Daily AncestorTown crier
A town crier was an officer who walked the streets announcing public news, orders, sales and lost items, often ringing a bell.
Before newspapers were common, a town crier spread news by voice. He announced official orders, auctions, meetings, lost children and found goods, usually ringing a hand bell to gather a crowd.
The office was more common in colonial and early towns than later. The crier was sometimes also called a bellman.
As seen in a recordColonial town records
Voted: Jno. Lane to be town crier
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Daily Ancestor. "Town crier." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/town-crier. Last checked 2026-10-01.