WITCHCRAFT IN VIRGINIA - William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 3, No. 3 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Grace Sherwood, the Virginia Witch Edward W. James William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jan., 1895, pp. 190-192. ---------- 190 William and Mary College Quarterly GRACE SHERWOOD, THE VIRGINIA WITCH. COMMUNICATED BY EDWARD W. JAMES. Princess Anne At a Court held ye 3rd Septr 1701 present Mr. Beno Borro, Mr. Henry Woodhouse, Mr. Robt Thorrowgood, Mr. Henry Spratt, Mr. Jo- ell Cornick, Justices. Upon ye Peticon of Grace Sherwood relict of James Sherwood yt a Commiscon of Administrcon might be granted her on her Decd Husbands Estate he Dying Intestate which is granted pvided Shee give Security for ye Same as ye Law Directs. It is Ordered yt ye sherr Som Edw: Cannon Senr & Richd Bon- ney to meet at ye late Dwelling house of James Sherwood & ap- priase ye sd Sherwood's Estate Upon ye 8th Day of ye Instant Septr Provided they bee ffirst Sworne for yt Porpose & Mr. Joell Cornick is Requested to bee yn & theare to Sweare ym. An Inventory & Appraismtt of ye Estate of James Sherwood Deed taken by Vertue of an ordr of Princess Anne County Court dated ye 8th Day of this Instant Sept: wittness our hand ye 8th of Setpr 1701. lb tobo 1 old bed & boulster & pillowes & bedstead & a few old blanketts being all ye beding . . . . . . . . . 290 1 low table & forme & Seven old cheres . . . . . . 320 2 old Chests & one old box . . . . . . . . . . 160 one hand mill & frame &c. . . . . . . . . . . 300 3 milk payles two trayes & other milk Vessells wth Some other Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 4 Sider Casks . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 2 Iron potts & bailes & one pott hangr . . . . . . . 150 3 Iron wedges one pestell one spitt two old narrow axes two old broad hoes & 1 fizgig . . . . . . . . 200 To one old gun . . . . . . . . . . . 250 To a persell of ffeathers . . . . .. . . . . . 120 1 old wooling wheeles Linen Do 1 old Cutting Knife . . . 080 One old poore mangy Scabby horse . . . . . . . 20 ___ 2200 To 6 Ewes one weather one ram . . . . . . . . 800 ____ Edw Cannon Denr Richd Bonney totall . . . 3000 An additionall account of wt is not here Inventoryed and ap- praised a true acctt given by me Grace Sherwood to ye best of my ---------- GRACE SHERWOOD, THE VIRGINIA WITCH. 191 knowledge and weh is as ffolloweth (Viztt) one Sadle & bridle and two old with Basketts & a sadle & five head of Cattle & seven head of hoggs. Signum Grace xx Sherwood Princess Ann At a Court the 7th Xber 1705 Present Mr. Beno Burro Collo Edw: Moseley Mr. Jno Cornick Capt. Hen: Chapman Mr. Jno Richason Capt Geo: Handcock Justices. Collo Thorrowgood Came Late. Grace Sherwood Suing Luke Hill & Uxor In an action of Tres- pass of Assault & Battry Setting forth how ye Defts Wife had As- saulted Brused Mained & Barbarously Beaten yee pt: to her great damage fifty Pounds Sterr: Damage to weh yee Defts by Richd Cor- bitt their Attny pleaded not Guilty & of this put themselves on yee Country wth ye pt: in Like manner whereupon a Jury was Impan- elled and Sworne to try ye Case who Bring in their verdt wee of ye Jury doe in a Diff: depending Between Grace Sherrwood pt: & Luke Hill & Elizbth his wife deft find for ye pt: twenty Shill: Sterr: Damages wth Cost. Mark Powell foreman & ca on ye pt. motion the Jurys verdt is ordr to be Recorded accordingly ordr yt ye Deft pay to yee pl: Twenty Shill Ster: Damages wth Cost Alis Exco Princess Ann At a Court held ye 12th Xber 1705 Whereas ye fforeman of ye Jury Impanelled in a Suit depending between Grace Sherood agt Luke Hill & wife ye 7th Instant Omit- ted to Sign yee verdt Soe yt yron noe Judgmt Could pass It is there- fore ordr yt ye same be stayed till ye next Court for ye Sherr: to Sum Mark Powell foreman to Court to give further & full Sattis- faccon as shall be demanded of him by ye Court in yr behalfe. Princess Ann At a Court held ye 3d of Janry 1705-6. Whereas Luke Hill & uxor Somd Grace Sherwood to this Court in Suspition of witchcraft & she fayling to apear it is therefore ordr yt attachmt to ye Sherr do Issue to attach her body to ansr ye sd Som next Court. Ffebry 6th 1705-6 Suite for Suspition of witchcraft brought by Luke Hill agt Grace Sherwood is ordr to be referr till to morro. Ffebry 7th 1705-6 Whereas a Complt was brought agt Grace Sherrwood on Suspi- tion of witchcraft by Luke Hill &c: & ye matter being after a long time debated & ordr yt ye sd Hill pay all fees of the Complt & yt ye sd Grace be here next Court to be Searched according to ye complt ---------- 192 WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY. by a Jury of women to decide ye sd Differr: & ye Sherr is Likewise ordr to Som an able Jury accordingly. Princess Ann. At a Court held ye 7th march 1705-6, Present Colo Edward Mose- ley, Lieut Colo Adam Thorrowgood, Majr Henry Sprat, Captn Horatio Woodhouse, Mr. Jno Cornick, Captn Henry Chapman, Mr. Wm Smith, Mr. Jno Richason, Captn Geo: Handcock, Justices. Whereas a Complaint have been to this Court by Luke Hill & his wife yt one Grace Sherrwood of ye County was & Have been a long time Suspected of witchcraft & have been as Such Represent- ed wherefore ye Sherr at ye last Court was ordd to Som a Jury of women to ye Court to Serch her on ye sd Suspicion She assenting to ye Same and after ye Jury was impannelled and Sworn & Sent out to make Due inquirery & Inspection into all Circumstances. After a Mature Consideracon They bring in ye verditt wee of ye Jury have Serchtt Grace Sherwood & have found Two things like titts wth Severall other Spotts. Elizr Barnes forewoman, Sarah Nor- ris, Margret Watkins, Hannah Dinnis, Sarah Goodacre, Mary Bur- gess, Sarah Sergeent, Winifred Davis, Ursula Henley, Add Bridgr, Ezabh Waples, Mary Cotle [To be Continued.] ________________________________ THROCKMORTON OF ENGLAND AND VIRGINIA. BY W. G. STANARD. [Continued from page 52.] 10. ALBION THROCKMORTON, born November, 1740 (F.B.), served in the Revolution as a cornet in Lee's Legion, and received land bounty for his services. (Virginia Land Office Records.) He married Mary Webb, of Virginia. Issue: 30, James Edmonson; 31, William E.; 32, Dorothea; 35, Daughter. 13. MAJOR MORDECAI THROCKMORTON, of Gloucester county, served in the Revolution as captain of a company of minute men from that county. In the Journal of the Committee of Safety, July 3, 1776, is the following entry: "A certificate of the appointment of Morde- cai Throckmorton, Gent., to be capt. of a minute Comp. in Glos- ter district was ret'd and a Comm'n issued, dated 6th May." On October 24, 1776, Captain Mordecai Throckmorton's and three other companies of minute men stationed at Gloucestertown were discharged on account of their reduced numbers. Later in the war ----------