The Obvious Cause of Whatever’s Gone Wrong With Maryland

I’m betting that most of you have some knowledge of this legend, as it’s one of the more famed American witch stories and the inspiration behind the Blair Witch. But what’s unusual about this one is that, while tales of many beasts and bogies are created to keep young ‘ns from doing terrible things. This tale seems to be told as an attempt to justify an already done and terrible thing… or maybe it really is just a warning… spoooooooky!

Our judge this week penned the following description and since I’m not sure i could have worked “accomplished herbalist” into my description, I’m just using it word for word here:

There was never any proof, nor even a bit of leading information that would point towards Moll Dyer ever having used any witchcraft whatsoever. The old crone and accomplished herbalist lived in 17th century Leonardtown, Maryland, and for awhile was considered gifted for her knowledge of herbal medicine. In fact, she was responsible for the healing of many of the townspeople and their children. She was arguably different from everyone else in the newly settled town, and to cry “witch” was very much in fashion. Superstition ran rampant and insane notions were nurtured by many, and they turned on Moll Dyer. It’s quite possible that a perfectly innocent old lady, who just liked her solitude and to grow her herbs near her little cabin in the woods, was killed by the townspeople in a particularly ugly fashion. She fled when her domicile was set ablaze, and then froze to death in the snow and ice that night trying to hide from the angry mob. She was found partially frozen to the legendary stone that exists today in a local museum. When people come to see it, there’s no doubt they pass judgment on her anew, over and over again. When one comes to such a terrible end, who is to say that their spirit doesn’t continue to suffer, or deal out suffering, in the afterlife?

So there you have it! Draw her as a 17th century America’s Witch with a mind set on destruction and overflowing with ill will or a quiet botanist with a soft spot for the way wooly thyme feels between her toes. Either way she was shunned as an outsider and died alone frozen to a stone. If that’s not a heartwarming bit of American lore …. wait it’s not… but it is American lore none the less so get to drawing!

Our Judge this week is longtime cohort and friend, eyeliner on a cat/Carrie; beauty, fragrance and lifestyle copy writer and blogger. In her own words: I’m a bona-fide bleeding heart liberal and militant fucker-upper. My obsessions include Taake and Prince, burning incense and chasing ghosts out of my house. Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn! and honestly that about says what you need to know! check out her blog here!