Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-16
WITCHCRAFT In VA.
AN INTERESTING TRIAL IN PRINCESS
ANNE COUNTY.
Tragedy aud Comedy In an Old becord-A
Woman Ducked and Examined for
the Devils Marks.
New York Tribune.)


II, is seldom called 10 mind. Neither is 1t
generally remembered that the outburst |
of the superstitution was but tenn
porary spasm in Salem, which died out
within year. and left the community IN
horror-stricken contemplation OF It's own
awful insanity. All the more interesting
therefore, Is the record Of a trial TOT
witchcraft which took place In virginia
nearly fifteen years after the saiein
episode: but lest II should be tnoughl
that this trial, the story OF when VIII ps
told herein, is extraordinary IN respect
OF time, II should be rememDered tnu'
prosecutions for witchcraft, ana even
capital punishment on conviction ehuuiet
In Great Britain till near the emu u
the first quarter OF the eighteenth century.
The facts in the Virginia case are set
forth i'm a transcript OF the court record
which Mr. Peter Hendrick, OF this city
brought back from Princess Anne Court
house. last May The period covered py
the transcript. which Is duly attested py
4. r. KilIarn. Clerk of the County Court
OF Princess Anne county, Is ABOUT eish'
years. and the circumstances, as they can
be read in the record. point 10 ions-
standing quarrel among neighbors. IN sep
TENDER. 1893. James Sherwood ana trace
HE vrife the husband evidently being inn
pleaded. according TO the rules Oh iA"'
sued John Gisburne and Jane, MS VIE,
for SANDER, laying the damages AT NV
sterling. The cause OF action II mus SCI
forth: THAT the defendants had wrohseu'
DETAINED. ard abused the said Grace III
her good name and reputation sayIns
that she IS witch, and beWltched 'hcl'
piggs to death. and bewitched thelr COZ
ton. etc" The case was tried before
h,rv and n verdict was found for the de-
PENDANTS.
RID HER.
\ similar suit was tried at the same
term the plalntlTs again being Sherwood
and wife. and the defendants Anthony
Rarnes and Elijah III, his wife. In this
case the Islander consisted In Eizaoeth
Barnes having said that "the said Grace
came to her one night and ril her ana
went out Of the Key-IIole or crack or the
door Ike a black Gait" etc. Again, the
Jury found for the defendants, when
may be- taken as proof that Grace Sher-
wood was strongly under suspicion OF
being a witch. or was very Unpopular
woman In her ncighb0rhood. The latter
theory Is supported by the next ch1ptrr
OF the story, which Is a civil proceeding
brought By Grace Sherwood against Luxe
lin and wife, IAN action" to use the
words Of the record, "of tresspass, OF
Assault and Battery. Setting forth no
the DEFENDANTS wife had assaulted
Bruised. Manned, and Barhatously Beaten
the plaintiff to her great damage, hfty
Pounds sterling" The jury found for the
plaintiff in the sum Of twenty shlllings'
for which sum judgm mt was awarded.
Bs.yccu tn SANDER suits anu this ACTON
seven years had elapsed. The prosecution
Of Luke lin and wife for the assault
proyod 20 be Grace Shcrwood's urdo.ng'
for q short time later In January, iO''
the Hills went before The court and pup
llclv accus 4 her Of witcacrait. For the
Or sent. 4 transcript OF the record may be
LEFT to tell OF the progress OF the prose-
cutlon:
Princess Ann s.:
At Court held the 9Th february
I7O5-C. Present, Colonel Moseley, capt.
chapman. Mr. John Cor1ick, Colonel
Adam ThorrOwRCJd. Captain Handcoche'
MIR. p!-hason. came late, justices
suite for Suspicion Of wtchcraft,
brought by Lupe hin against Grace
Sherwood is ordered tone referred TIL
tomorrow.
Princess Ann s..
AT q Court held 7th February. 1860.
CThe same justices were present ana this
time Mr.. Kichason was on uneJ
Whereas a complaint was brought against
Grace Sherwood on Suspicion of "ltch-
craft by Luke I'LL &c and the inatter
being after a long time debated ana
ordered that the said Hi pay all tee5
~ this COMPLAINT and that the said Grace
| Ia here next Court TO be searched ae-
cordlns 20 the complaint by jury OF
women 70 decide the said difference and
the Sherrif Is Likewise ordered 10 SOM
mon an able jury accordingly.
| Princess Ann s..
At a Court held the 18th March 1866.
Present. Col Edward M0seley. Lieut..
! Adam Thorowgood. Capt. Horatio Wood
house. Capt. Renry Chapman, Mr.. John
Rlchason. Major Henry Spratt. Mr.. Jno.
! Cornlck. Mr.. VIM Smith, Capt. Geo.
| Handbook. Justices.
Whereas q complaint has been made 10
! this Day Court by Lake Hill ana MS WE
| that one grace Sherwood. Of the county,
! have (haO been long time suspected OF
| witchcraft and have 'ha5) been as such
represcntod wherefore the Sheriff at the
| last Court was ordered 60 summon a
| Jury Of women TO the Court to search her
on the said Suspicion. She asserting to
| the same ana after the jury was impan-
| ralled and sworn and Sent out to make
| Due inquiry and Inspection into all CIR
| cumstances After Mature Consideration
| they bring In the verdict, We OF the
Jury have sercht Grace Sherwood and
| have found Two things Ike Tits with
| small other Spots. Elizabeth Barnes
forewoman. Sarah Harris. Margin. Wat
| kins. Hannah Davis, Sarah GoodalrC
| Mary Burgess, Sarah Sergeint. Wlplnto
| Davis. Ussula Henley, Bright. Eaple
Wapley. Mary Collie. 49,,
| At Court held the 81 May, 1'o6
| Present Mr.. Jno Rchas0n. Mr. Jno
| Cornick. Mr.. VIM. Smith. Major Henry
spratt, Captn. Henry Chapman, justices
| Whereas a former complaint was brough
| against Grace Sherwood for Suspicion Of
| Witchcraft which by the AttOrney-Gene
| rails Report to his EXcellency in Council
was to general and not charSing her VIII
any particular Act. therefore, to then
that Princess Ann Court might If they
| thought fit have her examined De move
and the Court being Of opinion that ther'
Il great cause Of Suspicion Doe there
| fore order that the Sheriff take tn'
| said Grace into his Safe Custody until
She Shall give bond and Security for ne
appearance to the next Court to b'
examined De nOvo and that the Consta
bles Of that bailiwick gOe with the Sher
In and Search the said Graces Hous'
and all Suspicious places carefully for oil
Images and such like things as may an
way strengthen the Suspicion, and II j
likewise ordered that the Sheriff sum
! mon an able Jury of women, also al
Evidences as cam give I'm anytime
against her in Evidence In behalf of on
Sovereign Lady the Queen to attend IN
next Court Accordingly.
CONTEMPT.
The next few entries need not be Sc
out in full On June 9th Maximilial
Boush was requested by the Court 4
present information against the accuse
women in behalf Of our Sovereign Lady
the Queen, In order to her being brough
to n regular Tryall' The next day 1t ap
| peared that the women whom the Sherii
| had summoned to examine the prisone
| had refused to do So and they were OF
| dered to appear In court and be punish
ed for contempt. and another jury wa
called for. Grace Sherwood was com
PEELED to give bonds for her appearance
| at the next court, land that she be {
good behaviour towards her Majestic an
| all her liege people In the meantime"
may be remarked in connection with IN
failure to obtain the second jury
women that the forewoman Of the mr.
jury that reported the presence upon u
| body % the accused woman OF suspicion
spots and protuberances was Eliz3bet
Barnes, In all likelihood the very woma
4 81. L n ..-I 80 81 D