WITCHCRAFT IN VIRGINIA - William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 3, No. 4 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. 4 (April., 1895). ---------- 242 WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY. record of their marriages remaining, the uniform tradition among their descendants is that they were sisters, and aunts of Mrs. William Madison. Probably they were twice married. There is recorded in Culpeper a deed, dated 1771, from Robert Throg- morton and Licy, his wife, and James Barbour and Frances, his wife. Since the last installment of this account was prepared, there has been found in an old volume in the State land office, an entry re- cording that Gabriel Throckmorton appeared before Frederick County Court in 1780, and proved his service in the French and Indian War, and in the same year a warrant was issued to him by State for "military service performed as a captain in the late war between Great Britain and France," and similar (or duplicate) warrantes for his services in the same war as a subaltern in Byrd's regiment, and a captain in Peachey's. He was probably the same as, 8, Gabriel Throckmorton, born August 16, 1735. The arms on the emblazoning noticed in the last number are as follows: Quarterly of siven: 1, Gules, a chevron arg. three bars gemelles sable, a crescent for difference (Throckmorton); 2, Gu. a fese crenelle or (Aberbury); 3, Arg. on a fess crenelle between six crosslets fitchee gu. three crescents of the field (Olney); 4, Sa. a chevron arg. between three crescents or (De la Spine); 5, Arg. on a fesse crenelle between six crosslets pottee fitchee gu. three plates (Olney); 6, Gu. three bird bolts arg. (Bosan); 7, Gu. a fesse or between six Gotee d'or (Wyke). Crest: A falcon rising arg. belled or, charged on the breast with a crescent, for difference. Motto: "Virtus Sola Nobilitat." The only variation between these arms and those given in the visitation of Huntingdonshire, is in the first quartering -- the crescent for difference, second son. __________________________ GRACE SHERWOOD, THE VIRGINIA WITCH. COMMUNICATED BY EDWARD W. JAMES [Continued from pages 96 and 190.] May 2nd 1706 "Whereas a former Complt was brought agt Grace Sherwood for Suspicion of Witchcraft weh by ye Atturny Genrll Reportd to his Exly in Councill was to Generall & not charging her with any per- ticular Act therefore represented to ym yt Princess Ann Court might if they thought fitt have her examined Deltovo & ye Court Being of ---------- GRACE SHERWOOD, THE VIRGINIA WITCH 243 Oppinion yt there is great Cause of Suspicion Doe therefore ordr yt ye: Sherr take ye Said Grace into his Safe Costody untill She Shall give bond & Security for her appearance to ye next Court to be examined Denovo & yt ye Constable of yt prcinkt go with ye Sherr & Serch ye Sd graces House & all Suspicious places Carfully for all Images & Such like things as may any way Strengthen the Sus- picion & it is likewise Ordered yt ye Sherr Som an Able Jury of Women also all Evidences as Cann give in anything agt her in Evi- dence in behalf of our Soveraign Lady ye queen to Attend ye next Court Accordingly" June 6th 1706 " Whereas Grace Sherwood of ye County have been Complained of as a pson Suspected of Witchcraft & now being Brought before this Court in ordr for examinacon ye Court have therefore requested Mr. Maxmll Boush to prsent Informacon agt her as Councill in behalf of our Soveraign Lady ye Queen in order to her being brought to a regular Tryall." "Whereas an Informacon in Behalf of her Magty was presented by Luke Hill to ye Court in pursuance to Mr. Genrll Attrys Tomson report on his Excellcy ord in Councill ye 16th Aprill Last About Grace Sherwood being Suspected of Witchcraft have thereupon Sworn Severall Evidences agt her by weh it Doth very likely appear." June 7th 1706 "Whereas at ye Last Court as ordr was past yt ye Sherr should Sommons an able Jury of Women to Serch Grace Sherwood on Sus- picion of witchcraft weh although ye Same was performed by ye Sherr yet they refused And did not appear it is therefore ordr yt ye Same persons be again Somd by ye Sherr for their Contempt To be Dealt wth according to ye uttmost Severity of ye Law, & yt a new Jury of women be by him Somd To appear next Court to Serch her on ye aforesaid Suspicion & yt he likewise Som all evidences yt he Shall Be informed of as materiall in ye Complaint & yt She con- tinue in ye sherr Costody unless She give good bond And Security for her Appearance at ye next Court & yt She be of ye Good beha- viour towards her Majestie & all her Leidge people in ye mean time." Princess Ann At a Court held ye 5th July anno Dom 1706 prsent Mr. Jno Richa- son, Captn Jno Moseley, Captn Henry chapman, Captn Wm Smyth, Justices. "Whereas for this Severall Courts ye Business between Luke Hill ---------- 244 WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY & Grace Sherwood on Suspicion of witchcraft have Been for Sev- erall things omitted perticularly for want of a Jury to Serch her & ye Court being Doubtfull That they Should not get one ye Court & being willing to have all means possible tryed either to acquit her or to Give more Strength to ye Suspicion yt She might be Dealt wth as Deserved therefore it was Ordrd yt ye Day by her own Con- sent to be tried in ye water by Ducking but ye weather being very Rainy & Bad Soe yt possibly it might endanger her health it is therefore ordrd yt ye Sherr request ye Justices prcisely to appear on wednessday next by tenn of ye clock at ye Court house & yt he Secure ye body of he Sd Grace till ye time to be forth Coming ye to be Dealth wth as afore sd." July 10th 1706 "Whereas Grace Sherwood being Suspected of witchcraft have a long time waited for a fitt uppertunity ffor a ffurther Examinacon & by her Consent & approbacon of ye Court it is ordr yt ye Sherr take all Such Convenient assistance of boate & men as Shall be by him thought ffit to meet at Jno Harpers plantacon in ordr to take ye Sd Grace forthwith & put her into above mans Debth & try her how She Swims Therein alwayes having Care of her life to prserve her from Drowning & as Soon as She Comes out yt he requests as many Ansient & Knowing woman as possible he Cann to Serch her Carefully ffor all teats spotts & marks about her body not usuall in Others & yt as they ffind ye Same to make report on Oath To ye truth thereof to ye Court & further it is ordr yt Som women be re- quested to Shift & Serch her before She goe into ye water yt She Carry nothing about her to cause any ffurther Suspicion." ____________________ NOTES. ___ (By The Editor) As appears from the previous number (p. 192) a jury of women examined Grace Sherwood 7th March 1705-6, and found certain indications of a witch upon her person. But the court did not know what course to take upon this report, and so a stop was put to the proceedings. Thereupon, Luke Hill brought the matter before the Virginia council, and according to the council books the following action was taken: "At a council held at her Majties Royall Capitol the 28th day of March, 1706: Luke Hill by his petition informing this Board that one Grace Sherwood of Princess Anne County being suspected of witchcraft upon his complaint to that county court that she had bewitched ye petitioners wife, the court ordered ---------- THE LISTERS OF VIRGINIA 245 a jury of women to serch ye said Grace Sherwood who upon search brought in a verdict agt ye said Grace, but ye court not knowing how to proceed to judg- ment thereon, the petitioner prays that ye attorney Genll may be directed to prosecute ye said Grace for ye same. Ordrd yt ye sd peticon be referred to Mr. Attorney Genll to consider & report his opinion to his Excellcy & ye council on ye first day of ye next Genll court." "April ye 16th 1706 Present: His Excellency, Edmund Jenings, Benja Harrison, Philip Ludwell. Jno Lightfoot, Jno Custis, Wm Bassett, Dudley Digges, Mr. Comr Blair, Henry Duke, Wm Churchill: Esqrs * * * * * post meridiem: present as before except Philip Ludwell, Esqr. Mr. Attorney Genll haveing in persuance of an order of this Board reported his opinion of Luke Hill against Grace Sherwood as being suspected of witch- craft in ye following words to wit: viz Upon perusal of ye above order of this honble Board I doe conceive & am of the opinion that ye charge or accusation is too general that the county court ought to make a further Examinscon of the matters of fact & to have proceeded therein pursuant to the directions & powers of County Courts given by a late act of Assembly in criminal cases made & provided & if they thought there was sufficient cause to have (accord- ing to that Law) committed her to ye Genll prison of this Colony whereby it would have come regularly before the Genll court and whereupon I should have prepared a bill for ye Grand jury & if they had found it I should have prosecuted it. I therefore with humble submission offer & conceive it proper that ye sd county Court do make a further Enquiry into the matter, and if they are of the opinion there be cause they act according to the above said Law and I shall be ready to present a Bill and if found proceed thereon. Ordered that a copy of ye said Report be sent to ye court of Princess Anne County for their direction in ye premises." The council book has never been quoted in connection with this subject before, and it shows that the published account of the opinion of the Attorney General, Stevens Thompson, in the calendar of State Papers (vol I., p 100), is defective in omitting the words in italica. After this order, referring the whole subject back to the County Court, the proceedings reported in the text took place. (To be Continued.) _______________________ THE LISTERS OF VIRGINIA. 1 COMMUNICATED BY EDWARD W. JAMES. Thomas Lister2, 5th son of James Lister, of Shibden Hall, settled _________________________________________________ 1. Arms: Ermine, on a fess sable three mullets or, a conton gules. Crest: A stag's head erased proper, charged with trefoil slipped gules. 2. Had a brother, William, baptized April 3, 1712, settled in Virginia, married Susanna Lewes 1738; had two daughters; died October 21, 1743.