ESPERANCE WITCH
- Program
- Subject
- Location
- Lat/Long
- Grant Recipient
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Legends & Lore®
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Legend
- State Route 20 West Bound of the Schoharie Creek, Esperance, NY
- 42.7608684, -74.2611909
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The Esperance Historical Society and Museum
ESPERANCE WITCH
Inscription
ESPERANCE WITCHLIVED NEAR HERE IN 1800S.
FRENCH SETTLER ACCUSED OF
WITCHCRAFT BY NEW ENGLAND
SETTLERS. KILLED BY SILVER
BULLET SHOT THROUGH HER WINDOW
NEW YORK FOLKLORE SOCIETY
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2017
Sometimes referred to as the “Grenadier Woman,” the legend of the Esperance Witch is about a widowed French woman who was accused of witchcraft. Among the acts of which she was accused, include taking off her apron and poling herself across the Schoharie Creek on the garment and putting it on dry on the other side. She was also accused of delivering poor crops and dying cattle. Locals were determined to get the “witch” out of the area and she was shot through the window of her house with a silver bullet. She’s said to be buried below a pine tree with its roots keeping her from rising to seek vengeance.
A folk song inspired by the legend of the Esperance Witch was written by musician Mike Holt when he happened upon the Legends & Lore marker near Schoharie Creek.
