Joanna Southcott was born at Taleford Farm, Ottery St Mary, the fourth daughter of William Southcott and his second wife Mary (nee Godfrey).

Joanna worked as a domestic servant and shop assistant for Mr Taylor an upholsterer in Exeter. Joanna went to live in London and at the age forty-two she began to write prophecies.

In 1801 she published her first book, and another 64 publications were to follow.

She soon began to gain support among some clergy, had thousands of followers (known as Southcottians) and set up a chapel and ministry in London.

She began to issue seals - 'proclamations of faith' to thousands of people.

These seals were regarded as 'passports to heaven' and people were forbidden to open them.

They were sold for as much as a guinea although Joanna denied ever receiving any money for them.

Sales stopped in 1808 and in 1812 Johanna was left a legacy of £250 a year, so she no longer had to rely on charity from her friends. Joanna claimed to have cursed King George III and the Royal family when the King did not respond to her letters asking him to acknowledge her as a divine prophet.

Joanna spent years making a patchwork quilt. Using her own hair, she embroidered the date 1811, the year she said, that the King would receive his just punishment - that was the year when he was declared to be insane.

In 1814, aged over 60 she claimed she was the woman described in chapter twelve of the Bible’s Book of Revelation.

She who would give birth to the second Prince of Peace named Shiloh on December 25th, 1814. In November that year a private marriage ceremony with John Smith took place.

Newspapers of the time carried stories that over thirty doctors had confirmed her pregnancy, though Joanna kept changing the date of confinement. Great preparations were made.

Expensive gifts including a solid gold font and several baby cribs were made and presented. Huge crowds gathered outside the house where Joanna was living.

Joanna died on December 27th without giving birth and was buried on January 1 st, 1815, at St John's Wood, Marylebone.

Joanna left a sealed box. Her instructions were that the box should be opened in the presence of twenty-four Church of England Bishops, who must then study her prophecies for three days and nights. The Bishops have always refused