SOUTHCOTTIANS. The followers of Joanna South cott (1750-1814). Joanna Southcott was at first a Methodist. In 1792, she says, she began to receive divine revelations. These were written down and sealed, to be opened some years later. In ISO1 she began to publish " prophecies" which had been revealed to her ten years before. When she was sixty years old she announced that, through supernatural conception. she would bear a son who was to be Shiloh or the Prince of Peace and was to introduce the Millennium. " Since this powerful visitation of the Lord came to me," she says in her Second Book of Wonders, " like that in [1792], I have fresh things revealed to me every day. I am awaked every morning between three and four o'clock: I sit up in my bed till the day breaks; and have communications given to me as soon as I am awake. When the day breaks I rise and go down into the dining room by myself; the moment I enter the room I feel as though I was surrounded with angels; feeling a heavenly joy which I cannot describe, and which has taken from me my natural appetite." A London physician, Dr.
Reece, who visited Joanna Southeott four months before her death, believed her to be pregnant in spite of her age and virginity. Only a post modem examination con vinced him of his mistake. She died on December the 27th, 1814. Her followers believed that she would revive. In 1825 one Charles William Twort announced that he was the Shiloh whose advent bad been prophesied. He published epistles, which were sealed with a special seal and signed " Zion, the Lord is here." The epistles were called " Epistles of Shiloh." Another writer of similar epistles was a George Turner of Leeds (1821). John Wroe (1782-1863) came under his influence, and in 1822 claimed to succeed him. His followers afterwards called themselves Christian Israelites (q.v.). Joanna South cott's publications include " The Book of Wonders" (1813-14) and " Prophecies concerning the Birth of the Prince of Peace " (1814). See J. H. Blunt ; the D.N.B.; and Chambers' Encycl,