Megan Engelhardt

Writing update: I got a new idea for the ding danged fantasy story. Who knows if it will go anywhere, but I have words on the page, so that is a nice change.

I married into a most superb family. (In-law jokes never work for me because seriously, I have the very best.) Among its many excellent members is my father-in-law, who not only tolerates my weird interests but encourages and occasionally shares them. Recently, on a family vacation, my husband and I stole him away for an afternoon to go look at weird things. It was delightful.

Our first stop was to see the statue of Grace Sherwood.

Grace was known as “the witch of Pungo”. Pungo is an area off the ocean front near Sandbridge, VA. (There is an excellent restaurant there called Blue Pete’s that is a family favorite.) Grace was the last known person to be convicted of witchcraft in Virginia.

She was in her forties and was a widow with three sons when she was accused of witchcraft and “ducked”, the traditional trial by water. Everyone knows that witches float because they’re made of wood and also weigh the same as a duck.

The Witch of Pungo floated.

Instead of being put to death, though, she was imprisoned, eventually released, and was pardoned 300 years later.

(There is a Witchduck Road nearby. For years we’ve wondered about it. Turns out it’s called that because of Grace Sherwood!)

Grace’s statue and historical marker is outside of a hospital, as a nod to her healing with herbs. She carries a basket of rosemary and there is a little raccoon statue, too. The internet says that it’s to represent her love of animals.

Look, maybe she loved animals. Or maybe that raccoon is her familiar. Just saying.

There’s a second historical marker for Grace at a church just down the road from the hospital.

Shout out to Old Donation Episcopal Church, which seems to be doing the work.

This marker is smaller and seems less official, but is well tended and part of the church’s really neat grounds.

We took some time to wander around and explore. I’m not positive but I’m pretty sure this is Saint Fiacre of Breuil.

I want a biodegradable coffin and a tree planted over me when I die, anyway, but if I have to have a headstone, do not put terrifying angel statues on it, please and thank you.

Stay tuned next week for Part Two of our weird things vacation walk!