Grace Sherwood: The Witch of Pungo No More

I grew up in a very historical area by the name of Bayside, Virginia Beach, Virginia. However, long before it was Bayside, this area was called Princess Anne County. The area has a variety of historic elements that I am hoping to bring to my audience. But, I would like to address one of my favorite issues about Colonial Princess Anne and that is of the witch trials that took place here. While we are all familiar with the Salem witch trials, these types of incidents were happening in Virginia as well which led to the famous trial of Grace Sherwood.

Court records show that Grace and her husband James were in court several times over disputes with neighbors where the Sherwood's alleged that they were trespassing and defaming their character and would lose time and time again.

On February 6, 1705 Mr. Hill, who had been sued by Grace made a complaint against her accusing her of witchcraft; Stating that she bewitched the crops. The court summonsed a jury of women to search her body to see if there were any markings on her. The jury foreman however, was also a person that Grace and her husband had sued so naturally there were markings on her body.

There would be several different types of issues involved in trying to hold her responsible for being a witch and as the time drug on, Grace wanted to dissolve the accusations once and for all by consenting to ducking.

The idea of ducking was that if the witch was thrown into water. Because it was considered to be pure, she would not sink because the powerful water would keep her out. If she drown than she was innocent. After she was tied right toe to left hand and right hand to left toe and tossed in the water she somehow did not drown. Logically thinking, she probably escaped and swam to the surface however, history states that she had floated and upon being pulled from the river she was found guilty of being a witch and imprisoned and was on public display until 1714 when it is said that the townsfolk began to feel sorry for her, in addition to becoming more accepting to peoples differences.

That day, the 10^th of July in 1706, the skies were said to be clear but in addition to her escape there was said to have been a huge storm as she was lifted from the water. Was it coincidence or was this the norm of the similar Virginia Beach weather that we see today in that one moment it is clear and the next it is storming. Oddly enough sometimes it rains across the street but you on the other side would remain completely dry...it happens. While Grace was said to be calm during this storm, the crowd ran away in panic.

Stories that have been told of Grace such as her bewitching a cabin boy of a ship, summoning strong winds so that they could sail to England to get some Rosemary; overnight and because of this incident Rosemary bushes run wildly among Princess Anne County.

However, in dissecting the records and learning about Grace and James Sherwood, one would see that this was all the result of a basic neighbor dispute. One person didn't like the other for what ever reason and as it is today, people took sides and unfortunately it was not hers. However, it can be understood why. It is because of a buried legend of Grace Sherwood that states she is a witch because she had a "special way" of healing and in addition was considered odd because she often wore men's clothing. This is why there is now a statute erected at Bayside Hospital, which is just a few kilometers from where she was ducked.

The owners that live around the pond did not want the statue there at what is now known as witch duck pond and Bayside gladly accepted her on the basis of her having been a healer. I have to agree that maybe Grace Sherwood was just misunderstood and a woman before her time and having these qualities would make other woman in the county jealous. She was a mid-wife, a wife and mother, and a lover of life and now, thanks to Belinda Nash, a woman who has extensively and asked for the Governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine to pardon her and on July 5, 2006 he did just that and a statue was erected in her honor. Now, she is no longer a witch she is a legendary healer.

You can see the statue in the lawn of Bayside Hospital on the lower right hand side. It is located on the corner of Witch Duck Rd. & Independence Blvd.