Southcott, Joanna
People > Southcott, Joanna
Joanna Southcott was born on the 25th April 1750 in Taleford, Devon, to William and Hannah Southcott. Her father was a tenant farmer.
Joanna had to work for a living - as a maidservant and farm labourer amongst other occupations - and did not begin to publish her religious writings until she was in her early fifties. Her visions and spiritual experiences however had started while she was in her forties and she had become widely known in Devon for her ability to predict future happenings.
In 1801, Joanna published the first part of her book "The strange effects of faith: with remarkable prophecies" and thus attracted the attention of a group of followers who moved her to London and began to promote her work. The period 1801-1814 was a very prolific one for Joanna; she published over sixty pamphlets that were widely circulated making her one of the most popular writers of her time. By 1815, it is estimated that Joanna had some 20,000 followers.
In 1814, at the age of sixty four, Joanna announced that she was to become the mother of Shiloh, the name given to the divine incarnation. This declaration led to much ridicule in the press and included popular cartoons. On the 27th December of that year however, two months overdue, Joanna died. An autopsy was held on the 31st December witnessed by some of her followers and several doctors; no foetus was found, Shiloh had disappeared.
The Times (January 2nd 1815) wrote rather scathingly of the autopsy and its reportage by the press; "Thus has finished a delusion which would have disgraced the most barbarous times; one of the most scandalous circumstances connected with which, and one that must excite indignation in every well constituted mind, is, that the circulation of this abominable imposition, and its degrading effects on the community, should have been aided by any portion of the public press. It is a lamentable thing, that what is intended for the diffusion of intelligence, should be thus converted into a means of spreading falsehood, indecency and impiety"
Joanna was buried secretly on the 1st January, 1815, at St. John's Wood, unbeknown to her followers.
After Joanna's death her work was continued and her famous 'box' containing prophecies and letters was handed down to her followers. The box was only to be opened in the presence of bishops during a time of national distress. The whereabouts of the box are now unknown but the secret is thought to reside with the Panacea Society, based in Bedford.
The Panacea Society have repeatedly called for the box to be opened. An advert placed in The Times in August 1984 read "Crime and banditry, distress of nations and perplexity will continue to increase until the bishops or their representatives open Joanna Southcott's box of sealed writings". To date, the opening of the box has not occurred.
Further Reading:
Joanna Southcott by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2005
Page last updated: 4th February 2014