By Toni Guagenti
The sun wanes through the oversized windows of the Apollo Room at the Raleigh Tavern. An electric lantern shines just enough light on the wide-plank wood floor to cast eerie shadows – which is appropriate for the conversation being held within the room’s four walls.
The room is meant to represent a meeting room at Virginia’s House of Burgesses in Colonial Williamsburg’s historic district. On this night, it serves as a makeshift classroom.
The subject: Witches in 17th- and 18th-century Virginia.
Or, more specifically, the subject is the two dozen cases of people accused of witchcraft in which a modicum of documentation exists. That includes those acquitted or found guilty of such charges in the colony from 1626 to 1730.
Sounds perfect for Halloween, doesn’t it
The story of witchcraft in Virginia is one worth telling, says Carson Hudson, an evening program manager with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
And he’s chosen a Colonial Williamsburg way to do it. You can see for yourself in “Something Wicked” on Halloween weekend – Nov. 1 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Capitol.
The students in this class serve as interpreters — or guides — for visitors who want to learn more about how our colonial ancestors felt about and dealt with so-called witches in a young America. They take visitors on an hourlong tour, work from a script written by Hudson and answer questions from the touring guests.
Hudson has some experience with this. Nearly 30 years ago, he wrote the extremely popular Colonial Williamsburg program, “Cry Witch,” in which guests can be the jurors at the trial of the Witch of Pungo, Grace Sherwood.
Now, he feels it was time to dispel some of Virginia’s witchcraft myths and introduce visitors to colonists accused of one act of sorcery or another.
When it comes to witchcraft, nobody would mistake colonial Virginia for Salem in Massachusetts.
“We can’t find a single person legally being executed for witchcraft” in Virginia, Hudson said. There is a record of Katherine Grady being hanged for it in 1694, but her death occurred on a ship at sea somewhere between the Chesapeake Bay’s entrance and Jamestown.
And while witchcraft was real to Virginia’s early colonists, Hudson said there was “no great witchcraft hysteria in the colony.”
In fact, in Lower Norfolk County, a law was passed in 1655 to dissuade people from accusing others of being witches. The law made it a crime to slander anyone in the name of witchcraft and the punishment was 1,000 pounds of tobacco.
Because many of the court documents were destroyed in fires during the Civil War, historians were left with few records to search for witchcraft cases. And what is recorded provides little detail about the proceedings, Hudson said, noting that court clerks didn’t take down verbatim what was said or what happened within the courtroom.
Hudson has taken what is known and published it in “These Detestable Slaves of the Devill,” which the guides pore over during their class.
“Something Wicked” can also be seen on Saturday, Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 15.
Other Halloween happenings:
Thursday, Oct. 30 at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 1 at 11:30 a.m.
Carson Hudson holds one-hour discussions on how colonial Virginians shared a common belief in the supernatural and the existence of witches with their northern neighbors. Throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries, they conducted several witchcraft inquiries. Copies of his book “These Detestable Slaves of the Devill” will be available in the Museum Store with a book signing to follow the lecture.
Oct. 31 at 4 p.m.
“Things That Go Bump in the Night:” A concert of songs and tales about ghosts, hauntings and other happenings from Jamestown’s time to the present day. Hennage Auditorium, the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
“Tavern Ghost Walk:” A family-friendly program about the spirits that still haunt the taverns. Shields Tavern.
Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
“Ghosts Among Us:” More haunted tales, more haunted buildings. May not be suitable for small children. Lumber House Ticket Office.
Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“Cry Witch:” Serve as a jurist in the trial of Grace Sherwood, who is accused of being a witch. Capitol General Court.
Oct. 31 at 9:45 p.m.
“Texas Chain Saw Massacre:” See the 1974 horror classic that’s 86 minutes of fright. Kimball Theatre.
Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m.
“Williamsburg Old-Time Radio Hour—Special Halloween Show:” This broadcast features local legends and ancient superstitions, accompanied by spooky sound effects and live music. Hennage Auditorium, the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
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