Abstract: Grace Sherwood, the “Witch of Pungo,” has been a foundational part of southeastern Virginia folklore for over two hundred years. In 1706, she endured a trial by water in the Lynnhaven River after neighbors accused her of performing witchcraft. In the decades that followed, she became the subject of local legends as people recounted the events that took place at the site of “witch’s duck.” Starting in the nineteenth century, writers used these stories to add flavor to published accounts of Sherwood’s trial records, and in the twentieth century this hybrid story of legend and history became an essential part of the region’s cultural identity. Legend entrepreneurs were essential to this process. These individuals were local journalists and community leaders committed to preserving Virginia Beach culture and folklore, and they became passionate defenders of Sherwood’s legend. Their advocacy also shaped the contours of how that legend developed over time. Through effective use of community events, media, and their own writing, these legend entrepreneurs added new details to the folklore surrounding Sherwood’s life and trial and standardized the way people told her story. Understanding their work provides compelling insight into the development of modern folklore and the role individuals play in shaping it.
Scott O. Moore (Thu,) studied this question.