The community of St. Johns in Hertford County was once the county seat of Bertie County before Hertford County was formed. The old courthouse stood here from 1722 to 1741. The medicinal practices and rituals of Native Americans were sometimes considered by other locals to be witchcraft or the practice of black magic. Many suspected witches in Colonial Virginia and North Carolina were drowned, hanged, or burned at the stake. John Wheeler Moore was a prominent lawyer in the mid-1800s in Murfreesboro, where he lived with his family. He wrote in the “Ablemarle Inquirer” of Murfreesboro about a Meherrin Indian woman who had been accused of being a witch and was burned at the stake at St. Johns.
Historian and folklore expert F. Roy Johnson of Murfreesboro passed down the following folklore about witches. In the Roanoke-Chowan area of Northeastern North Carolina, some locals believed that witches slip out of their skins at night to go cast their evil spells. Put salt and pepper on a witches’ skin, and when she returns she will no longer be able to get back in it.
A Northampton County boy suspected his neighbor of being a witch. When she visited, he hid a broom beneath the doorstep. When it was time for her to leave, she could not. She cried, “That boy of yours has put a broom under the doorstep. Make him take it out!”
The Ahoskie Swamp is where it was believed that witches went out to practice spells and dance in the moonlight. The Indian Sorcerer’s pounding feet kept the vegetation away and created a bare circle. Nothing will grow in this circular area, said to be 100 feet in diameter. Legend says that the bare circle remained as recently as the 1920s. The Ahoskie Swamp is located east of Ahoskie on Hwy 561 towards Harrellsville, just south of Bear Swamp Bridge.
Sudden musical talent was also said to be the work of witches or of the devil himself.
Hertford County legend – Stand in front of a mirror for nine consecutive nights between midnight and daybreak, strumming a guitar. On the ninth night, the devil will take the instrument, tune it, and then the candidate will be able to play pretty music, but the soul will belong to the devil. (Nine consecutive nights of guitar practice probably helps a lot, too.)
Northampton County legend – Go to a fork in the road for nine consecutive nights between midnight and daybreak. The devil will put you through many tests – apparitions of evil dead, spirits, weird creatures, lightning, strange noises, etc. If the candidate remains unafraid, then on the ninth night the devil will ask for the candidate’s music box – a guitar, banjo, etc. The devil will tune the instrument, and then the candidate will be able to play any tune.
Legend says that in 1890, Jim Allen Vaughan made a banjo out of a gourd, sheep’s hide, and cotton thread. He woke up one night and heard the banjo playing by itself. He put his head under the covers and did not peek out until the sun came up. The next day, he burned the banjo in a fire.
Written By: Al Parker, Murfreesboro Historical Association
