Grace Sherwood

Grace Sherwood (1660 – 1740) is a local legend in the old Princess Anne County and Pungo, Virginia. She is known as the Witch of Pungo to historians and locals. She was accused of bewitching a neighbor's crop in 1698. Allegations grew over time until the Princess Anne County government and her accusers decided she would be tested by ducking. On July 10, 1706, Sherwood was dropped into the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven River near what is now known as Witchduck Point. Sherwood floated, a sign of guilt to the accusers. She was imprisoned for seven years, but eventually released.Fact|date=September 2007 Sherwood lived the rest of her life quietly in Pungo and died in 1740 at the age of 80.Fact|date=September 2007

Heritage

One of Virginia Beach's minor north-south thoroughfares on its western side is "Witchduck Road" which traverses Interstate 264 at exit number 16. [ [http://home.hamptonroads.com/traffic/camera.cfm?filename=camera031 Traffic Camera for Witchduck Road] ]

The case was little known until Virginia Beach historian and author Louisa Venable Kyle wrote a children's book about her called "The Witch of Pungo". [ [http://www.virginiabeachhistory.org/kyle.html History and "The Witch of Pungo"] ]

Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine officially pardoned Sherwood on July 10, 2006, the 300th anniversary of her conviction. cite web
last = Hardy
first = Michael
coauthors = Bill Geroux
date = July 11, 2006
url = http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149189068521&path=!news&s=1045855934842
title = "Ding dong, the stigma's gone"
format =
work = Richmond Times-Dispatch
accessdate = 2006-07-24]

References

Further reading

* cite book
last = Kyle
first = Louisa Venable
title = The Witch of Pungo, and Other Historical Stories of the Early Colonies
year = 1973
month = November
publisher = Four O'Clock Farms
location = Virginia Beach, VA
id = ISBN 0-927044-00-5

External links

* [http://www.virginiabeachhistory.org/kyle.html "Grace Sherwood & "The Witch of Pungo"] , Virginia Beach Historical Society
* [http://carolshouse.com/witch/ "Grace Sherwood - The Witch of Pungo"] , CarolsHouse.com
* [http://www.worldhistoryblog.com/2006/07/witch-of-pungo-pardoned-by-governor.html "Witch of Pungo" Pardoned by Governor after 300 Years]