William Albert Griffiths a local campaigner for a church in Birmingham for deaf people

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1 William Albert Griffiths a local campaigner for a church in Birmingham for deaf people Our thanks to Alan Brookes, a former resident of the Black Country now living in Wales, who sent us some interesting information about a deaf person named William Albert Griffiths who lived in the late 19 th and early 20 th century and was a committed campaigner for the provision of premises where deaf Christians could worship. Alan told us: I came across William Albert Griffiths whilst researching the family history of the Yeomans (a chain making family from Halesowen) and Mills (who had connections to Flint Glass Manufacturers of Stourbridge). From the start of our correspondence, Alan raised an unanswered question in regard to William Griffiths, which has subsequently led to us joining his investigation: I note from the internet that a statue exists of William Griffiths in a chapel somewhere in Birmingham, but it does not say where. Firstly though, Alan expanded on the story of William Griffiths: William Albert Griffiths was born in 1843 in Birmingham, Warwickshire. He was the son of Albert Griffiths, born 1821 in Birmingham and Ann Yeomans, born 1821 in Halesowen, Worcestershire. He was described as being deaf and dumb from the age of 3 and a half years. At the age of 8, William was recorded in the 1851 census as a scholar in the Deaf and Dumb Institution, Edgbaston, Warwickshire. But according to the 1861 census, William had returned to live with his mother and her widowed mother, Hannah Yeomans. On the 6 th January 1867 William married an Annette Hendley (born 1847 in Bidford, Warwickshire) at St Martin s church in Birmingham. Annette was also described as deaf and dumb. She had three children with William but died in 1886.

2 William and Annette had one daughter, Ethel Annette Wagstaff Griffiths born in Birmingham in The couple appeared to live apart for most of their marriage, possibly because of his work. On 1 st August 1887 William remarried to a Mary Elizabeth Wagstaff, also described as deaf and dumb, as were two of her siblings. Mary Elizabeth Wagstaff was born in Droitwich Worcestershire and they married at St. James, Handsworth, Staffordshire. Before his second marriage, William became a teacher of deaf and dumb people. About the work of William Albert Griffiths Alan told us about the career of William Griffiths: William was initially employed as a Brass Chaser for a firm making chandeliers, but after campaigning for 7 years in Birmingham to find premises for deaf people to worship (he had to study late at night after work to improve English and communication skills to do this), his persistence and hard work paid off and he found a room in a local Baptist Church for prayer meetings and services for the Birmingham deaf. In 1872 The Birmingham Town Mission heard about him and established a special branch for deaf worshippers and appointed William Albert Griffiths as a full time missioner (probably much lower paid than his previous employment). William Albert Griffiths continued with his work until he retired in 1917, after 50 years service, overseeing a period when he moved his organisation from being a branch of Birmingham Town Mission to an independent society for the Adult Deaf & Dumb in A memorial was erected to him in the Chapel of a Birmingham Deaf Club and when new premises were built in 1986 the memorial was moved to the new chapel. Alan has also researched a comprehensive list of census records which help to trace the story of William s life from the 1841 right up to 1911: 1841 Census

3 In the 1841 census, William s parents were living at Northwood Street in Birmingham: Albert Griffiths, aged 20, a gun maker born in Warwickshire. Ann Griffiths, aged 19, not born in the county 1851 Census Ten years later, in 1851, William s parents were living at 119 Hospital Street, still in the Newtown area of Birmingham. Albert Griffiths, head of the family aged 29, a gun finisher born in Birmingham, Warwickshire. Ann Griffiths, wife, aged 29 born in Halesowen, Worcestershire. William however was not living with his parents in 1851 but can be found recorded in the census living at the Deaf & Dumb Institution, Church Road, Edgbaston, Warwickshire. William Albert Griffiths, aged 8, scholar in foundation, born Birmingham, (deaf and dumb) 1861 Census In the 1861 census William is living with his mother and his grandparents at Ruston Street North in Ladywood, Birmingham. William is 19 years old and is working as a chaser : Hannah Yeomans, head aged 69 (widow) Formerly a laundress Joseph Yeomans, son aged 28, bricklayer Ann Griffiths, daughter aged 40, married, laundress William Albert Griffiths, grandson aged 19, a chaser born Birmingham (deaf and dumb) The other family members were born in Halesowen Census

4 In the 1871 census William was recorded at Potters Hill in Erdington, Birmingham. We discover in this census the nature of his work as a chaser as the trade chandelier chaser is recorded. William has married his first wife, Annette from Bidford and they have a son, also named William. William A. Griffiths, head aged 28, a chandelier chaser born in Birmingham. Annette Griffiths, wife 24 born in Bidford, Wawickshire William A Griffiths, son, 8 months. Born in Aston, Warwickshire Census In the 1881 census William is living at 83 George Street West, in the All Saints district of Birmingham. He is living with his first wife Annette (also described as deaf and dumb) and three sons. By 1881 we see that William has given up the chandelier trade and his vocational career has begun. William gives his trade as a mission to deaf and dumb people. There is however also a lodger named John Jeffrey who is working in the glass trade and is described as deaf and dumb. Can we read into this that the glass cutting trade was common for deaf people in Birmingham in the 19 th century? William Griffiths, head aged 38, Mission to Deaf & Dumb, born Birmingham (deaf and dumb) Annette Griffiths, wife aged 34, born at Bidford, Warwickshire (deaf and dumb). William A. Griffiths, son, 10, scholar born Aston. Francis E. Griffiths, son aged 9, scholar born in Wolverhampton. Leonard G. Griffiths, son aged 3, born in Aston. John William Jeffrey, boarder aged 23, a glass cutter, born at Newark, Surrey (deaf & dumb) 1891 Census

5 Ten years later, William is living at 14 Guest Street, St. George, Birmingham with his widowed mother and his oldest son. The St George parish is in Newtown. We should note that in this census his wife is living with her parents. William remains in his work as a missionary to deaf and dumb people. William A. Griffiths, head aged 49, Missionary to Deaf & Dumb born Birmingham (deaf and dumb). William A. Griffiths, son, aged 20, telegraphist, born Aston. Ann Griffiths, mother aged 70 (widow) born in Halesowen, Worcs. Mary A. Smith, boarder aged 63, living on own means (deaf and dumb from childhood) 1901 Census The Fearns, Yardley Road, Solihull, Worcestershire. Mary E. Griffiths, head, aged 50, married, born Droitwich, Worcestershire. (Deaf and dumb from childhood) Ethel A. W. Griffiths, daughter aged 12 born in Birmingham. William Cale, boarder aged 67, living on own means born in Worcestershire Note :- in this census William is not living with his wife and family 1911 Census 27 Hunton Hill, Erdington, Aston, Warwickshire. William Albert Griffiths, head aged 68 (married), a Missioner to Adult Deaf & Dumb (deaf & dumb from 3 and half years old), married for 24 years, 1 child,1 living. Ethel Annette Wagstaff Griffiths, daughter aged 22 William Cale, boarder aged 77, living on private means, born in Worcester Note :- William s wife was living with her siblings in this census.

6 Alan also found identified these related census records : Census William s second wife, Mary Wagstaff from Droitwich, was recorded in the 1871 census residing at the Asylum for the Deaf the Dumb, Church Road, Edgbaston. She was employed as a female assistant and temporary teacher: Mary E. Wagstaff, 5 th Female Assistant, aged 22, a Temporary Teacher born Droitwich, Worcestershire Census Institution for Deaf & Dumb Church Road Kings Norton Edgbaston Warks. Mary E. Wagstaff Assistant Teacher 31 Teacher of the Deaf & Dumb born Droitwich Worcs.( Deaf & Dumb) 1891 Census The 1891 census records Mary living with her parents back in Droitwich. By now she has married William so is known as Mary Griffiths and has her daughter Ethel aged 2 with her. In this census we can see that Mary and her two sisters were all three described as deaf and dumb. What is also of interest here is the presence of two boarders, Frederick and Caroline Blanchford. Frederick Blanchford was a congregational minister from Exeter. St. Nicholas Villa, Ombersley Street, Droitwich, Worcestershire William T. Wagstaff, head aged 72. Living on own means. Born at Dodderhill, Worcs. Mary Wagstaff, wife aged 72 Caroline Wagstaff, daughter aged 48, deaf & dumb Mary E. Griffiths, daughter aged 41, married, deaf & dumb

7 Frances S. Wagstaff, daughter aged 35, deaf & dumb Ethel Griffiths, grand-daughter aged 2, born Birmingham Elizabeth Fondon, visitor aged 68, widow, living on own means Frederick H. Blanchford, boarder aged 31, married, a Congregational Minister born Exeter Devon Caroline Blanchford, boarder aged 32, married, born Caversnall Staffordshire The rest of the household were born in Droitwich. Alan added that William Wagstaff was a farmer and butcher before retiring Census The family are found at the same address 20 years later in the 1911 census. This time the oldest sister Caroline is listed as head of the household. Mary Elizabeth Griffiths is also in the household: 15 Ombersley Street, Droitwich Worcestershire. Caroline Wagstaff, head aged 68, single, of independent means, deaf & dumb from birth Mary Elizabeth Griffiths, sister aged 60, married, of independent means, deaf & dumb from birth, married 23 years, 1 child, 1 living Frances Sarah Wagstaff, sister, 54, single, of independent means, deaf & dumb from birth Mabel Teft Wagstaff, niece aged19, a shop assistant Frances Gertrude Wagstaff, niece aged 17, shop assistant All born Droitwich, Worcestershire. Following the receipt of this wealth of research from Alan Brookes, we began our own enquiries to try to locate the statue of William Griffiths but also to attempt to discover more about his life and work in Birmingham. We started our enquiry with deaf people s organisations in the West Midlands. This included an to both BID Services in Ladywood and to the deaf-blind charity Sense who used to occupy buildings on Church Road in Edgbaston. I am grateful to both organisations for their replies, firstly Mary Dyet from Sense:

8 Dear Pete, We have no information about Mr Griffiths but I have found some information online relating to a William A. Griffiths which might be of help. The researcher may already be aware of all of this but just in case. Please see information and links below the Deaf Museum & Archives may also be able to help further. Googlebooks: Deaf Liberation Theology by Rev d Dr Hannah Lewis: this section (pages 46-47) mentions William A. Griffiths. The information about him was taken from another book, Deaf Lives see below. Deaf Lives: Deaf People in History This book contains over 140 biographies of famous deaf people. It can be bought online from the British Deaf History Society who also run the Deaf Museum and Archive in Warrington: I hope some of this is helpful. Best wishes, Mary Dyet Information and Advice Officer

9 Thank you also to Lisa Davies and Liz Bridgewater at BID Services who sent this information from the minute book of the Midland Area Deaf and Dumb Association: Committee meetings were held at 26 Waterloo Street and here is information from the following meetings: September 24 th 1906 Mr W A Griffiths (Missionary of the Birmingham City Mission to the Adult Deaf and Dumb) was appointed from 1 st October 1906 for 3 months. January 11 th 1907 Agreed to retain Mr Griffiths for a further 6 months. October 28 th 1907 Agreed to pay Mr Griffiths 80 per annum May 10 th 1917 Letter from Mr Griffiths resigning his position at age 75 he retired at the end of June 1917 Unfortunately neither organisation can find a reference to a memorial or statue of Mr Griffiths. But the following page image is from BID s website and tells the history of the deaf church in Birmingham including a reference to William Griffiths:

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