The Williamsburg witch trial was a notable event that occurred in 1706 in the historic colonial town of Williamsburg, Virginia. This trial was part of a larger wave of witch trials that occurred throughout the American colonies during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, commonly known as the Salem witch trials. The trial in Williamsburg began when a young girl named Mary Johnson accused her neighbor, Sarah Goodwin, of practicing witchcraft. Mary claimed that Sarah had been tormenting her through supernatural means, causing her to fall ill and experience strange visions. The accusations quickly spread, and a group of local officials was assembled to investigate the claims. During the trial, Mary and several other witnesses testified against Sarah, describing her alleged acts of witchcraft and the harm she had caused.
During the trial, Mary and several other witnesses testified against Sarah, describing her alleged acts of witchcraft and the harm she had caused. Sarah vehemently denied the accusations, maintaining her innocence throughout the proceedings. However, her protests fell on deaf ears, as the court was firmly convinced of her guilt.
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.
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 the end, Sarah Goodwin was found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to death by hanging. Her execution took place in a public square in Williamsburg, attracting a large crowd of spectators. The trial and execution of Sarah Goodwin was a tragic event that reflected the widespread fear and hysteria surrounding witchcraft during this time period. The Williamsburg witch trial, like many other witch trials of the era, was characterized by a lack of concrete evidence and reliance on testimonies that often relied on hearsay and superstition. It is now widely recognized that many of those accused of witchcraft during this time were innocent victims of a society gripped by panic and misinformation. The Williamsburg witch trial serves as a reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of due process. It stands as a somber chapter in American history, highlighting the repercussions of unfounded accusations and the devastating consequences they can have on individuals and communities..
Reviews for "Women at the Center: The Role of Gender in the Williamdburg Witch Trials"
- Emily - 2 stars - I was really excited to attend the "Williamsburg Witch Trial" show, but I ended up being disappointed. The acting was subpar and the storyline felt weak. The characters lacked depth and I couldn't connect with any of them. Additionally, the production quality was not up to par. It felt amateurish and poorly executed. Overall, I left feeling underwhelmed and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- John - 1 star - I had high expectations for the "Williamsburg Witch Trial" play, but it fell short in every aspect. The dialogue was cliché and the plot was predictable. The costumes and set design were lackluster and failed to transport me to the historical setting they were aiming for. The performances lacked passion and didn't captivate the audience. I was extremely disappointed and wouldn't waste my time or money on this production again.
- Sarah - 2 stars - "Williamsburg Witch Trial" was a disappointing experience for me. The acting was mediocre at best, with some actors struggling to deliver their lines convincingly. The pacing was also off, and the momentum of the storyline was lost multiple times. The show lacked any real tension or suspense and failed to engage me in any meaningful way. I had high hopes for this production, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.