Dixie Witches

This book is not about witch stories. It is a recounting of a few witch trials. Judges presided over some of these trials in courts of law; church officials conducted others. Some of those accused of witchery faced brutality and torture and some remained outcasts after their trials. On the other hand, many of the southern witches won their cases and some of them received damages from their abusers. In those cases where the accused stood before church leaders and their respective congregations, the penalty for witchcraft was excommunication. One can argue that a church proceeding is not a trial, but most major sects (the Presbyterian for instance) refer to excommunication proceedings as trials. One must also remember that in centuries past, many considered separation from the church a very severe punishment indeed. The author is not very interested in the specific activities of individuals accused of being witches. Of course, he had no choice but to relate the "evidence" witnesses gave against these men and women accused of bewitching their neighbors. This includes allegations of supernatural activities. However, if the reader expects fanciful stories of witches practicing their demented, demonic black arts, he will be disappointed. The author is interested in the reactions of those who suspected witches in their midst. Thus, he looks closely at how persons behaved when confronted with the specter of witches in their communities. These reactions reveal a great deal about persons of that time - and of this time too. The author had scores of cases from which to choose, but he made a point of concentrating on cases with which most readers are not well acquainted. Of course, in the communities in which these trials occurred, these cases are famous. There was no need to present many similar cases of witch trials. The nine cases related here are enough to give a good picture of witch trials in the American Southland. Beyond the nine trials related here, the author has added several chapters amplifying upon the subject. These chapters will provide the reader with a feel for how our ancestors viewed witchery and how they attempted to combat it. The author has placed these cases in chronological order. They span a period of more than two centuries. Where possible, the author depended upon official court and church documents in recounting these cases. He also relied upon letters, newspaper accounts and other materials produced at the time the cases took place. The author tried to remain detached, even-handed, and serious in the presentation of these cases. However, some of the witch trials contained humorous elements that he could not resist including. Finally, the author reminds the reader that in the times these trials took place (between 1626 and 1859); a large number of people believed witchcraft was real and evil - the work of the Devil. To these people, a witch acting at the behest of the Devil was as real - and as dangerous - as any wild beast. Sometimes the motivations of those accusing their neighbors of being witches had nothing to do witchcraft. Instead, many men and women faced accusations of witchcraft because someone wanted to do them harm and believed that a charge of witchery was the best means of achieving that purpose. One could debate whether fear and ignorance was more justifiable than a mere attempt to gain revenge, but that is a discussion for another time.