Southcott, Joanna

(1750–1814)

   Prophet and Devotional Writer.

   Southcott was born in Devon in humble circumstances.

   She became a Methodist in 1791 and in the following year she issued her first book of prophecies. She believed that she was the woman described in Revelation, Chapter 12 and, despite her lack of education or coherence, she attracted a large following. She supported her work by issuing ‘seals’ to the faithful to guarantee their place among the Elect. This practice fell into disrepute when one of her customers was subsequently hanged for murder. In 1814 she claimed that she would give birth to the Prince of Peace, but she died before the prediction could be fulfilled. Many of her disciples still believed in her, but faith was shaken when her ‘sealed box’ was opened in 1927 and found to contain objects such as a lottery ticket and a night-cap.

   G.B. Balleine, Past Finding Out: The Tragic Story of Joanna Southcott and her Successors (1956);

   J.K. Hopkins, A Woman to Deliver her People: Joanna Southcott and English Millenarianism in an Era of Revolution (1982).