Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-03
Wftchcraft in the South.

10 UtP IsNNoT " utt DtSVutCs
Under this heading the DISPATCH Of the
Goth has an inquiry from correspondent
as to whether any witches were ever
burned at the South, which you very pro-
perly answer by saying - 1t is confidently
believed that there is nothing In print or
of record, or in tradition TO support the
implication cited" meaning the impllca-
ton that witches had been burned at the
stake IN the South. 10 was on the part of
the speaker who uttered II nothing but an
outburst of pure malignity and hatred OF
the South, such as we often had specimens
of in abolition times from such men as the
Hon. Ans. Burlingame, who, on the Atm OF
July, 1856. offered as toast the following :
The Times Demand and We Must Have
an Anti Slavery Constitution, an Anti
Slavery Bible, and an Anti-Slayery God. "
But in your reference to the trial OF
Grace Sherwood for witchcraft In Princess
Anne county in the year 1705 there are
some inaccuracies that are worth correct
ing for the truth of history. You say that
the court in that case hesitated TO pro-
coed TO Judgment. and she was released"
This is not according TO the court record.
On page 43S of Howe's Historical Collec-
lions or Virginia may be found complete
record OF this celebrated trial of Grace
Sherwood, q copy of which. attested by j.
J. Burroughs, the famous clerk OF Princess
Anne county from 1921 TO 1869 (forty-eight
years., was presented some years ago by
President Cushing, of Hampden-Sidney
College 10 the Nirglnis Historical and
Philosophical Society and published
among their collections. This record Is q
curiosity III Its way, as throwing some
light on the state of society in Princess
Anne county at that period 170j). as well
as for the quaint spelling and singular lam
euage of the court records.
IL appears that there were several trials
Of the case. The order entered on the 7th
day OF March, 1905, Is as follows:
Whereas, complaint have been TO
this day court by Luke Hill and wife vt
one Grace Sherwood, of We county, was
and have been u long time suspected OF
witchcraft. and have been as such repre-
sented, wherefore we sheer at ye last court
was ord. som. a jury OF weamen to ye
court to serch her on We said suspicion,
she asserting TO we same, and after ye jury
was imDanneled and sworn, and sent out
to make due inquiry and inspection into
all circumstances. after n mature conslde-
ration they bring in We verdict: THE
substance of 1t was that they found no un-
usual marks, save several spots on the
tieshl
There was no judgmentof the court on
this verdict.
On the I'd of May following the court
determined 10 have her examined de moro
and by an abe jury OF women.
At court held on the 9th of June, it
appearing that no jury had made q report.
Mr.. Maxwell Branch, council on behalf OF
Our Sovereign Lady We Queen, was re-
ouested TO bring an information against
Grace Sherwood in order that she might
be brought 10 regular trial. On the 9th
of July following the court made all order
az follows: Where's for this sevfall
courts We business between Luke Hill and
wife and Grace Sherwood on suspicion o I
wltchcraft, have been for sevrall things
omitted. particularly tor want OF jury TO
serch her, and the court being doubtful
that they should get one, Us court being
willing 10 have all means tryed TO acquit
her or give more strength to ye suspicion
that she might be dealt with AS she de-
served therefor, il was order vt We this day
by her own consent to be tryed in ye water
by ducking. but We weather being. very
rainy and bad, soc vt possibly II might en-
danger her health. it 10 therefore ord. vt
We Sherr. do have We said Grace Sherwood
TO meet with We Court on John Harper's
plantation, in ord. to take sd Grace Sher-
wood forthwith and but her into water be-
yopd mans depth. and try how she sur
wives therein, always taking care of her
life TO prevent her from drowning"
Without going farther the foregoing. VIII
show that Grace Sherwood was not re-
leased y after her first trial. but that she
was subsequently tried more than once,
and treated with unusual lenity for
witch. the only punishment she was sub
;ected to being that Of ducking. which was
done .in the presence Of the court in
beautiful inlet that puts into Lynnhaven
bay. which is called 1.-The Witch's Duck"
to this day. Ed.