Joseph Hepworth, “I thought… that there were probably only about a dozen deaf men in the wide world”

Born in Wakefield, Joseph Hepworth (1865-1921) was for a long time British Deaf Times proprietor and editor.  He lost his hearing when he was eight, but retained his speech.  One of a large family, Joseph’s father George had a business making boilers.  His obituary says he ‘drifted’ into work as a missioner, having hardly thought of his deafness when younger – “I thought […] that there were probably only about a dozen deaf men in the wide world.” (obituary p.73)

When he was 22 he met a deaf house-painter and knowing the manual alphabet, Hepworth conversed with him, which in turn led him to get more involved with his fellows in the deaf community.  Moving to Leeds, his eyes were opened as to the educational needs of the deaf, and he began to work for the missioner Mr Moreton.  In 1896 he was appointed as Missioner to the Glamorgan and Monmouth Mission, where he continued until his death.

His journalistic career ran alongside his mission work

• beginning on the Deaf Chronicle with colleagues A.M. Cuttell, Charles Gorham, H.B. Beale and E.A. Kirk
• then the British Deaf Mute
• which became the British Deaf Monthly
• and in 1902 the British Deaf Times

Looking back through files, I confess that I am amazed at the number of contributions from Mr. Hepworth’s own brain.  In his Editorial article he continually pleaded for unity and co-operation amongst the various workers and associations concerned in the welfare of the deaf.  He fought hard against oppression, prejudice, bigotry and tyranny in every shape and form; and ignorance had no doughtier opponent than he. (Obituary, p.74)

He was buried in Cardiff cemetery.
Joseph Hepworth, a memoir, British Deaf Times 1921, vol 18, p.72-4. See Silent Worker – Joseph Hepworth

Mr. Joseph Hepworth, Peeps into the Deaf World, p.343-5 (illus)