The York witch grave is a significant archaeological site located in York, England. It is believed to be the burial place of a woman accused of witchcraft and subsequently executed during the 17th century. The grave was discovered in 2002 during an excavation at the former St. Andrew's Quay car park. The burial site consists of a large rectangular pit, measuring approximately six meters long by two meters wide. The woman's body was found fully extended within the pit, with her arms crossed over her chest.
The woman's body was found fully extended within the pit, with her arms crossed over her chest. This burial posture was commonly associated with accused witches during the time period. Various artifacts and remains were found in and around the grave, including a coin minted in 1644 during the English Civil War.
York witch grave
A while ago someone who reads this blog asked me to post about an alleged witch's grave in York, Maine. What a great idea! I love old graveyards, and I love New England witches. So here's a post that brings those two great tastes together like a Reese's peanut butter cup of the uncanny.
When I was a kid my family went to York, Maine a few times for vacations. I remember going to the beach, and visiting the zoo there. When I was a kid I think it was called York Wild Animal Farm, but these days it's York's Wild Kingdom.
As far as I know, we did not visit the Old Burying Ground, which is located in charming and historic York Village. It's too bad, because as with most charming cemeteries around here it has a weird legend is attached to it. I probably would have enjoyed hearing it.
The legend is about the grave of Mary Nasson, who who passed away in 1774. Her gravestone is a little different than the others. It has a portrait of Mary on it, and is covered with a big stone slab.
| Photo from The Journal Inquirer. |
I think the stone succeeded in keeping the animals away, but it hasn't kept Mary's ghost from coming up to the surface. According to Joseph Citro's Weird New England, her ghost has reportedly been seen pushing local children on swings and giving them wildflowers. Hmmm. For a witch's ghost she doesn't seem particularly menacing. Online I've found quite a few sites claiming that Mary Nasson only acquired her witchy reputation because she was an effective herbalist. Her neighbors didn't understand how her cures worked and therefore thought they were magic. Oh, and maybe she could perform exorcisms.
| Image from Atlas Obscura |
So, was Mary Nasson a good witch, or a bad witch, or just someone who has an unusual gravestone? Are any of these legends true?
I don't know if they are true, but they definitely are old. I thought they might just be recent urban folklore but found they date back to at least the 19th century. I found this passage in 1894's Ancient City of Gorgeana and Modern Town of York (Maine) from Its Earliest Settlement: Also Its Beaches and Summer Resorts by George Alexander Emery:
Near the southwest corner of the old burying-ground is a grave, with head and foot stones, between which and lying on the grave is a large flat rock, as large as the grave itself. The inscription reads thus: - "Mary Nasson, wife of Samuel Nasson, died August 28, 1774, aged 29 years." No one, at least in this town, seems to know anything about her origin, death or even of the singular looking grave. No other occupant of a grave bearing this cognomen can be found in this cemetery, and the name is unknown in the town. A great many surmises and conjectures have been advanced in regard to this matter, in order to arrive at the facts, if there be any, and to clear up the dark affair, but nothing definite has ever come out of the effort. The writer of this, when a youth, living in York, was given to understand that this stone was placed there to keep down a witch that was buried beneath it.
In short, no one knows the real, historically-documented truth about Mary Nasson. Although George Alexander Emery doesn't believe Mary Nasson was a witch, he adds fuel to the fire by providing yet another legend. According to this one, a disembodied evil spirit used to haunt some rooms in an old house near the cemetery. It was banished from the house, but now roams the cemetery's perimeter, waiting for Mary to arise from her grave and join it.
I don't like to debunk legends; I like to savor them, so I'll just close with a couple thoughts. First, anomalous gravestones often attract legends. Rightly or wrongly, people tend to think that strange graves must contain strange occupants.
Second, the idea is very old that special effort is required to restrain a restless spirit. For example, in old European vampire lore a stake to the heart literally nails a vampire into its grave. Closer to home, Eunice Cole, an accused witch of Hampton, New Hampshire, was supposedly staked through the heart after death and had a horseshoe placed on top of her. It's not unreasonable (in folk belief) to think that a big rock might keep a ghost from coming out of the grave.
One last note: I am now writing a bi-monthly column for Spare Change News called Bizarre Boston. If you live or work in Boston be sure to buy an issue and help the city's homeless community. You can see one of my columns (about a Boston smallpox epidemic) here.
I don't know if they are true, but they definitely are old. I thought they might just be recent urban folklore but found they date back to at least the 19th century. I found this passage in 1894's Ancient City of Gorgeana and Modern Town of York (Maine) from Its Earliest Settlement: Also Its Beaches and Summer Resorts by George Alexander Emery:
This suggests that the woman was likely buried sometime in the mid-17th century, a time when witch trials and executions were prevalent in England. The discovery of the York witch grave provides valuable insight into the history and superstitions surrounding witchcraft during this period. It serves as a reminder of the persecution and fear that many individuals faced during the witch-hunting era. Since its discovery, the York witch grave has attracted significant attention from both archaeologists and the general public. It has become a site of interest for those interested in witchcraft history and has been the subject of numerous studies and publications. The grave also serves as a memorial to the woman buried there, providing a tangible connection to the past and the experiences of those accused of witchcraft. It stands as a reminder of the injustices that were carried out in the name of religion and social conformity. Overall, the York witch grave holds great historical and archaeological significance. It sheds light on a dark chapter in England's past and serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of witch trials and the persecution of those considered to be witches. It is a site that continues to captivate and educate visitors about the history and impact of witchcraft accusations..
Reviews for "The Witch Trials of York: Tracing the Origins of the Witch Grave"
1. John - ★★☆☆☆
I found "York witch grave" to be quite boring and uneventful. The plot was slow-paced, and the characters lacked depth and development. The story had potential, but it fell flat in execution. It never managed to captivate my interest or build suspense. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
I didn't enjoy "York witch grave" at all. The writing style was choppy and filled with awkward dialogue. The characters were one-dimensional and stereotypical, making it difficult to connect with any of them. The plot was predictable and lacked originality. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and anti-climactic moments. I regret picking up this book and would advise others to steer clear of it.
3. Mark - ★★☆☆☆
"York witch grave" wasn't what I expected it to be. The story seemed promising, but ultimately it failed to deliver. The pacing was slow, and there were too many unnecessary details that didn't contribute to the overall plot. The dialogue felt forced, and the characters lacked depth. The supposed twists and turns were predictable and didn't surprise me at all. I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this book.