The Witch of Pungo - by Scott O Moore (Paperback)

About the Book

"In 1706, Grace Sherwood was "ducked" after her neighbors in Princess Anne County accused her of witchcraft. Throwing her into the Lynnhaven River, they waited to see whether she would float to the top (evidence of her guilt) or sink (proof of her innocence). Incredibly, she survived. This bizarre spectacle became an early piece of Virginia folklore as stories about Sherwood, the "Witch of Pungo," spread. This is the first book to explore in depth Grace Sherwood's life and cultural impact. Blending history and folklore, Scott Moore chronicles Sherwood's trials and tribulations both in life and in legend over the past two hundred years to uncover how the "Witch of Pungo" became cemented in Tidewater identity. Anyone interested in colonial Virginia, American folklore, and the history and legacy of witch trials will find much to enjoy in this spellbinding book"--

Book Synopsis

The authoritative cultural history of Virginia's most famous accused witch

In 1706, Grace Sherwood was "ducked" after her neighbors in Princess Anne County accused her of witchcraft. Binding and throwing her into the Lynnhaven River, they waited to see whether she would float to the top (evidence of her guilt) or sink (proof of her innocence). Incredibly, she survived. This bizarre spectacle became an early piece of Virginia folklore as stories about Sherwood, the "Witch of Pungo," spread. Her legend still looms large in Tidewater. In 2006, Governor Tim Kaine even issued an informal pardon of Sherwood, read aloud by the mayor of Virginia Beach before the annual reenactment of Sherwood's ducking.

This is the first book to explore Grace Sherwood's life and cultural impact in depth. Anyone interested in colonial Virginia, American folklore, and the history and legacy of witch trials will find much to enjoy in this spellbinding book.

Review Quotes

This monograph's greatest attribute is the depth, breadth, and diversity of the research that informs it . . . [and] though The Witch of Pungo: Grace Sherwood in Virginia History and Legend is a rigorously researched work, it was admirably written for general readers and scholars alike.--The Southeastern Librarian

About the Author

Scott O. Moore is an Associate Professor of History at Eastern Connecticut State University.