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Story
December 25, 1833
Republican Herald
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Historical account of Grace Sherwood's 1705 witchcraft trial in Princess Anne County, Virginia, involving summons, searches by women juries, house inspection, and a water immersion test to determine guilt, leading to her imprisonment awaiting further trial.
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WITCHCRAFT IN VIRGINIA.
We find in the Richmond Telegraph a notice
of the first volume of the Collections of the Vir-
ginia Historical and Philosophical Society, from
which we copy the following:
The Records of Grace Sherwood's Trial is a
curious relic of antiquity, deserving a conspicuous
place among the annals of Salem Witchcraft.-
By the record it appears that Grace was summoned to appear before the Court of Princess Anne
County, on the 3d of Jan. 1705, on suspicion of
witchcraft; but the said Grace having failed to
appear, the court ordered the Sheriff "to attach
her body" for trial at the next session. At the
session (in February) the Court after a long de-
bate, ordered the said Grace to appear at the next
Court, to be searched by a jury of women. (It
seems to have been expected that some external
marks of a witch might be discovered about her)
She was of course searched, and the Jury of wo-
men whereof "Eliza Barnes was forewoman,
gave their verdict, at the Court in March. This
confirmed the suspicion; but as they could not
charge her with any act of a witch she was not
condemned. The suspicion still resting on her,
the Court in May, ordered her to be searched
again, also her house, to see if she had "Images
and such like things." The progress of the evi-
dence was such that in June the Court declared
that the charge against her "doth very likely ap-
pear." At the July term in order to come at the
truth of the matter, the Court directed the Sheriff
to take men and boats and meet "At John Har-
per's plantation, and there put said Grace into
water above man's depth and try her how she
swims therein; always having care of her life to
preserve her from drowning," and he was then
to request "as many ancient and knowing women
as possible he can" to search her carefully for
all "spots and marks," and mirabile dictu "five
ancient women" who examined her, declared
that she was not like them or other women!-
And in view of this evidence of her guilt the
Court ordered the Sheriff to commit her to the
common Jail and there to secure her by "irons
or otherwise," to await a future trial.—Mr. Taylor who communicated his Record, remarks that
he thinks an order was made subsequent to that
in July, directing Grace Sherwood to be sent on
to the General Court for further trial.
We find in the Richmond Telegraph a notice
of the first volume of the Collections of the Vir-
ginia Historical and Philosophical Society, from
which we copy the following:
The Records of Grace Sherwood's Trial is a
curious relic of antiquity, deserving a conspicuous
place among the annals of Salem Witchcraft.-
By the record it appears that Grace was summoned to appear before the Court of Princess Anne
County, on the 3d of Jan. 1705, on suspicion of
witchcraft; but the said Grace having failed to
appear, the court ordered the Sheriff "to attach
her body" for trial at the next session. At the
session (in February) the Court after a long de-
bate, ordered the said Grace to appear at the next
Court, to be searched by a jury of women. (It
seems to have been expected that some external
marks of a witch might be discovered about her)
She was of course searched, and the Jury of wo-
men whereof "Eliza Barnes was forewoman,
gave their verdict, at the Court in March. This
confirmed the suspicion; but as they could not
charge her with any act of a witch she was not
condemned. The suspicion still resting on her,
the Court in May, ordered her to be searched
again, also her house, to see if she had "Images
and such like things." The progress of the evi-
dence was such that in June the Court declared
that the charge against her "doth very likely ap-
pear." At the July term in order to come at the
truth of the matter, the Court directed the Sheriff
to take men and boats and meet "At John Har-
per's plantation, and there put said Grace into
water above man's depth and try her how she
swims therein; always having care of her life to
preserve her from drowning," and he was then
to request "as many ancient and knowing women
as possible he can" to search her carefully for
all "spots and marks," and mirabile dictu "five
ancient women" who examined her, declared
that she was not like them or other women!-
And in view of this evidence of her guilt the
Court ordered the Sheriff to commit her to the
common Jail and there to secure her by "irons
or otherwise," to await a future trial.—Mr. Taylor who communicated his Record, remarks that
he thinks an order was made subsequent to that
in July, directing Grace Sherwood to be sent on
to the General Court for further trial.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
Supernatural
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Justice
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Witchcraft Trial
Grace Sherwood
Virginia Witchcraft
Ducking Test
Princess Anne County
What entities or persons were involved?
Grace Sherwood
Eliza Barnes
Mr. Taylor
John Harper
Where did it happen?
Princess Anne County, Virginia
Story Details
Key Persons
Grace Sherwood
Eliza Barnes
Mr. Taylor
John Harper
Location
Princess Anne County, Virginia
Event Date
1705
Story Details
Grace Sherwood summoned on witchcraft suspicion in January 1705, searched by women juries in March and May confirming marks unlike other women, house searched, water test at John Harper's plantation in July showing she swam unnaturally, leading to imprisonment awaiting General Court trial.