Close Window Pembroke Meadows & Pembroke Shores Our Neighborhood History Courthouses

The first courthouse in Princess Anne County was located at Church Point and was a small wooden structure built in 1661.  In 1695 the second Princess Anne Courthouse was built on the Old Donation Church property.  This also was a wooden structure and was the serving courthouse where Grace Sherwood (aka) The Witch of Pungo was tried and convicted of being a witch. She was “tried by water” and subjected to ducking in the Lynnhaven River at what is now known as Witchduck Bay.  Grace was jailed on this site. A statute of Grace is on Witchduck Road on the Bayside Hospital side.  The third Princess Anne Courthouse was built of brick in 1735 at the ferry site complete with stock and pillory. It continued serving the area until 1751. This building remains today as the “keeping kitchen” which is the east wing of Ferry Plantation House.  The stock and pillory from this courthouse were moved to Kempsville.   Text  by Gerry Dashiell-Richter, email: JRich36729@aol.com

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