The Life and Times of Grace Sherwood

Grace Sherwood: The Witch of Pungo

What would you call someone who had been claimed to go sailing in an eggshell, to leave rooms through a keyhole, and even fly? A freak? A ghost? Delusional? How about a witch? Well, that’s exactly what the residents of Princess Anne County called Grace Sherwood just a couple of centuries ago. Today, I hope to provide you with some information on the life of Grace Sherwood, some of the various accusations made against her, and finally some of the folklore that surrounds her to this very day. By the end of my presentation, I hope that you’ll see how Grace turned from a regular everyday citizen into the Witch of Pungo.

I. Life of Grace Sherwood
A. Grace Sherwood was born around 1660 (no specific date is given) to John and Susan White in Princess Anne County (modern day Va Beach). Her father was a planter in the summer and carpenter in the winter.
B. When Grace was just 14 years old their family received a land patent of 195 ac...