Shaftesbury Town Criers, Sergeants at Mace and Bill Posters

Town Criers

1851 - 1871 Samuel ORAM born at Shaftesbury in 1808 son of James a bookseller and Charlotte Oram. Married Mary Ann LAMPARD at Shaftesbury in 1845 and after she died in 1852 he married Martha KELLY at Ashmore in 1864. Was a storekeeper in 1845 but a Town Crier from 1851 on - he died at Shaftesbury in April 1872 aged 63.

1873 - 1915 William Samuel ORAM born in 1849 son of Samuel and Mary Ann above. Married Emma J YOUNG at Shaftesbury in 1875 - working as a letter carrier in 1871 then as Town Crier and bill poster - a role often linked to Town Crier. He died in Shaftesbury in July 1917.

1920 - 1927 Edwin Henry ORAM born at Shaftesbury in 1876 son of William and Emma above. Married Anna ( surname not known ) at Shaftesbury in 1907 - was a french polisher in 1901, a chapel hall keeper in 1911 and a bill poster and likely Town Crier in 1920. He died at Shaftesbury in 1930.

1931 - 1942 George Henry CARPENTER born at Chilton Foliant, Wiltshire in 1888 where his father Thomas was a policeman - his mother was Julia. Was a domestic coachman in 1901, and married Gladys M FISHER at Shaftesbury in 1933. In the 1939 pre war census he was a municipal caretaker and he died at Shaftesbury in 1942.

1957 - 1987 ? Stanley J J MANSBRIDGE born at St Pancras, London in June 1925 son of Walter ( a head waiter ) and Elizabeth Mansbridge. Married Joan A BOWER at St Pancras in 1948 and his obituary described him as Town Crier for 30 years until he died at Shaftesbury in 1987.

1988 - 2002 ? Robert C. SCOTT ( Bob ) married Doreen CUFFLEY in North Dorset in October 1986.

2003 - 2023 Clifford P. SKEY born at Bournemouth 1949 son of Cyril W. Skey and his wife Freda M. Wainwright. Married Ruth A. SKEY at Plymouth in 1982.

Bill Posters

1935 Percy Frederick ORAM born at Shaftesbury in 1890 son of William Oram who was Town Crier and Bill Poster there and his wife Emma. Kelly's Directory lists Percy as Bill Poster at Shaftesbury in 1935, but he died there in April 1938.