In myth, witches fly.
In Virginia Beach, one swam.
Grace Sherwood , Hampton Roads’ most famous “witch,” has spawned innumerable legends since her death in 1740, and Virginia Beach native Scott Moore has attempted to collect them all in his new book, “The Witch of Pungo: Grace Sherwood in Virginia History and Legend.”
Moore draws from primary source documents to provide an account of Sherwood’s life, community and interactions with her accusers — having found, he has said , materials unreported by other researchers. He also analyzed the many fantastical yarns that developed after her death to explore her legacy, now ingrained into the cultural fabric of his hometown.
Moore, 44, is a history professor at Eastern Connecticut State University whose research focuses on Central European nationalism, identity and how historical memory shapes communities, he said.
“And, obviously, the cultural legacy of Grace Sherwood, I’ve always found it really interesting!”
Like many Hampton Roads kids, Moore learned the basics of Sherwood at a young age. In the early 1700s, residents of Princess Anne County grew suspicious of Sherwood. For several years, rumors abounded that the widowed mother of three was the cause of crop failures and livestock deaths. Some whispered that the 47-year-old midwife willed storms at her pleasure. Finally, in 1706, she was officially accused of being a witch.