Meet Grace Sherwood, the 'Witch of Pungo'

 

Did you know that July 10 is Grace Sherwood Day in Virginia Beach, Va.?

Grace Sherwood, the so-called “Witch of Pungo,” was the only person to be convicted of witchcraft in Virginia through the test of ducking in water. 

Starting in 1697, the midwife and healer was accused by her neighbors of “bewitching” their livestock and cotton crops. She was also accused of shape-shifting—turning into a black cat. In response, Sherwood brought defamation lawsuits against her accusers. The court didn’t make a finding of witchcraft, and Sherwood lost her defamation cases.

In January 1706, new allegations were brought against Sherwood by a neighbor who claimed Sherwood caused her miscarriage. A jury of 12 “ancient and knowing women” appointed by the court found two “witches’ marks” on Sherwood’s body. Such marks could range from a mole to skin discolorations.

The court ordered that Sherwood be tried by “ducking.” In this test, an accused witch was bound hand and foot and thrown into water to see if she would float, or sink. Because water was considered “pure,” it would reject a witch. Therefore, floating was a sign of witchcraft, while the innocent sank. 

On July 10, 1706, Sherwood was rowed out into a branch of the Lynnhaven River and pushed off the boat. Her right thumb reportedly was tied to her left big toe, and her left thumb was tied to her right big toe. The accused floated to the surface, at which point the sheriff tied a 13-pound bible around her neck. She sank, but managed to untie herself and swim to the surface. 

Sherwood was convicted of witchcraft and imprisoned. She was freed by 1714.

Sherwood spent the remainder of her days in her farm in Pungo. She died in 1740 at the age of 80. She was buried in an unmarked grave in a field at the intersection of Pungo Ferry Road and Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach. 

After her death, there were rumors of unnatural storms and the appearance of black cats. The spooked townsfolk set out to kill any cat they saw, which might have led to a rodent infestation in Princess Anne County in 1743. 

The place where Sherwood’s trial by water was held is now called Witchduck Point in Virginia Beach. Some say that a strange moving light appears every July right at the spot where Sherwood was pushed into the water.

Three hundred years after her trial, Sherwood was informally pardoned on July 10, 2006, by Virginia’s then-governor Tim Kaine. On the same day, Virginia Beach declared July 10 to be Grace Sherwood Day. 

[This is research for a new witchy series I’m writing. I enjoyed learning about the Witch of Pungo, and I thought you might too! Stay tuned for an announcement of the series either this year or early next year.]

The King Neptune statue at Virginia Beach.