John Burton collection of material relating to Joanna Southcott and her followers, 1796-1835.

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Southcott, Joanna, 1750-1814. John Burton collection of material relating to Joanna Southcott and her followers, 1796-1835.

John Burton collection of material relating to Joanna Southcott and her followers, 1796-1835.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/72552221

Collection of manuscripts (drafts, copies and originals) compiled by John Burton, a follower of Joanna Southcott, dated between 1796 and 1835. Collections includes Southcottian communications (messages received by Joanna Southcott from her spirit guides) in both prose and verse recorded by Ann Underwood, her secretary and companion. Other items include a letter from Burton to Joanna Southcott in which he describes a number of his dreams at some length and asks for her help with their interpretation; a "deed of safety" for Hannah Lane, signed by Southcott; letters to George Turner (a Leeds merchant and prophet who gained the allegiance of many of Joanna's followers after her death) which reveal Burton's increasing doubts about the authenticity of Turner's claims; a letter of moral advice from Burton to his daughter Jemima; and a draft of a letter from Burton to the editor of an unknown newspaper complaining of the way members of the press write about Joanna Southcott's doctrines. John Burton has been identified as John Pritchard Burton, a London confectioner who died at Stoke Newington on 6th July, 1862. This collection of communications between the followers of Southcott provides much insight into their beliefs and activities during her life and after her death. Collection includes two printed portraits of Southcott and a newspaper clipping (1816) concerning George Turner. Writings by Jane Townley, William Thompson, Samuel John Tyler are also included as well as copies of communications among Southcott, Burton, Thomas Foley, and George Turner.

35 items.

Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library