Manuscript material on Joanna Southcott

A slip of paper loosely inserted, probably early 20th century, proclaims 'Manuscript material on Joanna Southcott's Prophecies, &c. Copied from original letters, etc. by Griffith Lambell, 1803-1808', and Lambell, whose hand is small and neat, has subscribed his name to the text in at least one place. He often specifies whose original he has copied. Not all of the entries are letters or statements by Southcott herself. There is 'Mrs. Fields seven days Journal during the time of Joanna Southcott's illness in Paddington' in September 1802, and 'A List of the Judges and Jurymen who Proved Joanna's Writings, January 12th 1803.' In a copy of the old Dictionary of National Biography entry for Southcott (1750–1814), which is loosely inserted, her occupation is baldly stated as 'fanatic'. In the current Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2019) she is described as a 'prophet and writer', and the entry concludes with E.P. Thompson's description of her as 'England's greatest prophetess of all'. The Southcott material begins here on p. 31. At the beginning of the volume there are, in another hand, 'Rules to be observed in Building Ships', which peters out on p. 4. Beginning at the other end is more manuscript relating to shipping, but this rapidly becomes messy and/or nonsensical. There are desultory later notes, one dated 1918.

Griffith Lambell is known to have compiled a written record of the prophecies of Joanna Southcott.

Open for research although at least 24 hours notice should be given.

Purchased from Blackwell's.

Catalogued to collection-level as part of the Senate House Libraries archives catalogue, https://archives.libraries.london.ac.uk/Details/archive/110057329#

Previously sold at auction by Dreweatts and Bloomsbury Auctions, 2016 July 27.

The Harry Price archives (reference HP) held in Senate Houe Library also include material on Joanna Southcott.