Jean Stewart of Scotland, Countess of Morton, was Deaf
Posted by fookembug on December 4, 2008
King James I and Queen Joan Beaufort of Scotland’s daughter Princess Jean a.k.a Joan (1428 – 1486) was also known as “the dumb lady of Dalkeith” was born deaf and in public used sign talk even though in that era it was seemed to be improper. She was married to the 4th Lord Dalkeith and Earl of Morton, James Douglas in 1457. Betrothed at age 13 to her cousin, James Douglas, third Earl of Angus, in an arranged marriage, but he died before the wedding. Sent to France in 1445 for education at a nunnery. In 1457, she married to James Douglas, 4th Lord Dalkeith and 1st Earl of Morton, she became the Countess of Morton. She had four children; Janet, Elizabeth, James and John Douglas, 2nd Earl of Morton. Buried with her husband in the Morton Monument tomb at St. Nicolas Buccleauch Parish Church, Dalkeith, near Edinburgh. Her simulacrum on the Morton Monument tomb2 is presumed the world’s oldest representation of a deaf person as sculpture. [Sources from RoyaList Online and wikipedia.org]
Anonymous said
Interesting history. I found the story about restore the tomb. http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/Restored-earl-returns-to-Dalkeith.1080258.jp
Dianrez said
Interesting family tree, too. One of her descendants was Diana, Princess of Wales.
Amazing said
Wow! I can’t believe how great Fookem and Bug’s editors are. They always digging anything out of the ground or find the lost Deaf history for us. I praise for their hard work. Thank you very much. I love your site.
Under The Hill said
Nice job on this. I think I did blogged about this in my old Yahoo 360 blog one-time.
Under The Hill said
Founded this for you: James Douglas, 1st Earl of Morton, the husband of Lady Joan/Jean Stewart.
According to this: She was deaf and dumb, known as “the dumb lady of Dalkeith”. She lived in France from Aug 1445 to spring 1458[752]. They were ancestors of the later Earls of Morton, extinct in the male line in 1548.
A.J said
How come my hs history teacher did not talk about her? Eh?
Can you find more interesting story or deaf history and share with us?
David Di Cesaris said
I am doing a research on Jean of Scotland, Countess of Morton and I seem cannot find anything in website to research her life and death. Is there anything that give out a biography story about her? If so, can you tell me where to find them.
Thanks
Regards,
David