North Virginia Beach , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Grace Sherwood

(1660 - 1730)

— Virginia Beach, 2007 —

Grace Sherwood Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 11, 2025

1. Grace Sherwood Marker

Inscription. Sherwood lived in Princess Anne County from the latter 1600’s until the 1730’s, an era when many American colonists believed in witchcraft as a way to explain unusual events. Sherwood submitted to a trial by water, a "witch ducking," in 1706, because of charges that her behavior disrupted the lives of her neighbors. Although found guilty of witchcraft, her life was spared, and she was pardoned formally by the governor of Virginia 300 years later in 2006. She was Virginia’s only convicted witch tried by water. Witchduck Road and Witchduck Point contribute to preserving her story.

Erected 2007 by the Fifth Grade Classes of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools in recognition of the 400th Anniversary of Virginia Beac.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Law Enforcement • Women. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Legends Walk series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1706.

Location. 36° 50.487′ N, 75° 58.458′ W. Marker is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is in North Virginia Beach. It is on Pacific Avenue (Route 60) north of 12th Street,

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on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1300 Pacific Ave, Virginia Beach VA 23451, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: James Monroe (a few steps from this marker); Katie Couric (a few steps from this marker); William Clark (a few steps from this marker); George C. Marshall (a few steps from this marker); Edgar Allen Poe (a few steps from this marker); Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (a few steps from this

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 11, 2025

2. Grace Sherwood Marker

marker); Tom Wolfe (a few steps from this marker); Captain John Smith (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia Beach.

More about this marker. An identical marker can be found on the east end of the Virginia Legends Walk.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 20, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.