The deaf blacksmith who married in 1576 – and the history of sign as a legal language
theconversation.com/the-deaf-blacksmith-who-married-in-1576-and-the-history-of-sign-as-a-legal-language-276686?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest from The Conversation for March 9 2026 - 3699037833&utm_content=Latest from The Conversation for March 9 2026 - 3699037833 CID_4dad2f3a225cc1558f32f04d20318006&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=The deaf blacksmith who married in 1576 and the history of sign as a legal languageIn 1576, a deaf blacksmith named Thomas Tilsey married in Leicester Cathedral using sign language, a practice recognized by the church since 1198. This recognition allowed deaf individuals to inherit property, go to court, and challenge their hearing peers, challenging the belief that they were cognitively impaired. Despite these advancements, deaf people still faced prejudice and had to prove their intellectual capacity and use approved signs for legal recognition.