds besides my trouble & sorrow of heart in being deprived of her after such a manner which this world can never make me any compensation for. I order and appoint my son Jacob Esty to carry this to the Honored Committee   Isaac Easty sen'r   aged about 82 years
Appointed by the Honored Generall Court & are to meet at Salem Sept 12 1710 Dated this 8th of Sept. 1710 (Reverse) Mary Easty of Topsfield Condem'd & Executed

Whereas the Generall Assembly in their last session accepted the report of their comitte appointed to consider of the Damages sustained by Sundry persons prosecuted for Witchcraft in the year 1692 viz't
                                                    lb.      s      d.

To Elizabeth How                        12       0      0
John Procter and Wife                150      0      0
George Jacobs                              79      0      0
Sar[a]h Wild                                 14      0      0
Mary Easty                                   20      0      0
Mary Bradbury                             20      0      0
George Burroughs                         50      0      0
Abigail Faulkner                           20       0      0
Giles cory ? wife                           21       0      0
Anne Foster                                   6      10      0
Rebeccah Nurse                           25       0       0
Rebeccah Eames                          10       0       0
John Willard                               20        0      0
Dorcas Hoar                                21      17      0
Sarah Good                                 30        0      0
Mary Post                                     8      14       0
Martha Carrier                             7        6       0
Mary Lacey                                   8       10     0
Samuel Wardwell ? wife               36      15      0
_____________________________________________________________________

                                                  309        1      0
                                                  269      11      0
_____________________________________________________________________
                                                  578      12     0

The whole amounting unto Five hundred seventy eight poundes and twelve shillings.
I doe by and with the advice and consent of Maj'tys council hereby order you to pay the sum above of five hundred seventy eight poundes & Twelve shillings to Stephen Sewall Esq'r. who together witht the gentelmen of the committe that Estimated and Reported the said damages are desired & directed to distribute the same in proportion as above to such of the said persons as are Living. and to those that legally represent them that are dead according as the law directs & for which this shall be your Warrant.
Given under my hand at Boston the 17th day of December 1711      J. Dudley
(Reverse) Allowance to persons who were prosecuted for witchcraft
[To Mr Treasurer Taylor By order of the Governor & Council Isa Addington Secrty.]

The General Court on October 17th, 1710 passed an act that "the several convictions, judgments, and attainders be, and hereby are, reversed, and declared to be null and void." Governor Dudley, on December 17, 1711 issued a warrant which gave Isaac Estey ?20 for the loss of Mary. Mary's sister, Sarah Cloyse received 3 gold crowns (a gold coin each worth about a 1/4 of a pound or 5 shillings)."

1712; Son Jacob received the homestead on his death.  (History of Topsfield)

Had large valuable farm, still intact and owned by Thomas Pierce, Esq. in the 1890's12,13

Could read and write16
Occupation: cooper16