Meet GRACE SHERWOOD, the witch of Pungo. Grace and her husband had a reputation of being litigious, but when her husband died the neighbors saw their chance to get even. How does one get rid of an annoying neighbor? One whose land you’d like to claim as your own? Who’s poor and alone…and female? Why you call her a witch! Duh.
In 1706, Grace Sherwood became the last person in Virginia to be convicted of being a witch. She endured a trial by water. First, she was inspected by a jury of women for marks of the devil. Of course, she had them—one of the women inspecting her was the one who accused her! Next, she was “ducked” (tied up and placed in water). She floated, so clearly a witch. But she was given benefit of the doubt, had thirteen pounds of Bibles tied to her neck, and re-ducked. She undid the bonds, swam to the surface—in a heavy downpour, and was therefore definitely a witch. After serving years in jail, she was allowed to pay back taxes on her home, and return to her life. She remained there until her death in 1740.
Grace Sherwood’s name was cleared on July 10, 2006, the 300th anniversary of her conviction, by then-governor Tim Kaine. Today, you can view a commemorative marker near the location of the jail where she was held or take a picture with her statue in front of Sentara Independence Hospital in Virginia Beach.
To read more:
- Atlas Obscura – The Witch of Pungo Statue
- Virginia Museum of History and Culture – Grace Sherwood: The “Witch of Pungo”
- Encyclopedia Virginia – Grace Sherwood
Cover Image: Witch Duck Bay, photo credit: PumpkinSky, via Wikimedia Commons