Virginia is the state where I grew up, but I never was exposed to what I am going to impart! There were a dozen witchcraft trials in Va. between 1626 and 1730. The test was "ducking" which I'd say was more like dunking. The person on trial (usually a woman) was tied toes to thumbs, put in a boat and dropped overboard. A normal human would drown, but a witch, they guessed, had special powers and could survive. The most famous trial was that of Grace Sherman who, when ducked, was able to untie her bonds and floated, so proclaimed a witch. She was jailed for several years before being released. This site did not give any details as to why or how she was released. Do you find that as unsatisfactory as I do?