When people think of witch trials in America, their minds often go straight to Salem, Massachusetts—the infamous site of hysteria, accusations, and executions. But what many don’t realize is that Virginia had its own witchcraft trials, steeped in fear, superstition, and colonial paranoia.
Between 1626 and 1730, over two dozen witch trials took place in Virginia, making it a lesser-known but still significant part of early American witchcraft history. Unlike Salem, where mass hysteria led to multiple executions, Virginia’s trials were more sporadic, though they still carried a deep sense of fear, suspicion, and religious fervor.
Witchcraft in Colonial Virginia: A Land of Fear and Superstition
For the early English settlers of Virginia, the New World was a place of both promise and terror. The dense forests, unfamiliar wildlife, and encounters with Indigenous peoples created an atmosphere of mystery and fear.
The belief that the devil lurked in the wilderness was common among the settlers, who saw Virginia’s vast and uncharted land as a dangerous, supernatural place. Many colonists believed that Native Americans, with their unfamiliar spiritual practices, were aligned with dark forces. This deep-rooted fear of the unknown contributed to the suspicion and paranoia that led to accusations of witchcraft.
Virginia’s legal system differed from that of Puritan New England. While the Massachusetts Bay Colony followed strict religious doctrine that led to multiple executions, Virginia’s courts were more influenced by English common law. Though accusations were taken seriously, executions were rare, and many trials ended in acquittals or lighter punishments.
How the Accused Were Tested: The Water Trial
One of the most well-documented tests used in Virginia’s witch trials was the “water test.”
The accused would be bound and thrown into a body of water. If they sank, they were considered innocent but could drown in the process. If they floated, it was believed the water was rejecting them, proving their guilt.
This brutal and flawed method of justice was used in various European witch trials and made its way into Virginia’s legal system despite its questionable validity.
Famous Witch Trials in Virginia
Though not as widely recorded as those in Salem, several cases in Virginia stand out in history.
Grace Sherwood: The Witch of Pungo
The most famous case of a Virginia witch trial was that of Grace Sherwood, often called the “Witch of Pungo.”
A farmer and healer from Princess Anne County (modern-day Virginia Beach), Sherwood was accused of witchcraft by her neighbors in the early 1700s. In 1706, she was subjected to the water test, where she floated, marking her as guilty.
Sherwood was imprisoned but later released, living out her days in Virginia, though her reputation as a witch lingered for generations. In 2006, she was officially pardoned by the governor of Virginia, recognizing the injustice of her trial.
The Last Witchcraft Trial in the Mainland Colonies (1730)
Records indicate that the final witchcraft trial in the mainland American colonies took place in Virginia around 1730. After this, the fear of witches began to fade as rationalism and Enlightenment thinking took hold in the colonies.
Why Virginia’s Witch Trials Are Often Forgotten
Compared to the hysteria and executions of Salem, Virginia’s trials were less deadly and more sporadic, which may be why they are often overlooked in history.
However, Virginia’s witch trials reflect a broader fear of the supernatural and the unknown that gripped early American settlers. These trials were shaped by:
- Colonial superstition
- Religious beliefs
- Fear of Native American spiritual practices
- Distrust of independent women, healers, and outsiders
Even though they were fewer in number, these trials were real and terrifying for those accused.
The Legacy of Virginia’s Witch Trials
Though Salem’s witch trials may dominate historical narratives, Virginia’s forgotten witch trials were just as significant in shaping colonial beliefs about magic, fear, and justice.
The case of Grace Sherwood, the water trials, and the paranoia that spread through the colony serve as reminders of how fear and superstition can shape history.
Today, Virginia embraces its witchcraft history, with memorials, folklore, and even festivals honoring those who were accused. Whether through ghost stories, historical records, or modern witchcraft communities, the spirits of Virginia’s witches still whisper through the land.