Joanna Southcott - the Devonian mother of Shiloh, the second Messiah.

Joanna Southcott - "The Bride;" " The Lamb's Wife ;" " The Woman clothed with the Sun ;"  "the mother of Shiloh, the second Messiah" -  from Devonshire characters and strange events Baring-Gould, S (1908)

"Joanna, daughter of William and Hannah Southcott, was born on April loth, 1750, at Gittisham, Devonshire. Her father, a farm labourer, honest and hardworking, could give Joanna no better education than was to be had at the village dame's school : here she read the Bible with much attention and committed to memory as much as possible. In after life, during her "preaching days," she was thus enabled to apply texts of scripture to prove the truth of her doctrines. Few persons have excited so much curiosity, or obtained more notoriety than Joanna Southcott. She aspired to be the mother of a second Messiah, going so far as to predict the date on which he should be born.

She affirmed that the "angels rejoiced at her birth," in consequence of which it was her duty to turn her mind to religious subjects and to preach redemption to every soul. In 1790, she was employed as a workwoman in the shop of an upholsterer in Exeter. The master being a Methodist, many persons of that persuasion visited him : with these people Joanna easily ingratiated herself, and was by them held in great esteem. Under such conditions she began to expound her religious views and would enter into controversy with ministers, who were amongst the guests of her employer, taking upon herself the role of religious dictator. By declaring that she had visions of an extraordinary character she added to her importance, as she was supposed to be inspired beyond a common degree of human nature. 

Considering herself " called of God," she determined to take up the ministry as her future vocation. In 1792, she began her declarations, that, "the Lord had visited her and entered into a sacred covenant, the conditions of which He would reveal to her alone in a vision." 

To such a depraved state had she arrived, that she blasphemously declared that God appeared to her, not in " the beauty of Holiness," not in " the Majesty of His Power," not in " the Greatness of His Mercy,  but sometimes in the shape of a cat ; and once as a "cup," which she kicked to pieces. After these mad assertions she called together a meeting of her followers, that these wonderful delusions might be discussed and explained. The whole assembly witnessed the following document : I, Joanna Southcott, am clearly convinced that my calling is of God, and my writings are indited by his spirit ; it is impossible for any spirit but an all-wise God that is wonderous in working, wonderous in wisdom, wonderous in power, wonderous in truth, could have brought round such mysteries so full of truth, as is in my writings : so I am clear in whom I have believed, that all my writings come from the spirit of the most High God.
JOANNA SOUTHCOTT.

Signed in the presence of fifty-eight persons (including Methodist preachers) who assented to the truth of the statement. 

Joanna, in 1792, assumed the titles of "The Bride;" " The Lamb's Wife ;" " The Woman clothed with the Sun ;" and intimated that in process of time she would become the mother of Shiloh, the second Messiah!

From this time innumerable converts attached themselves to her, each of whom contributed to the ways and means, making Joanna's finances ample for a luxurious mode of life.
 

One day, while sweeping out her employer's shop in Exeter, she found a seal with J. S. engraved upon it ; this she annexed, and hundreds of its impressions in wax were sold and worn as charms by her devotees. These " beatitudes" were purchasable at from twelve shillings to a guinea each.

The Joanna Southcottians swore never to shave until Shiloh came, and in consequence their beards grew to an enormous length. They were known as "The Bearded Men," and were a terror to children. Mrs. Sabatier of Exeter, was so shocked at Joanna's strange errors and blasphemies that she addressed a letter to her, in the hope of leading her to see the folly and wickedness of her teaching. She requested replies to the following questions.

1st. Does the voice reveal things, or enforce doctrines such as could not possibly have been discovered without the aid of this new revelation ?

2nd. Are all these things utterly free from error or contradiction ?

3rd. Are they of general importance and evident utility ?

4th Have any events followed these predictions that lay beyond the reach of human forecast ?

To these queries Joanna sent an incoherent reply : her letter will give a fair idea of the mental capacity of the writer, as well as a pretty accurate idea of the woman's religious teaching.
 

EXETER, June 20th, 1799.
 

UNNOWN FRIEND,
 

I shall answer your faithful letter with That Sincerity it deserves. I am a Constant member of the Church of England, but the Cruel usage I have met with from the Arch Deacon Moor, and some other Ministers made me not frequent St. Peter's. I have written to them Several letters, of the Greatest Blasphemy, that ever was wrote, if it was not, of God, for which they never reproved me neither would they here Me, to Know on what Grounds I had for my faith or fears. Now to your enquiries. The wind bloweth were it listeth, ye here the Sound thereof, but cannot tell from wence it cometh, or wither it goeth. So is every one born of the Spirit. Your first enquiry I answer possitively, it is impossible for Man by learning to find out what has been revealed to Me by the Spirit of inspiration concerning the Mistrys of the Bible. Your Second enquiry I answer. It is all to one purpose, what God designed at first, it is explained to Me, he will accomplish at last. Now cometh the fullfillment of the Gentiles, and the calling of the Jews, by the fullfillment of the Revelations, will the Jews be called Chaptr 12, 19, and the last. Thirdly, they are of general importance to all Mankind, they for the Condecension of the Lord to explain why he has done all things is explained to Me. Fourthly, I answer to the events that has followed. In 1792 I was fore told what was coming upon the whole earth, perfect As I then wrote, it has followed in this Nation and others, and they, for the End is not yet. Another thing. I am told what is in the Hearts and thoughts of Men Concerning Me. And how Ministers would act before I send them a letter. In 1792 I wrote of the Dearth of Provisions, the Distresses, of the Nations, and the War with France and Spain, it is too tedious mention all the particulars. I put in the hand of the Revd. Mr. Pumroy, in the begininng of 1797, what would happen in Italy, and perfect as it has happened, in England ever since. I may say no great event has happened, but what I am told of it before, and what is to happen before Christ peaceable Kingdom is established. I am at a Losst to account for the words saying others write for me. Do you mean I cannot write at All ? All my writings are in my own hand, but when I send to Ministers, I have some one to copy them out for Me, as I cannot Write a fair hand for others to read. I believe I have answered most of your enquirys as far as a Letter will permit, if you think proper to make known yourself, I am willing to lay every truth before you, and how these things came to me at first.
 

I am yonr sincere Friend,
JOANNA SOUTHCOTT.
P.S. Please direct at Mr. Taylor's Cabinet Maker Exeter.
 

As late as 1860 a few of her disciples were living at Exmouth, Sidmouth, Sidbury, Sidford, and Exeter, each expecting Joanna's return to life and the fulfilment of her expectations.
 

On Monday, December 2oth, 1814, Joanna died in London. A post mortem examination proved that a tumour was the cause of death. A prophecy of hers published in 1792, declared that the mother of Shiloh, previous to his birth, would be as one dead for four days, and at the end of that period would revive and the babe would be born.
 

In the Yorkshire Weekly Post, for November 18th, 1898, I read the following paragraph, which seems to me to be an interesting link with the past. " An elderly man who calls himself ' Judge Milton,' and ' The Promised Shiloh,' has again made his appearance in the Wakefield district. The old man contends that he is entitled to house property near East Ardsley, built by the late Prophet, John Wroe, a leader of the followers of Joanna Southcott." Perhaps the following may be interesting, as shewing specimen of the Hymns used at Joanna's Meetings.

I have said already, thou shalt have a son,
Ere he can speak, all this shall sure be done,
Great peace in England after this shall be
Because the remnant shall believe in me, &c.
 

The woman clothed with sun,
Should make all nations quake,
For now the mystery I'll explain,
The Revelation break.
 

It is the Son that shall be born,
Fatal to those that do him scorn ;
Because that I'll uphold his land,
That doth depise the Infant's birth.

Collected from Notes and Gleanings, Exeter, 1892, and Memoirs of Religious Impostors, by Dr. M. Ackin, LL.D., London, 1821, and other sources.

Hewett 1900

Map - Exeter

Map - Exmouth

Map - Gittisham

Map - Sidbury

Map - Sidmouth

Map - Sidford