Debby Johnson, The Witch of Chestnut Ridge

THE YADKIN VALLEY NEWS, Thursday, March 28, 1895

         The Witch of the Chestnut Ridge Dead

A correspondent gives the following account of the death of a noted character in this section. Deborah Johnson, nee Shinault, died at her home on Indian Graves Gap in Chestnut Ridge, a few days ago. she was 88 years old and had practied her craft since a young girl. She has relieved the palpitation of many young hearts in their first experience in courtship by assuring them that their suit would be finally successful. Many people came great distances to ascertain who was the thief when losing property or money, and many are the miraculous stories told of finding things by following her directions, such as bunch cotton burried in a swamp, money hid in hollow stumps, &c &c , One man, not many years ago, rode 18 miles and back to find out which way he should un his smut machine, whether with or against the sun. she advised him to run it with the sun. He returned home, followed her directions and succeeded in getting up a good flouring mill.
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