Memorial Day weekend we traveled to Norfolk to visit with our son, Knight, and his wife, Amanda. Knight is stationed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Knight had been out at sea for a few weeks and is scheduled to leave in three weeks for a 10-month deployment, so he was looking forward to break.
Knight told us that the small town of Pungo, Virginia has an annual Strawberry Festival every Memorial Day weekend and he always wanted to go. I love strawberries, and the thought of multitudes of strawberries prepared in various and sundry ways sounded very enticing. So early Saturday morning we drove over to Pungo, which is located just south of Virginia Beach.
We paid $5.00 to park the car in a muddy field and then walked a pretty good distance to get to the center of activities. The first attractions were carnival rides, much like the ones we have at our county fair. There was also a big tent with farm animals and a petting zoo. Loud speakers were blaring all over town as the opening ceremonies were kicking off and the MC was rattling off the names of all the important people who would get their feelings hurt if their names were not mentioned.
I must say the MC was no Lee Jessup! He needed a little more pizazz! And unless I missed it, there was no blessing! I always have the honor of blessing the BBQ at our annual festival, and I was sure some local minister would bless the strawberries, but if one did, I missed it.
As the subdued MC was naming the people sitting on the master stage, he saved his best enthusiasm for “The Honorary Witch of Pungo!”
“I think so,” she responded.
Knight and Amanda went off to find an ATM and when they got back we decided to find something to eat. I envisioned strawberry waffles, strawberry pie, strawberry omelets, strawberry biscuits, strawberry sandwiches, strawberry soup, but all we saw was fair food. We finally settled on a Gyro (it wasn’t bad at all) but as we were eating it I remarked, “I haven’t seen a strawberry yet!”
About the time we got finished we heard sirens and a parade started. We saw the motorcycle officers with lights flashing and sirens blaring leading the way. After a slew of police cars and fire trucks, there were several convertibles carrying the distinguished guests, including one carrying the “Honorary Witch of Pungo” who was just as happy as she could be waving to the crowd.
Then came a marching band, the Shriners, the spelling bee champion, and the local dance studio students. A local contemporary church had a big float with their rock band playing and about 50 people following on foot. Then came antique cars—a bunch of them! There were fire trucks, rescue squad vans, and several cars that seemed to have gotten in the parade by mistake. I think they were looking for a parking place.
There was a lady who looked official standing in front of me keeping people off the street, so I struck up a conversation with her.
“This is a nice parade,” I said.
“Sure is,” she responded. “And this is just the beginning. This parade will last for 90 minutes, and longer if they keep stopping.”
I looked at my watch. Only 10 minutes had passed.
“I kinda thought I would see a few strawberries here,” I told her.
“That’s a problem,” she said in a low voice. “Our crop was awful this year. What we have they had to ship in.”
I had one more question I just had to ask, “Could you tell me about the Witch of Pungo?”
He face lit up and she said, “Well, it goes back 300 years when Grace Sherwood was accused of being a witch.”
The witchcraft case of Grace Sherwood is one of the best known in Virginia. 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, since water was considered pure and would not permit a witch to sink into its depths. Sherwood's accusers, on July 10th, 1706 at ten of the clock, tied her thumbs to big toes cross-bound and dropped her into the western branch of the Lynnhaven River near what is now known as Witchduck Point. Sherwood floated, a sign of guilt. She was imprisoned, but was eventually released. Sherwood lived the rest of her life quietly, and died in 1740. Was she really a witch or was Grace a woman before her time? She was a healer, a midwife and a friend to the children and animals.
(If an accused witch drowned, then she was declared innocent, which strikes me as some consolation! However, Grace Sherwood was innocent, but it would take 300 years to clear her name.)
On the 300th anniversary of her conviction, the Governor of Virginia pardoned Grace Sherwood with these words:
"I am pleased to join the Mayor of Virginia Beach in extending best wishes as you work to promote justice in the 1706 "Witch Ducking" case of Grace Sherwood. With 300 years of hindsight, we all certainly can agree that trial by water is an injustice. We also can celebrate the fact that woman's equality is constitutionally protected today, and women have the freedom to pursue their hopes & dreams. The historical records that survive indicate that Ms. Sherwood, a midwife and widowed mother of three, survived her "trial by water" in 1706. Those records also indicate that one of my predecessors, Governor Alexander Spotswood, eventually helped her reclaim her property. The record also indicates Ms. Sherwood led an otherwise quiet and law abiding life until she died at the age of 80. Today, July 10, 2006, as 70th Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am pleased to officially restore the good name of Grace Sherwood. Sincerely, Timothy M. Kaine, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
She became the only deceased person in Virginia to ever be exonerated of a crime.
Having received this great gift of knowledge and learning that there would not be a blessing of strawberries, we decided to depart. But on the way out we found a Lion’s Club booth selling Stawberry Shortcake. Even with imported strawberries, it was mighty good!
But the best thing was that we got see the “Honorary Witch of Pungo!” Don’t you love it!
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