The Witch of the Monongahela: Folk Magic in Early Western Pennsylvania

by Thomas White

In the ancient hills and misty hollows of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, generations of locals have passed down stories of a woman with mysterious magical powers. People came from near and far to seek healing and protection through her strange rituals. Some even believed she could fly. Named Moll Derry and nicknamed the Witch of the Monongahela, her legend has been documented by writers and folklorists for more than two hundred years. She is intertwined in many regional tales, such as the Lost Children of the Alleghenies and Polly Williams and the White Rocks. Author Thomas White separates fact from fiction in the many versions of Moll Derry and recounts Western Pennsylvania's folk magic history along the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2020

About the author

Thomas White is the university archivist and curator of special collections in the Gumberg Library at Duquesne University. He is also an adjunct lecturer in Duquesne's History Department and an adjunct professor of history at La Roche College. White received a master's degree in public history from Duquesne University. Besides the folklore and history of Pennsylvania, his areas of interest include public history and American cultural history. He is the author of Legends and Lore of Western Pennsylvania, Forgotten Tales of Pennsylvania, Ghosts of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Forgotten Tales of Pittsburgh and Forgotten Tales of Philadelphia (co-authored with Edward White), all published by The History Press.

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So. Want to know the real reason I read this book?

My ancestors are crazy.

My great-great grandparents had a journal/book that we now jokingly call the "voodoo book" filled with what basically looked to be spells and incantations. How to "blow out the fire" from a burn and how to "measure decay". Sure, we joked about it, but it always unsettled me a little bit that I was related to people who ACTUALLY believed in witchcraft.

This book gave a little backstory on why they would have believed in something like that. Short version, they weren't totally crazy, just backwoods with no concept of science.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to Thomas White speak at McKeesport Regional History and Heritage Center (shameless self-plug, I know), I was fascinated with his lecture on The Witch of the Monongahela, also known as Moll Derry. So when he introduced his book written on Derry and other famous witches of the area, I HAD to read it. I found the book every bit as interesting as the lecture, and I loved learning more about the general history of folk magic in Western Pennsylvania. I’m excited to read more of White’s books in the future.

[Vincent T. Ciaramella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a good book. In the end, I guess most of these folks were just people that practiced folk magic. I went looking around Haydentown for anything mentioned in the book but I guess it's all gone now. I collect local history books so this is a nice edition.

[Kerry]

Thomas White’s The Witch of the Monongahela looks into the legend and legacy of Moll Derry from the Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA area.This historical person (or people) have been written about for two hundred years. The author attempts to decipher fact from the fiction of a larger than life presence and part of local lore.

[Elizabeth Williams-herrman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advanced copy of the book and I really enjoyed it. It's very well researched and well written.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read but I expected more depth and factual information about the women and Fayette County.

[Patricia Woodruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small, easily readable book focusing on Moll Derry of Fayette County, PA and Germanic traditions of witchcraft. Unfortunately the author takes a Christian view of witchcraft, evaluating it in terms of “good magic” and “evil magic”. Talks about hexes, powwow, and broucheri (PA Dutch magicians).

[Arlene Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting!!!