Joanna Southcott letter, wrapper, and flyer, 1802, 1931

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Summary

Creator:
Southcott, Joanna, 1750-1814
Abstract:
Items authored by or about Joanna Southcott, a woman who proclaimed to be a Christian prophet in 1792.
Extent:
0.1 Linear Feet (3 items)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11488

Background

Scope and content:

Printed petition to “The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and to The Gentlemen of the House of Commons.” The petition contains claims to prophecy and a plea for the release of Mr. Brothers. Richard Brothers was a fellow proclaimed prophet who was arrested and eventually confined for insanity. Southcott mentions that she is selling prophecies at E.I. Field’s, No. 3, Broad-Court, Long-Acre, London. Collection also includes a paper wrapping most likely used for the petition addressed to Michael Hecks Beach, MP, Member for Cirencester. The wrapper is annotated “Gone away not known where. Residents not known at the House of Commons.” The inside of the wrapper contains a statement of support for Southcott’s claims to prophecy signed by several men and dated May 29, 1802. In addition, there is a printed flyer titled “Remarkable fulfilment of the Southcott prophecies from 1792 to the present day.” Fourth and revised edition from June 1931. The flyer speaks of the box of prophecies left by Southcott and what will result from reading them; also outlines some of Southcott’s prophecies.

Biographical / historical:

Joanna Southcott (1750-1814) was raised in Gittisham, Devon, England in a devout family. In 1792 Southcott became convinced that she possessed supernatural gifts and was receiving revelation. She was invited to London and began selling paper Seals of the Lord, said to guarantee the purchaser’s place among the 144,000 allowed into Heaven. At the age of 64, Southcott announced she would give birth to a divine child named Shiloh in October 1814. Southcott died not long after, followers claim in childbirth. Her followers, referred to as Southcottians, are said to have numbered over 100,000 but declined greatly by the end of the nineteenth century. Southcott left a sealed wooden box of prophecies with the instruction that it be opened only at a time of national crisis, and then only in the presence of all 24 bishops of the Church of England. An advertising campaign on billboards and in Britsh national newpapers ran in the 1960s and 1970s by one prominent group of Southcottians - the Panacea Society - tried to persuade the 24 bishops to have the box opened. The location and contents of the box are still debated today. Southcott's publications number over 60.

Acquisition information:
The Joanna Southcott Letters were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2015.
Processing information:

Processed by Lucy VanderKamp, May 2017.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2015-0050-LUBMSS552.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

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Subjects:
Southcottians
Names:
Southcott, Joanna, 1750-1814
Places:
Prophecy -- Christianity

Contents

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Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Joanna Southcott Letters, 1802 and 1931, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.