Belinda Nash, a volunteer at the historic Ferry Plantation House in Virginia Beach, Va., is photographed at the site in this Thursday, June 29, 2006 file photo. Nash asked the governor to exonerate Grace Sherwood, Virginia's only convicted witch tried by water, and raised money to erect a bronze statue of her. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has since cleared the name of the 18th-century resident. (AP Photo/Gary C. Knapp)Ah, the good ol' days!
""With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice," Kaine wrote. "We also can celebrate the fact that a woman's equality is constitutionally protected today, and women have the freedom to pursue their hopes and dreams.""
Cripes. More PC applied to local lore. Geez. I suppose the Witchduck exit on 64 will now be renamed because it is "insensitive."
"If she weighs the same as a duck, she's made of wood ... and therefore ... A WITCH!!!"
Has new evidence come to light to exonerate the lady?
Actually we have had witch trials as recently as the day care center rials from which Janet Reno is still using her influene to keep people in prison.In those trials claims were made and convictions were based upon events that are explainable only by witchcraft.
Trial by water? Sink , and die you are innocent. Float and live you are guilty and burn at the stake? Not good choices..at all.
I think they should quit calling her a witch.
Those Puritans were 300 years too early. The real Witch is going to be running for President in a couple of years.
"exonerate Grace Sherwood, Virginia's only convicted witch tried by water, and raised money to erect a bronze statue of her. "
Unless something new has surfaced, it seems arrogant, self righteous, and contemptuous of history to do this.
Digging up a 300 year old British case to make political points in present day American politics seems a little primitive and emotional to me.
Jeez, and I thought this was a bash Hillary thread.
They should have brought in Theodoric of York, Medieval Judge.
"If she floats, then it means the water has rejected her and she is a witch. If she is not a witch, the water will accept her and she will sink to the bottom."
"She is not a witch. Ok, next case."
Today, we're more enlightened. We blame those things on global warming.
Grace Sherwood (???? - 1740) is a local legend in the old Princess Anne County and Pungo, Virginia. She is known as the Witch of Pungo to historians and locals. She was accused of bewitching a neighbor's crop in 1698. Allegations grew over time until the Princess Anne County Government and her accusers decided she would be tested by ducking. On July 10th, 1706, Sherwood was dropped into the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven River near what is now known as Witchduck Point. Sherwood floated, a sign of guilt to the accusers. She was imprisoned briefly but eventually released. Sherwood lived the rest of her life quietly in Pungo, Virginia and died in 1740.
Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine officially pardoned Sherwood on July 10, 2006, the 300th anniversary of her conviction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Sherwood
And they're all witches!!
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Well, on the upside, I guess Jack Chick will create a new tract on this . . . |
Damn, I wish we had a great Governor in Texas like they do in Virginia. He really knows the hot button issues that motivate most people huh?
After reading this story, what immediately came to me was, "Uh..."
The whole affair is so silly. So an apparently strange woman, a cross-dresser was subjected to "trial by water" and spent eight years in jail unjustly. She was sprung and got her property back with the help of her state's governor. What is with the reenactments and the governor's speech? You'd think the story was one of staggering injustice, or outstanding heroism.