William Harding (born c. 1625, date of death unknown), was the first man to have been convicted of witchcraft in the Colony of Virginia,[1] and also one of the few men to have been tried in a witch trial in Colonial America.
[6][7] In November 1656, Scottish Reverend David Lindsay of Wicomico Church, Virginia accused William of witchcraft and sorcery, and he was subsequently imprisoned.
[8][9] A 24-member jury was convened, and the witch trial heard testimony from numerous county residents.
[12][13][14] On November 20, 1656, Harding was found guilty of the charges, sentenced to 13 whip lashes, ordered to pay all court costs, and formally banished from the county.
[15][16] Harding's banishment was considered unorthodox as it was not a prescribed punishment in the Witchcraft Act 1603.