jan 1, 1497 - bellman

Description:

A person employed to go round the town and make public announcements, attracting attention by ringing a bell. 1358 <i>campanarius civitatis Ebor’</i>, York (YRS148/70); 1391 <i>le belman portand’ campanam per villam</i>, Scarborough (SS4/163); 1435 <i>lego le belman iiijd</i>, Ripon (SS30/43); 1497 <i>and the bellman to go about the town after the costom</i>, Hull (SS53/126); 1527-8 <i>John Blak, bellman for a tenement ... iiijs vjd</i>, Hull (YRS141/128). The by-name was in use into the mid-fifteenth century at least: 1443 <i>Et Roberto Belman pro proclamacione facta infra civitatem ... 6d</i>, York (SS192/26). Late examples include: 1774 <i>Notification to be given by the bellwoman that unfree persons putting swine in the pastures will be prosecuted, </i>Beverley (YRS122/54).

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