John Ward (prophet)
Encyclopedia
John Ward known as "Zion Ward", was an Irish
preacher, mystic
and self-styled prophet
, active (in the latter capacity) in England
from around 1828-1835. He was one of those claiming to be the successor of prophetess Joanna Southcott
after her death. His imprisonment for blasphemy prompted the intervention of Member of Parliament
, Joseph Hume
.
), in County Cork
, Ireland, on 25 December 1781. In July 1790, his parents took him to Bristol
, England where, at twelve years of age, he was apprenticed to a shipwright. His father took him to London
in 1797, where he learned shoemaking
from his brother, but soon went back to his former trade and served on board the Man-of-war, "Blanche" as a shipwright; in this capacity he saw action at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801.
In 1803, Ward was paid off from the Navy at Sheerness
, Kent
, got married, and returned to the trade of shoemaker. He had been brought up a Calvinist, but, after moving to Carmarthen
in Wales
, became a Methodist at his wife's instance. Unable to experience conversion, he returned to London, resolving to "never more have anything to do with religion". However, after hearing dissenter Jeremiah Learnoult Garrett
preach at Lant Street Chapel, Southwark
, he joined the Baptists. On Garrett's death, in 1806, he aligned himself with the independents, and, in 1813, joined the Sandemanians, becoming a village preacher.
in 1814, Ward came across her "Fifth Book of Wonders". Its universalism captivated him, and he began to preach it. This led to him rejoining the methodists, who made him a local preacher, but soon dismissed him for his heretical
views. The Southcottians would not receive him either.
Convinced by the example of Joanna Southcott that prophecy is "a living gift", Ward looked for another prophet to guide him, falling in with Mary Boon of Staverton
, Devon
, a Sabbatarian fanatic, who claimed to be Joanna Southcott reborn. He became "reader" of the letters she dictated (for she could neither read nor write) for the benefit of her London followers. Around 1825, Ward began to experience visions in which he was, apparently, visited by Southcott in spirit
form. His followers reckoned their years from this point, 1826 being "First year, new date".
for six months. He continued to experience visions, claiming to have received instruction and a sense of "call and mission". On being freed (20 November 1828) he claimed to be "a new man, having a new name" Zion. He also called himself "Shiloh
" as he was convinced that he was the biblical messiah of that name, whom Southcott had previously claimed she would give birth to before her death.
In 1829, with the help of a follower, Charles William Twort (d. 1878, aged 93), he began to print tracts
. He visited, and preached in, various towns and cities in England, making converts in Nottingham
, Chesterfield
, Worksop
, Blyth
, Barnsley
, Birmingham
, and Sheffield
. In 1831 he preached regularly at Borough Chapel in Southwark (London) and, in September, attracted notice by two discourses at the Rotunda, Blackfriars Road, previously made notorious by the preaching of Robert Taylor
(1784–1844).
. They had posted placards announcing an address on a religious fast day
, 15 July. These were torn down three times by a local clergyman, James Dean (d. 1882), on whom Twort committed an assault
. Ward and Twort were subsequently indicted
for blasphemy
and assault. Tried on 4 August before Sir James Alan Park
, Twort was convicted of the assault, and both were found guilty of blasphemy, and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in Derby Gaol
. The case had already become something of a cause célèbre, attracting the attention of the radical Richard Carlile
, amongst others. On the 15th August, Henry Hunt
, another political radical and agitator, presented a petition to the House of Commons from 200 citizens of London, expressing "disgust and indignation" at the sentence, and praying for the release of Ward and Twort. Hunt made a violent attack on the government for prosecuting opinions; Member of Parliament
, Joseph Hume
spoke in favour of the petition, the attorney-general
opposed. On Hunt's motion the house was counted out while Alexander Perceval
was speaking. No mitigation of the sentence was obtained, but the confinement, as Ward describes it, was by no means harsh.
Freed on 3 February 1834, Ward travelled to Bristol and preached to a congregation there. At the end of 1835 he had a paralytic stroke. On October 1836, he settled in Leeds
. He died at 91 Park Lane, Leeds, on 12 March 1837.
are uncouth, but often effective. His main influence was Joanna Southcott and her school, but he was also familiar with the ideas of George Fox
(1624–1691) and Lodowicke Muggleton
(1609–1698); however, most of his teaching came from his own considerations on the Bible
. He regarded biblical scripture as allegorical
, and elaborated a key for eliciting its hidden meanings. His theology is a spiritual pantheism
, which allows immortality only to the regenerate.
In 1874 a "jubilee" edition of his works was planned with the title "Writings of Zion Ward, or Shiloh, the Spiritual Man"; hoever only three parts were published (Birmingham, 1874–5), though other tracts were printed separately, e.g. "Good and Evil made One" (1877).
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
preacher, mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
and self-styled prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
, active (in the latter capacity) in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
from around 1828-1835. He was one of those claiming to be the successor of prophetess Joanna Southcott
Joanna Southcott
Joanna Southcott , was a self-described religious prophetess. She was born at Gittisham in Devon, England.-Self-revelation:...
after her death. His imprisonment for blasphemy prompted the intervention of Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Joseph Hume
Joseph Hume
Joseph Hume FRS was a Scottish doctor and Radical MP, born in Montrose, Angus.-Medical career:He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and moved to India in 1797...
.
Early life and career
Ward was born at the Cove of Cork (now CobhCobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
), in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland, on 25 December 1781. In July 1790, his parents took him to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England where, at twelve years of age, he was apprenticed to a shipwright. His father took him to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1797, where he learned shoemaking
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
from his brother, but soon went back to his former trade and served on board the Man-of-war, "Blanche" as a shipwright; in this capacity he saw action at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801.
In 1803, Ward was paid off from the Navy at Sheerness
Sheerness
Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000 it is the largest town on the island....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, got married, and returned to the trade of shoemaker. He had been brought up a Calvinist, but, after moving to Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, became a Methodist at his wife's instance. Unable to experience conversion, he returned to London, resolving to "never more have anything to do with religion". However, after hearing dissenter Jeremiah Learnoult Garrett
Jeremiah Learnoult Garrett
Jeremiah Learnoult Garrett , was an English dissenting minister.-Life:Garrett was born at Horselydown, Southwark, near the Old Stairs, on 29 February 1764. His parents were boat-builders. Before he was eight he had 'strict views of the world being burnt up, and the wicked being turned into hell.'...
preach at Lant Street Chapel, Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, he joined the Baptists. On Garrett's death, in 1806, he aligned himself with the independents, and, in 1813, joined the Sandemanians, becoming a village preacher.
Preacher
Just after the death of prophetess Joanna SouthcottJoanna Southcott
Joanna Southcott , was a self-described religious prophetess. She was born at Gittisham in Devon, England.-Self-revelation:...
in 1814, Ward came across her "Fifth Book of Wonders". Its universalism captivated him, and he began to preach it. This led to him rejoining the methodists, who made him a local preacher, but soon dismissed him for his heretical
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
views. The Southcottians would not receive him either.
Convinced by the example of Joanna Southcott that prophecy is "a living gift", Ward looked for another prophet to guide him, falling in with Mary Boon of Staverton
Staverton, Devon
Staverton is a village and civil parish in the South Hams of Devon, England consisting 297 households and a population of 717 .The village has one pub/inn called 'The Sea Trout' which is located in the heart of the village....
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, a Sabbatarian fanatic, who claimed to be Joanna Southcott reborn. He became "reader" of the letters she dictated (for she could neither read nor write) for the benefit of her London followers. Around 1825, Ward began to experience visions in which he was, apparently, visited by Southcott in spirit
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
form. His followers reckoned their years from this point, 1826 being "First year, new date".
Prophet
In 1827, Ward gave up shoemaking to proclaim his divine call; his wife and family were convinced that he was mad, and he was reported to the parish officers. He was brought before a Southwark magistrate (Chambers), declared insane and committed to Newington WorkhouseNewington Workhouse
Newington Workhouse was a workhouse—a British institution for indoor relief of the poor— at 182 Westmoreland Road , Southwark, London.-History:...
for six months. He continued to experience visions, claiming to have received instruction and a sense of "call and mission". On being freed (20 November 1828) he claimed to be "a new man, having a new name" Zion. He also called himself "Shiloh
Shiloh (Biblical figure)
Shiloh is a figure mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 49:10 as part of the benediction given by Jacob to his son Judah. Jacob states that "the scepter will not depart from Judah.....
" as he was convinced that he was the biblical messiah of that name, whom Southcott had previously claimed she would give birth to before her death.
In 1829, with the help of a follower, Charles William Twort (d. 1878, aged 93), he began to print tracts
Tract (literature)
A tract is a literary work, and in current usage, usually religious in nature. The notion of what constitutes a tract has changed over time. By the early part of the 21st century, these meant small pamphlets used for religious and political purposes, though far more often the former. They are...
. He visited, and preached in, various towns and cities in England, making converts in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, Worksop
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
, Blyth
Blyth
- Places :Australia* Blyth, South Australia, a small townCanada* Blyth, Ontario, a villageUnited Kingdom* Blyth, Northumberland, a town* Blyth, Nottinghamshire, a village* Blyth, Suffolk, a village* River Blyth, Northumberland* River Blyth, Suffolk...
, Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
. In 1831 he preached regularly at Borough Chapel in Southwark (London) and, in September, attracted notice by two discourses at the Rotunda, Blackfriars Road, previously made notorious by the preaching of Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor (Radical)
Reverend Robert Taylor , was an early 19th century Radical, a clergyman turned freethinker whose "Infidel home missionary tour" was a dramatic incident in Charles Darwin's education, subsequently leaving Charles Darwin with a horrifying memory of "the Devil's Chaplain" as a warning of the dangers...
(1784–1844).
Imprisonment and final years
In 1832, Ward and Twort came into conflict with the authorities at DerbyDerby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. They had posted placards announcing an address on a religious fast day
Fast Day
Fast Day was a holiday observed in some parts of the United States between 1670 and 1991."A day of public fasting and prayer", it was traditionally observed in the New England states. It had its origin in days of prayer and repentance proclaimed in the early days of the American colonies by Royal...
, 15 July. These were torn down three times by a local clergyman, James Dean (d. 1882), on whom Twort committed an assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
. Ward and Twort were subsequently indicted
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
for blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
and assault. Tried on 4 August before Sir James Alan Park
James Alan Park
Sir James Alan Park KC was a British judge. He was the son of James Park, a surgeon from Edinburgh, and was brought up in Edinburgh until his fathers practice moved to Surrey. He was educated first at Northampton Grammar School and then at Lincoln's Inn...
, Twort was convicted of the assault, and both were found guilty of blasphemy, and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in Derby Gaol
Derby Gaol
The term Derby Gaol historically refers to the five gaols in Derby, England. Today, the term usually refers to one of two tourist attractions, the gaol which stood on Friar Gate from 1756 to 1846 and the cells of which still exist and are open to the public as a museum, and the 1843 to 1929 Vernon...
. The case had already become something of a cause célèbre, attracting the attention of the radical Richard Carlile
Richard Carlile
Richard Carlile was an important agitator for the establishment of universal suffrage and freedom of the press in the United Kingdom.-Early life :...
, amongst others. On the 15th August, Henry Hunt
Henry Hunt (politician)
Henry "Orator" Hunt was a British radical speaker and agitator remembered as a pioneer of working-class radicalism and an important influence on the later Chartist movement. He advocated parliamentary reform and the repeal of the Corn Laws.Hunt was born in Upavon, Wiltshire and became a prosperous...
, another political radical and agitator, presented a petition to the House of Commons from 200 citizens of London, expressing "disgust and indignation" at the sentence, and praying for the release of Ward and Twort. Hunt made a violent attack on the government for prosecuting opinions; Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Joseph Hume
Joseph Hume
Joseph Hume FRS was a Scottish doctor and Radical MP, born in Montrose, Angus.-Medical career:He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and moved to India in 1797...
spoke in favour of the petition, the attorney-general
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
opposed. On Hunt's motion the house was counted out while Alexander Perceval
Alexander Perceval
Colonel Alexander Perceval was an Irish politician. He sat in the House of Commons for Sligo County from 1831 to 1841, when his growing financial difficulties compelled him to resign his seat. He served briefly as a Junior Lord of the Treasury in Sir Robert Peel's second government .-References:*...
was speaking. No mitigation of the sentence was obtained, but the confinement, as Ward describes it, was by no means harsh.
Freed on 3 February 1834, Ward travelled to Bristol and preached to a congregation there. At the end of 1835 he had a paralytic stroke. On October 1836, he settled in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. He died at 91 Park Lane, Leeds, on 12 March 1837.
Personality and influences
Though said to be of "gentle disposition" and "modest demeanour", Ward was a persuasive speaker, and in conversation and writing, was able to argue with some authority and even humour. His attempts at verseVerse (poetry)
A verse is formally a single line in a metrical composition, e.g. poetry. However, the word has come to represent any division or grouping of words in such a composition, which traditionally had been referred to as a stanza....
are uncouth, but often effective. His main influence was Joanna Southcott and her school, but he was also familiar with the ideas of George Fox
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
(1624–1691) and Lodowicke Muggleton
Lodowicke Muggleton
Lodowicke Muggleton was an English plebeian religious thinker, who gave his name to Muggletonianism. He spent his working life as a journeyman tailor in the City of London and was imprisoned twice for his beliefs. He held opinions hostile to all forms of philosophical reason...
(1609–1698); however, most of his teaching came from his own considerations on the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. He regarded biblical scripture as allegorical
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
, and elaborated a key for eliciting its hidden meanings. His theology is a spiritual pantheism
Pantheism
Pantheism is the view that the Universe and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek meaning "all" and the Greek meaning "God". As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of...
, which allows immortality only to the regenerate.
Printed works
Ward's printed works include over thirty pieces, among which are:- Vision of Judgment (1829, 2 parts)
- Living Oracle (1830)
- Book of Letters (1831)
- Discourses at the Rotunda (1831)
- Review of Trial and Sentence (1832)
- Creed (1832)
- Spiritual Alphabet (1833)
- Origin of Evil (1837)
- New Light on the Bible (1873)
In 1874 a "jubilee" edition of his works was planned with the title "Writings of Zion Ward, or Shiloh, the Spiritual Man"; hoever only three parts were published (Birmingham, 1874–5), though other tracts were printed separately, e.g. "Good and Evil made One" (1877).