Chapter 3:
Origins of thee American Deaf-World
Assimilating and Differentiating Societies and Their Relation to Genetic Patterning

Chelsee Patterson
April 14th, 2021

Chilmark,
Massachusetts

Henniker,
New Hampshire:
1st

First great American Deaf leader, Thomas Brown 1804-1886

Henniker,
New Hampshire:
2nd

Thomas Brown's later events would reveal he likely had a political agenda that went beyond gratitude and sought to counteract the inherent diaspora of Deaf people by gatherings that could also serve as a basis for improving their lot.


$600 raised.

Fearing debtor's prison Thomas Brown Sr. set to Henniker ("Fiat money")

Nahum Brown
Died @ 87


(aka plucky; Thomas Brown Sr.'s son) skillful axeman, hunter, model farmers, first rate teamster of oxen and horses


Never learned to read or write, communicated in pantomime or 'natural sign'


2 Deaf children, Persis & Thomas; 9 grandchildren 5 deaf


Gradually become blind and helpless

New England Gallaudet Association of Deaf Mutes

Persis was bound by a marriage contract to hearing carpenter, Bela Mitchell Swett, was not free to go

Deaf people district group was part American Asylum in 1820s

Deaf community of Martha's Vineyard

Largest single source of pupils at American Asylum

Mayhew, Tilton, Skiffe families

Groce identified 72 Deaf:
63 trace ancestry to James Skiffe,
32 Samuel Tilton,
9 to Jonathan Lamert

Deaf islands heritage originated in the Weald and arrived on the island with thee colonizing families.

Drawn to Vineyard: availability oof farmland, growing seasons, sees, abounded lobster / fish

Indians friendly, taught islanders catch whales

Population: 1700- 400 people; stopped 1800-3,000 people

Groce estimates 1/155 people on Vineyard born Deaf

Mainland: 20% Deaf peoples marriages were to hearing people
Vineyard: = 65%

Language may have originally been BSL brought over by colonizers

BSL signer identifies 40% BSL signs; only 22% ASL / BSL overlap

"Village first" assimilative societies

200 pupils gather @ American Asylum for Gallaudet
engraved silver pitcher; rich in symbolism and deaf history

January 4, 1854, Deaf representatives from New England states gathered at Brown House in Heenniker for a week to Fram a constitution for the New England Gallaudet Association

Deaf artist Albeert Newsam designed monument;
Deaf sculptor John Carlin created panels

"Henniker Constitution"; Thomas Brown is president

Second biennial meeting NEGA in Concord, New Hampshire 1856

Job Turner, dubbed Thomas Brown "the mute Cincinnatus of Americans"

1860 William Chamberlain Gallaudet Guide and Deaf Mutes' Companion; earliest periodicals printed exclusively for Deaf readers.

Sandy River Valley, Maine

First settlers from Vineyard went
to Sandy River Valley

Other Vineyarders followed, creating
New Vineyard, New Sharon,
New Gloucester & 27 others

Sebec of Lovejoys;
Jacks and Jellisons in Monroe;
Browns, Jellisons, Staples in Belfast
Beerrys in Chesterville

Sophia Curtis:
had 5 hearing siblings; four Deaf

Henniker,
New Hampshire:
3rd

1874: Brown took presidency of Clerc Monument Association, founded Granite State Deaf-Mute Mission (president)

William B. Swett:
Promoted Deaf welfare.
Published Deaf-Mute Friend
Director of Deaf-Mute Library Association
Founded (today aka) Beverly School for the Deaf

Assimilative /
Differentiating
Societies

Ritual-like rehearsal; meetings testify that Brown and associates saw Deaf community as distinct group;
Language and way of life that should be fostered.

Tisbury / Chilmark during same era - no leader, organization, gatherings, banquets, ceremony, monuments;
Class consciousness

Hypothesis: heavily influenced by genetic difference

Austrian botanist Gregor Mendel "Laws of Heredity"
Identified 2 main patterns of genetic transmission = dominant / recessive

Brown family of Hennikeer = dominant pattern of inheritance

Mayhew, Tilton, Lambert, Skiffee families of Martha's Vineyard, who intermarried both before and after arriving on island = recessive pattern of inheritance

Desa Kolok "Deaf Village" (not official);
genetic pattern = recessive as on Vineyard
16 families