The Williamsburg Witch Trial was a significant event that took place in the early colonial days of America. Occurring in the year 1706, this trial stands as one of the earliest cases of witchcraft accusation and persecution in the country. The trial began with the arrest of Grace Sherwood, a resident of Princess Anne County, Virginia, on charges of witchcraft. Sherwood was accused of employing dark magic to harm her neighbors and their livestock. The accusations against her spread quickly, and as the fear and hysteria around witchcraft escalated, the local authorities felt compelled to take action. The trial took place in Williamsburg, the capital city of the Virginia Colony at the time.
So why did all of this happen? What caused people to become so paranoid that they started to believe devil-worshiping witches surrounded them?
Keep an eye out for famous ghosts such as Ida Jones as your costumed guide shares tales of Blackbeard s crew, Jones Graveyard, and other haunted spots throughout the Williamsburg area. Eventually, a jury of women were assigned the task of searching Sherwood for incriminating marks spots where a witch might feed an animal-like demon given to her by the devil.
The trial took place in Williamsburg, the capital city of the Virginia Colony at the time. Sherwood was brought before a panel of judges and faced a jury made up of local residents. The proceedings followed the standard legal process of the time, which although lacking in modern concepts of due process and evidence-based conviction, still adhered to the formalities of the law.
Infamous Witch Trials of Williamsburg, VA. Grace Sherwood of Pungo!
The Witch of Pungo is no longer a witch. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Monday, July 10, 2006 gave an informal pardon to Grace Sherwood, who 300 years ago became Virginia’s only person convicted as a witch tried by water.
“I am pleased to officially restore the good name of Grace Sherwood,” Kaine wrote in a letter Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf read aloud before a re-enactment of Sherwood’s being dropped into the river.
“With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice,” Kaine wrote. “We also can celebrate the fact that a woman’s equality is constitutionally protected today, and women have the freedom to pursue their hopes and dreams.”
History:
Historical records show that Sherwood was born in Pungo, Virginia (located in the Southern part of Virginia, Beach) in 1660 to carpenter John White and his wife, Susan White. Grace only married once to a man named James Sherwood who died in 1701. She had three children with him.
Sherwood, a midwife who at times wore men’s clothes, lived in what today is the rural Pungo neighborhood, and she later became known as “The Witch of Pungo.”
The first time Sherwood was accused of witchcraft was in 1698. Her neighbors claimed that she had bewitched their pigs and cotton. Grace and her husband fought the case against her and lost. Sherwood wasn’t arrested, but rumors and accusations started to spread.
After her husband’s death, Grace had to care for the farm and her three children all by herself. Also, because she never remarried, she was often criticized, ridiculed, and treated with hostility. She would often wear men’s clothes when working and it was known that she was a herbalist. Her lifestyle opened her up to suspicion. She would often be accused of destroying gardens, causing livestock to die, and influencing the weather. It didn’t help that she had previously been accused of witchcraft.
In 1705, she sued her neighbors, Luke and Elizabeth Hill, for assault and battery. She won and received twenty pounds sterling in damages. However, Luke and Elizabeth fought back.
Early the next year, the two claimed that Sherwood had bewitched Elizabeth, accusing Sherwood of witchcraft for a second time. Time and again, the court delayed Sherwood’s trial. Eventually, a jury of women were assigned the task of searching Sherwood for incriminating marks (spots where a witch might feed an animal-like demon given to her by the devil). The women claimed to have found two marks. The case ended up going back and forth between Williamsburg and Princess Anne County for five months. In the end, Sherwood wasn’t convicted.
Sherwood, however, was still patronized. The county administered an investigation of her home which resulted in a trial by water.
The test was administered on July 10, 1706, in Lynnhaven River. When they dropped Sherwood in the water, she floated. Her body was then examined a second time by a group of women who found two marks on her body. She was convicted and sent to jail.
There is no record of Sherwood’s release from prison. However, in 1714, she appeared before the secretary of the colony to have her land reinstated to her. Therefore, it’s safe to assume that at this point, she was released from prison.
Sherwood lived out her days on her farm, until she died in 1740.
News of the Trial:
According to the historical accounts of the day. On July 10, 1706, a 46 yr. old Princess Anne County woman named Grace Sherwood faced an unusual legal procedure. Her hands were tied and she was about to be thrown from a boat into a river as a test to see if she was a witch. For several years neighbors talked of how the midwife, healer, and widowed mother of three had ruined crops, killed livestock, and conjured up storms. Then in January of 1706 Luke Hill formally accused Sherwood of witchcraft. The case passed from the county court to the attorney general of Virginia without any judgment. Finally, authorities in Princess Anne County ordered that the accused be “ducked” in consecrated water to determine her guilt or innocence. By this ordeal, if she sank she would be declared innocent, but if she floated her identity as a witch would be proven. A spot in the Lynnhaven River, off what is today known as Witchduck Point, was chosen, and Grace Sherwood was bound and thrown from a boat. She managed to untie herself and rise to the surface, proving to those present that she was a witch. As punishment for her crime, Grace Sherwood spent seven years in jail. After her release the so-called “witch of Pungo” returned to her home and lived peacefully until her death around the ripe old age of 80.
The theory behind the ducking test was that if she sank, she was innocent, although she would also drown and be dead. This was a no win in any case for Ms. Sherwood.
Sherwood was pulled from the water, a downpour supposedly started. The sky remained clear.
Grace White Sherwood
Born: 1660, likely Pungo, Princess Anne County, Colony of Virginia
Died: 1740 (aged 79–80), likely Pungo
Monuments: Statue of Grace Sherwood located at 36.866139°N 76.131811°W
Other names: The Witch of Pungo
Occupation: Farmer, healer, midwife
Criminal charge(s): Witchcraft
Criminal status: Posthumously granted an informal pardon
Other Accusations of Witchcraft in Virginia:
While Grace Sherwood was the only woman convicted of witchcraft in Virginia, she wasn’t the only accused person. Court records were destroyed during the Civil War, so it’s impossible to know exactly how many cases there were. There are, however, at least a dozen cases in colonial Virginia. Some of the accused people include Joan Wright, Katherine Grady, William Harding, and a woman named Mary (no last name), among others.
The earliest known case occurred in September 1626 when Joan Wright’s neighbors accused her of causing the death of a newborn through witchcraft. Wright was a married midwife from Surry County. She was also accused of killing crops and livestock, and accurately predicting the deaths of other colonists. In the end, however, Joan wasn’t convicted.
Another woman accused of witchcraft was Katherine Grady. Although she wasn’t technically in Virginia when convicted, she was heading there from England. En route, a violent storm hit. As an explanation for the unfortunate event, the crew accused Katherine Grady of causing it through witchcraft. Detailed records of the trial are lost, but it is known that Grady was hung before reaching the Virginian shores.
In Virginia, two men were suspected of practicing witchcraft. One of two was a man named William Harding. In 1656, Reverend David Lindsey, an expert on witchcraft from Scotland, accused William of practicing witchcraft. He was sentenced to thirteen lashes. No records indicate why they accused him of the crime.
In other known cases, people suspected women of bewitching horses, cows, and chickens, and sometimes would inspect them for marks.
The last known case of witchcraft in Virginia occurred in 1730. Accusations began when people suspected a woman named Mary of using witchcraft to find lost items and treasure. As a punishment for the accusation, she was reportedly whipped thirty-nine times.
Witch Trials and the Reasons for Them:
So why did all of this happen? What caused people to become so paranoid that they started to believe devil-worshiping witches surrounded them?
Back then people strongly believed in heaven and God. They also believed in hell, the devil, and those who served him. Because of this, people strongly believed in witchcraft. Witch trials were even common in England, in addition to America. What further enforced suspicion were the Native Americans and their beliefs and practices. When encountering this strange new culture settlers didn’t know what to think. Logically, they started to believe that the Native Americans were devil worshipers.
In addition to the surrounding area and its inhabitants, this belief was further instilled by the horrible conditions the settlers lived in. There was plenty of crop failure, illness, or death that had no clear cause. So, logically, settlers turned to witchcraft as an explanation.
Individuals who were found guilty of witchcraft were often slaves (Ex: Tituba) or peculiar and unpopular members of the community (Ex: Sarah Good, Sarah Osborn, Grace Sherwood, Joan Wright, etc.,).
There were a number of methods for testing the suspected. The most common test was a trial by water. This involved binding the hands and feet together and throwing the person into the water. If the accused sank, they were innocent, and if they floated, they were found guilty of the charge.
Other tests consisted of brutal torture. One method was known as pressing. This consisted of the suspected person being placed between two stones that would crush them until they confessed. A third method also involved water and was known as dunking. This consisted of the accused being held under water for a time and occasionally being brought back up. This would continue until they confessed.
The tests used less often included the touch test (if the victim stopped having a fit after the accused touched them, the accused was guilty), having the accused recite a prayer, and the finding of any artifacts linked to witchcraft (poppets, books of palmistry, and horoscopes, etc.,).
Another test was known as the cake test. This involved mixing the victim’s urine with rye meal and having a dog eat it. If the accused screamed in pain when the dog was eating it, (because particles of herself would be in the urine) then she was a witch.
Conclusion:
Witch trials were common in the colonial era. Many women and some men were found guilty of witchcraft. However, not all the trials occurred in Massachusetts. Among other states, Virginia had its fair share. It is true that people fear what they don’t understand, and times were hard when the trials began. People wanted an explanation for the hardships so they turned to witchcraft. As a result, people like Grace Sherwood, Joan Wright, Katherine Grady, William Harding, and Mary suffered.
Witch trials ceased to continue after they were found unlawful by the government and one of the darkest times in America’s history came to a close.
Monuments: Statue of Grace Sherwood located at 36.866139°N 76.131811°W
During the trial, Sherwood vehemently denied the accusations against her. However, the inference of guilt was often drawn from her independent and unconventional behavior, which was perceived as contradicting societal norms. Witnesses presented testimonies of experiencing misfortunes and harm, which they attributed to Sherwood's alleged witchcraft. The trial resulted in Sherwood's conviction and, ultimately, her punishment. As a consequence of her guilty verdict, she was subjected to the practice of "swimming the witch." This method involved tying the accused person's hands and feet together before being plunged into the water. If the accused floated, it was considered proof of their association with dark powers, and they would subsequently be executed. However, if they sank and drowned, it was seen as evidence of their innocence, albeit in the most tragic manner. Incredibly, Sherwood survived "swimming the witch," thereby challenging the beliefs and suspicions surrounding her. This event cast doubts upon her guilt, and gradually, public opinion turned in her favor. Over time, Sherwood's reputation began to improve, and she was eventually released from societal shunning. The Williamsburg Witch Trial serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of belief in supernatural phenomena, particularly in a time when such beliefs could result in the persecution and loss of innocent lives. It stands as a testament to the flawed and prejudiced judicial systems of the past and highlights the importance of reason, evidence, and fairness when evaluating accusations and determining guilt..
Reviews for "The Aftermath of the Williamsburg Witch Trials: Restoring Reputation and Rebuilding Lives"
1. Mary Smith - 2 stars - I was really excited to see the "Williamsburg witch trial" play, but I left feeling disappointed. The acting was subpar, with many of the performers delivering their lines with little emotion or conviction. The storyline lacked depth and failed to captivate me. The production seemed rushed and unpolished, with several technical issues throughout the performance. Overall, I can't say I enjoyed this play and would not recommend it.
2. John Johnson - 1 star - "Williamsburg witch trial" was honestly one of the worst plays I've ever seen. The dialogue was cheesy and predictable, and the actors seemed to struggle with delivering their lines naturally. The set design was lackluster, and the costumes looked cheap and poorly made. It's a shame because the concept had potential, but the execution was just terrible. I couldn't wait for it to be over, and I definitely wouldn't waste my time or money on another production by this theater company.
3. Emily Davis - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Williamsburg witch trial," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the play seemed to drag on forever. The lack of character development made it difficult to connect with any of the actors, and the plot was confusing and disjointed. The lack of attention to detail was evident in the props and set design, which resulted in a poorly immersive experience. Overall, I found the play to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others.
4. Robert Thompson - 1 star - I left "Williamsburg witch trial" feeling utterly unimpressed. The acting was amateurish, with several performers stumbling over their lines and lacking any real chemistry with one another. The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth or originality. It felt like a cheap knockoff of other, more successful productions in the same genre. The whole experience left me bored and disinterested. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this play when there are many other better options available.