At 15 William entered Yale College and graduated with honor in 1819.He taught school in Wethersfield, Connecticut until 1821 then accepted a job as teacher the "Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Person." later called "American Asylum for Deaf-mutes." Today it is "The American School for the Deaf" and is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the US.
William was an instructor at the school for 33 years, the first teacher of the Gallaudet High School and in 1854 became the third principal of the school. following Thomas Gallaudet and Lewis Weld. He retired in 1863 and at that time had more than 42 years continuous service. He had been engaged in the work of deaf-mute education for a longer period than any other person in the country.
A student spoke highly of William's talent as a teacher: "He was always reaching out after something better in the way of instruction. He was extremely genial, and it was a real pleasure to sit under him. He had a way of making the most onerous tasks interesting or of exciting the ambition of those engaged therin." His skill at signing (then called sign-making) was said to be exceptional. In descriptive parts he was simply inimitable, leading President Gallaudet to declare they were the finest specimens of sign-making he had ever seen.
As a principal William lived and worked at the "Asylum." He was often known to come into the high school classroom and tell (sign) a funny story or joke. He might also come into the drawing class, take a pencil and proceed to show his drawing skills. He made remarkable portraits.
Probably William's greatest contribution to the field was a paper he co-authored with David Ely Bartlett advocating for incorporating music education in programs for the deaf. In 1848, they wrote an article in the American Annals of the Deaf showing that hearing-impaired students could learn music and that sound reasons existed to support their music education.
On his 23rd birthday William married Maria Lucinda Peaslee. They had at least six children. The first of the children were twins Elizabeth and Maria. Maria died at the age of 5 and Elizabeth lived to adulthood. For a time Elizabeth taught at the School for the Deaf, and later married a minister and merchant. Their next child, Charles, eventually became a physician. Their fourth child (also named Maria) died at the age of 2 and their next child, Mary Ann, died when she was a month old. Their youngest, Helen, grew to adulthood and married a Civil War Army Major from Pennsylvania who later became a merchant.
William studied of theology in the early 1820s. He was licensed to preach in 1824 then in 1828 was ordained as an evangelist; He preached for many years in sign language to the deaf students. He was a deacon in the Pearl Street Church in Hartford. After retiring from the Asylum, he began doing church work, assisting his pastor by writing and preaching in every Congregational church in Hartford. He was also involved with the National Deaf-Mute College (aka Gallaudett University) at Washington DC. as a speaker and lecturer. The degree of PhD was conferred on him in 1870.
For several years before his death he was in very poor health. He died in Hartford July 11, 1887 at the age of 87. His wife died 2 years later.
William was an instructor at the school for 33 years, the first teacher of the Gallaudet High School and in 1854 became the third principal of the school. following Thomas Gallaudet and Lewis Weld. He retired in 1863 and at that time had more than 42 years continuous service. He had been engaged in the work of deaf-mute education for a longer period than any other person in the country.
A student spoke highly of William's talent as a teacher: "He was always reaching out after something better in the way of instruction. He was extremely genial, and it was a real pleasure to sit under him. He had a way of making the most onerous tasks interesting or of exciting the ambition of those engaged therin." His skill at signing (then called sign-making) was said to be exceptional. In descriptive parts he was simply inimitable, leading President Gallaudet to declare they were the finest specimens of sign-making he had ever seen.
As a principal William lived and worked at the "Asylum." He was often known to come into the high school classroom and tell (sign) a funny story or joke. He might also come into the drawing class, take a pencil and proceed to show his drawing skills. He made remarkable portraits.
Probably William's greatest contribution to the field was a paper he co-authored with David Ely Bartlett advocating for incorporating music education in programs for the deaf. In 1848, they wrote an article in the American Annals of the Deaf showing that hearing-impaired students could learn music and that sound reasons existed to support their music education.
On his 23rd birthday William married Maria Lucinda Peaslee. They had at least six children. The first of the children were twins Elizabeth and Maria. Maria died at the age of 5 and Elizabeth lived to adulthood. For a time Elizabeth taught at the School for the Deaf, and later married a minister and merchant. Their next child, Charles, eventually became a physician. Their fourth child (also named Maria) died at the age of 2 and their next child, Mary Ann, died when she was a month old. Their youngest, Helen, grew to adulthood and married a Civil War Army Major from Pennsylvania who later became a merchant.
William studied of theology in the early 1820s. He was licensed to preach in 1824 then in 1828 was ordained as an evangelist; He preached for many years in sign language to the deaf students. He was a deacon in the Pearl Street Church in Hartford. After retiring from the Asylum, he began doing church work, assisting his pastor by writing and preaching in every Congregational church in Hartford. He was also involved with the National Deaf-Mute College (aka Gallaudett University) at Washington DC. as a speaker and lecturer. The degree of PhD was conferred on him in 1870.
For several years before his death he was in very poor health. He died in Hartford July 11, 1887 at the age of 87. His wife died 2 years later.
At 15 William entered Yale College and graduated with honor in 1819.He taught school in Wethersfield, Connecticut until 1821 then accepted a job as teacher the "Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Person." later called "American Asylum for Deaf-mutes." Today it is "The American School for the Deaf" and is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the US.
William was an instructor at the school for 33 years, the first teacher of the Gallaudet High School and in 1854 became the third principal of the school. following Thomas Gallaudet and Lewis Weld. He retired in 1863 and at that time had more than 42 years continuous service. He had been engaged in the work of deaf-mute education for a longer period than any other person in the country.
A student spoke highly of William's talent as a teacher: "He was always reaching out after something better in the way of instruction. He was extremely genial, and it was a real pleasure to sit under him. He had a way of making the most onerous tasks interesting or of exciting the ambition of those engaged therin." His skill at signing (then called sign-making) was said to be exceptional. In descriptive parts he was simply inimitable, leading President Gallaudet to declare they were the finest specimens of sign-making he had ever seen.
As a principal William lived and worked at the "Asylum." He was often known to come into the high school classroom and tell (sign) a funny story or joke. He might also come into the drawing class, take a pencil and proceed to show his drawing skills. He made remarkable portraits.
Probably William's greatest contribution to the field was a paper he co-authored with David Ely Bartlett advocating for incorporating music education in programs for the deaf. In 1848, they wrote an article in the American Annals of the Deaf showing that hearing-impaired students could learn music and that sound reasons existed to support their music education.
On his 23rd birthday William married Maria Lucinda Peaslee. They had at least six children. The first of the children were twins Elizabeth and Maria. Maria died at the age of 5 and Elizabeth lived to adulthood. For a time Elizabeth taught at the School for the Deaf, and later married a minister and merchant. Their next child, Charles, eventually became a physician. Their fourth child (also named Maria) died at the age of 2 and their next child, Mary Ann, died when she was a month old. Their youngest, Helen, grew to adulthood and married a Civil War Army Major from Pennsylvania who later became a merchant.
William studied of theology in the early 1820s. He was licensed to preach in 1824 then in 1828 was ordained as an evangelist; He preached for many years in sign language to the deaf students. He was a deacon in the Pearl Street Church in Hartford. After retiring from the Asylum, he began doing church work, assisting his pastor by writing and preaching in every Congregational church in Hartford. He was also involved with the National Deaf-Mute College (aka Gallaudett University) at Washington DC. as a speaker and lecturer. The degree of PhD was conferred on him in 1870.
For several years before his death he was in very poor health. He died in Hartford July 11, 1887 at the age of 87. His wife died 2 years later.
William was an instructor at the school for 33 years, the first teacher of the Gallaudet High School and in 1854 became the third principal of the school. following Thomas Gallaudet and Lewis Weld. He retired in 1863 and at that time had more than 42 years continuous service. He had been engaged in the work of deaf-mute education for a longer period than any other person in the country.
A student spoke highly of William's talent as a teacher: "He was always reaching out after something better in the way of instruction. He was extremely genial, and it was a real pleasure to sit under him. He had a way of making the most onerous tasks interesting or of exciting the ambition of those engaged therin." His skill at signing (then called sign-making) was said to be exceptional. In descriptive parts he was simply inimitable, leading President Gallaudet to declare they were the finest specimens of sign-making he had ever seen.
As a principal William lived and worked at the "Asylum." He was often known to come into the high school classroom and tell (sign) a funny story or joke. He might also come into the drawing class, take a pencil and proceed to show his drawing skills. He made remarkable portraits.
Probably William's greatest contribution to the field was a paper he co-authored with David Ely Bartlett advocating for incorporating music education in programs for the deaf. In 1848, they wrote an article in the American Annals of the Deaf showing that hearing-impaired students could learn music and that sound reasons existed to support their music education.
On his 23rd birthday William married Maria Lucinda Peaslee. They had at least six children. The first of the children were twins Elizabeth and Maria. Maria died at the age of 5 and Elizabeth lived to adulthood. For a time Elizabeth taught at the School for the Deaf, and later married a minister and merchant. Their next child, Charles, eventually became a physician. Their fourth child (also named Maria) died at the age of 2 and their next child, Mary Ann, died when she was a month old. Their youngest, Helen, grew to adulthood and married a Civil War Army Major from Pennsylvania who later became a merchant.
William studied of theology in the early 1820s. He was licensed to preach in 1824 then in 1828 was ordained as an evangelist; He preached for many years in sign language to the deaf students. He was a deacon in the Pearl Street Church in Hartford. After retiring from the Asylum, he began doing church work, assisting his pastor by writing and preaching in every Congregational church in Hartford. He was also involved with the National Deaf-Mute College (aka Gallaudett University) at Washington DC. as a speaker and lecturer. The degree of PhD was conferred on him in 1870.
For several years before his death he was in very poor health. He died in Hartford July 11, 1887 at the age of 87. His wife died 2 years later.
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