Posted on 07/10/2006 1:53:00 PM PDT by freepatriot32
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Witch of Pungo is no longer a witch. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Monday exonerated Grace Sherwood, who 300 years ago became Virginia's only woman convicted as a witch tried by water.
"I am pleased to officially restore the good name of Grace Sherwood," Kaine wrote in a letter Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf read aloud before a re-enactment of Sherwood's being dropped into the river.
"With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice," Kaine wrote. "We also can celebrate the fact that a woman's equality is constitutionally protected today, and women have the freedom to pursue their hopes and dreams."
Sherwood, a midwife who at times wore men's clothes, lived in what today is the rural Pungo neighborhood, and later became known as "The Witch of Pungo." Her neighbors thought she was a witch who ruined crops, killed livestock and conjured storms, and she went to court a dozen times, either to fight witchcraft charges or to sue her accusers for slander.
She was 46 when she was accused in her final case of using her powers to cause a neighbor to miscarry.
On July 10, 1706, Sherwood was dropped into the Lynnhaven River and floated _ proof she was guilty because the pure water cast out her evil spirit, according to the belief system of the time. The theory behind the test was that if she sank, she was innocent, although she would also drown.
Sherwood may have been jailed until 1714, when records show she paid back taxes and with the help of then-Gov. Alexander Spotswood she was able to reclaim her property. She then lived quietly until her death at 80.
Belinda Nash, 59, has been researching Sherwood for years and asked for the governor to exonerate the woman. A group annually remembers Sherwood with a re-enactment in the river.
For Monday's ceremony attended by about 60 people, the re-enactment took place on land _ in front of the Ferry Plantation House, a historic home where Nash volunteers as director and, dressed in costume, tells visitors about Sherwood. The courthouse where part of Sherwood's trial took place was located on the old plantation property.
Nash's daughter, Danielle Sheets, was tied cross-bound, her thumbs to her toes, and placed in a small boat, just as Sherwood would have been.
"I be not a witch. I be a healer," Sheets shouted, in character. "Before this day be through, ye will all get a worse ducking than I."
___
On the Net:
Information about Grace Sherwood: http://carolshouse.com/witch/
Ferry Plantation House: http://www.virginiabeachhistory.org/ferryfarm.html
Virginia Historical Society: http://www.vahistorical.org/
Belinda Nash, a volunteer at the historic Ferry Plantation House in Virginia Beach, Va., is photographed at the site in this Thursday, June 29, 2006 file photo. Nash asked the governor to exonerate Grace Sherwood, Virginia's only convicted witch tried by water, and raised money to erect a bronze statue of her. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has since cleared the name of the 18th-century resident. (AP Photo/Gary C. Knapp)
Ah, the good ol' days!
""With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice," Kaine wrote. "We also can celebrate the fact that a woman's equality is constitutionally protected today, and women have the freedom to pursue their hopes and dreams.""
Cripes. More PC applied to local lore. Geez. I suppose the Witchduck exit on 64 will now be renamed because it is "insensitive."
Renamed to the "Tolerance for all Faiths and Practices" exit.
Don't tell me...
A witch duck..
"If she weighs the same as a duck, she's made of wood ... and therefore ... A WITCH!!!"
Can we burn 'er? She turned me into a newt!
Ya don't look like a newt ...
Will this remove the Ralph Sampson curse?
Has new evidence come to light to exonerate the lady?
Actually we have had witch trials as recently as the day care center rials from which Janet Reno is still using her influene to keep people in prison.In those trials claims were made and convictions were based upon events that are explainable only by witchcraft.
Trial by water? Sink , and die you are innocent. Float and live you are guilty and burn at the stake? Not good choices..at all.
My immediate thoughts exactly.
I think they should quit calling her a witch.
I'll tell you what's insensitive...sitting at that exit in 95 degree heat at 5:30 pm.
I guess Kaine can't deal with the traffic and roads issues.
Those Puritans were 300 years too early. The real Witch is going to be running for President in a couple of years.
Yeah it does appear to be a bit of a catch 22 doesnt it
"exonerate Grace Sherwood, Virginia's only convicted witch tried by water, and raised money to erect a bronze statue of her. "
Unless something new has surfaced, it seems arrogant, self righteous, and contemptuous of history to do this.
Digging up a 300 year old British case to make political points in present day American politics seems a little primitive and emotional to me.
The Guv apparently has too much time on his hands.
Jeez, and I thought this was a bash Hillary thread.
They should have brought in Theodoric of York, Medieval Judge.
"If she floats, then it means the water has rejected her and she is a witch. If she is not a witch, the water will accept her and she will sink to the bottom."
"She is not a witch. Ok, next case."
What are they going to do about "Whore House Road" in VA Beach?
Today, we're more enlightened. We blame those things on global warming.
Grace Sherwood (???? - 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 10th, 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 briefly but eventually released. Sherwood lived the rest of her life quietly in Pungo, Virginia and died in 1740.
Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine officially pardoned Sherwood on July 10, 2006, the 300th anniversary of her conviction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Sherwood
I think he got better.
Maybe our esteemed gov should sit at the HRBT for a few hours one afternoon. Maybe then he'll figure out what's important to deal with and what can be blown off.
Grace Sherwood was tied crossbound with the thumb of her right hand to the big toe of her left foot, and the thumb of her left hand to the big toe of her right foot, and thrown into the water. As predicted by her accusers, Grace managed to stay afloat until she could free herself and swim to shore. She was jailed and awaiting trial for witchcraft for nearly eight years, when the charges against her were dropped due to the softening of her accusers hearts, and she was set free. She moved back to her Pungo home and lived there until her death at the age of 80.
http://www.madblood.net/grace.html
And they're all witches!!
> Trial by water? Sink and die you are innocent. Float and live you are guilty and burn at the stake?
Just ask Mary Jo.
This is all silly fun. Recognizing "witchcraft" as a religion, on the other hand, is to demean Christianity.
Personally, I don't believe in Hocus Pocus , or witches. Some Delusional Souls might believe in Witchcraft and participate in such, but it is idiocy. By the Way, When I see a Harry Potter Movie, I consider it ficiton, like Star Wars...which both are.
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Well, on the upside, I guess Jack Chick will create a new tract on this . . . |
Damn, I wish we had a great Governor in Texas like they do in Virginia. He really knows the hot button issues that motivate most people huh?
After reading this story, what immediately came to me was, "Uh..."
The whole affair is so silly. So an apparently strange woman, a cross-dresser was subjected to "trial by water" and spent eight years in jail unjustly. She was sprung and got her property back with the help of her state's governor. What is with the reenactments and the governor's speech? You'd think the story was one of staggering injustice, or outstanding heroism.
Blood orgy! Blood orgy!
Thank you for a great Python reference.
My thoughts exactly. After I read this through I said,
"Oh! She DID NOT drown as a result of the water trial!"
And living to age 80 in the 18th century was no mean feat.
yitbos
How is this a British case?
I know, I prefer trial by jury meself!! :-P
> Some Delusional Souls might believe in Witchcraft and participate in such, but it is idiocy. By the Way, When I see a Harry Potter Movie, I consider it fiction, like Star Wars...which both are.
Hope you didn't get me wrong...some religions are legitimate faith systems, e.g., Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism. Other belief systems are dangerous, e.g., Islam, Satanism; or potentially dangerous, e.g., Scientology: Islam, Satanism and Scientology are cults, not religions. Wicca is kind of like the Easter Bunny...if you are an adult and believe in that crap, you're nuts.
Notwithstanding, I love the Harry Potter books.
I respect a politician who's not afraid to go against public opinion. [Eye-roll]
"How is this a British case?"
Weren't they all British?
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