Witch Trials in Virginia

1655 - 1698

	Lower Norff: At a private Cort held the 23rd of
May, 1655, at the howse of Mr Edward Hall in
	Linhaven,
	Coll. John Sidney, Mr. John Porter, Sen.
	Lt Col. Tho: Lambert, Mr. John Porter, Jun.
	Mr. Tho: Bridge,
		Comrs.

          Whereas div^rs dangerous & scandalous speeches have been raised by some psons concerning sev^rall women in this Countie, termeing them to be Witches, whereby theire reputacons have been much impaired and theire lives brought in question (ffor avoydeing the like offence.) It is by this Co^rt ordered that what pson soever shall hereafter raise any such like scandall, concerning any partie whatso^r, and shall not be able to pve the same, both upon oath, and by sufficient witness, such pson soe offending shall in the first place paie a thousand pounds of tob: and likewise be lyable to further Censure of the Co^rt


          Lower Norff: att a Court held y^e 15^th Decemb. A^o (1659) psent. att Savill Gaskins,
Coll. Jn^o Sidney, M^r John Porter, Jn^r
Lt. Colo. Tho: Lambart, Capt. Richard ffoster,
Capt. ffran: Emperor, L^t Thomas Keelinge,
M^r Edmund Bowman,
          Whereas Ann Godby, the wife of Tho. Godby hath Contrary to an ord^r of y^e Court bearing date in May 1655, Concerning Some Slanders & scandalls Cast upon Women under y^e notion of witches hath contemptuously acted in abusing & taking y^e good name & Creditt of nic^o Robinson's wife, terming her a witche, as by severall deposicons appeares. It is therefore ord^d that y^e s^d Tho: Godby shall pay three hundred pounds of tob^o & Caske fine for her Contempt of y^e menconed order, (being y^e first time) & shall also pay & defray y^e Cost of sute together w^th y^e Witnesses Charges at twenty pounds tob^o p day als exec.

Note: This isn't the first we've heard of the irrepressible Ann Godby. She was flogged for defamation in 1648, and filed a complaint against someone else for defamation in 1650. See those entries in "Punishing Bad Manners and Bad Morals, 1646-1651."

Lower		Att a Court held the 15th of January 1678/9
Norfolk.		Capt Wm Robinson,
		Mr Adam Keeling, mr Henry Spratt,		Justices.
		Capt Anthony Lawson,

     Upon the pett and Complaint of Jn^o Samon ag^t Alice the wife of Thomas Cartwrite Concerning the death of a Child of the s^d Samons who It is Suposed was bewitched, It is ordered that the Shrife doe forthw^th Summonds an able Jury of women to attend the Court to morrow and Serch the s^d Alice according to the direction of the Court.
     In the diff^l betweane Jn^o Salmon plaintif ag^t Alice the wife of Thomas Cartwrite defend^t a Jury of women (M^rs Mary Chichester forewoman) being Impaneled did in open Court upon their oathes declare that they haveing delegently Searched the body of the s^d Alice Cann find noe Suspitious marks whereby they Can Judg her to bee a witch; butt onely what may and Is usuall on other women. It is therefore the Judgm^t of the Court and ordered that Shee bee acquitted & her husbands bond given for her apearance to bee given up.

	Princess Anne: At a Court held the 8th Day of July, 1698.
			Coll. Anthony Lawson,
	present		Mr Beno Burrough,		Justices.
			Capt Jno Thorowgood,
			Mr Edward Mosely,

          John Byrd and Anne, his wife, suing Charles Kinsey in an action of Defamation setting forth by their petition that the said Kinsey had falsely and Scandalously Defamed them saying that the said Anne did ride him from his house to Eliz^th Russells, and that by such his Discourse she was Reported and rendered to be a witch, or such like person, praying one hundred pnds Damage with cost; The Defend^t for answer acknowledging that he had Spike words saying that he either dreamed or had such appearances, &c. The whole matter being put to a Jury who bring in their Verd^t as followeth: We of the Jury doe find for the Def^t, Hugh Campbell, foreman, &c. upon the Defend^ts mocon It is Ordered that the Jury's Verdict be Recorded, and Judgem^t is granted upon the same, that the Suite be Dismist with Cost als Exⁿ.
          John Byrd and Anne, his wife, suing Jn^o Pitts in an action of Defamacon Setting forth by their peticon that the Defend^t had falsely & Scandalously Defamed them, saying that they had rid him along the Seaside & home to his own house, by which kind of Discourse they were Reported & rendered as if they were witches, or in league with the Devill, praying 100£ Sterl. Damage with Cost. The Deft for answer acknowledgeth that to his thoughts, apprehension or best knowledge they did serve him Soe: The whole matter being put to a Jury who bring in their Verd^t as followeth. We of the Jury do find for the Def^t Hugh Campbell foreman &c. upon the Def^ts Mocon It is Ordered that the Jurys Verdict be Recorded, and Judgmen^t is granted upon the Same, that the Suite be Dismist with Cost als Exⁿ.

The foregoing items were published in the William & Mary Quarterly and the Lower Norfolk County Antiquary in the 19^th century. I haven't gotten around to poor Grace Sherwood's travails yet, but I will eventually.