ID
2056
Nationality
American
Occupation
Teacher
Summary
Hearing. Resident of Rowley, MA; first teacher of the deaf in America, when he attempted to "cure" a yooung deaf man, Isaac Kilbourn (q.v.), by teaching him to say the word "Ephphatha". Tried on suspicion of witchcraft, Nelson was paradoxically saved from hanging when Kilbourn refused to speak.
References
Notable Deaf Persons, p.59; Gage, Thomas, History of Rowley, Massachuetts.
Dates
fl. 1679