Poole Town Criers, Sergeants at Mace and Bill Posters

Town Criers

1720 Richard BENNETT 1724 George Parsons

1729 " Old " PARSONS 1733 - 1744 George Parsons

1760 John LAMBERT - was it John Lambert who was Gaol Keeper at Poole in 1759, and in the Dorset Militia, and may have married Catherine WHITE at Poole in October 1755.

1790 Richard HILLIER - was it Richard Hillier who married Martha STONE at Poole in 1783 and died there in 1807 ?

1841 - 1844 William Slaughter born at West Lulworth in 1778 son of John and Mary Slaughter. Married Sarah Jenkins at Poole in November 1813 and recorded as a mariner there in 1814 and 1821. In the 1841 census and again in January 1844 on baptism of his daughter Elizabeth he is listed as Town Crier, but by 1851 had moved to Cowes, Isle of Wight where he is listed as "superannuated from the Revenue" - he died there in March 1857.

1848 - 1855 Josiah DENMAN born at North Cadbury, Somerset in 1778, son of John and Ann Denman. Married Mary Ann BLOSSOM at Southampton in 1810 and worked as a labourer. Is Town Crier in the 1851 census but died at Poole in 1857 aged 80.

1861 - 1865 Thomas MILES born at Lydlinch in 1813 son of John and Mary Miles. Married Mary Ann SHEPPARD at Poole in 1837 and worked as a cordwainer in 1841. Described as Town Crier and Bill Poster at Church Street in 1865 Trade Directory - he died at Poole in April 1866.

1867 - 1871 James WEEKS born at Poole in 1814 son of Charles a sawyer and Sarah Weeks. Married Martha COOMBS at Wimborne Minster in 1847. In 1867 was a foreman at a rope factory, but Town Crier and a grocer in 1871. He died at Poole later in 1871.

1875 - 1880 William LEGG1875 - 1880 born in Bath, Somerset in about 1830, son of John Legg. In the 1861 census he is at sea with the Royal Marines, before in January 1869 at Poole he married Martha Fisher. In the 1871 census he is listed as a pensioner of the Royal Marines, then as Town Crier in 1875 and 1880 on the death in May that year of his wife Martha. He is missing from the 1881 census, and may have died at Sherborne in late August 1880?

1880 - William SAMPSON born at Poole in 1839 son of Andrew Sampson a labourer. Married Mary Martha BROWN at Poole in 1865. In the 1861 census he is absent away as worked as a mariner ( in 1871 ) but recorded as Town Crier in 1881. He died at Poole in 1884.

1889 - 1899 Arthur JAMES born at Wimborne in 1836 son of Stephen an ironmonger and Ann James. Married Elizabeth GOFF at Poole in 1858 and in 1871 was working as a mariner, but Town Clerk and bill poster in 1891 and bill poster ( still Town Clerk ? ) in 1901. He died at Poole in January 1903.

1903 - 1911 Levi RICKETTS born at Shillingstone in 1841 son of George a shoemaker and Mary Ann Ricketts. Married Eliza HARLAND at Poole in 1865, and after she died, then married Susan Blanche MARTIN at Christchurch in 1886. Was a bricklayer in 1865, later a builder in 1901 and bill poster in 1911 but died at Poole in September 1912.

1910 - 1920 Edwin J STOKES born at Poole in 1859 son of George C. Stokes a mariner and his wife Mary. Married Anne GRITTEN at Poole in 1884. Worked as a bricklayer in 1901 but Town Crier and bill poster in 1915. He died at Poole in 1934.

1923 - 1958 Philip F E COURTENEY born at Woolland in 1886 son of Francis ( a gardener later a carman ) and his wife Tamar. Married Elizabeth SAVERY in 1915 at Sturminster Newton. Worked as a labourer in 1911 but in 1939 recorded as a bill poster. He died at Poole in 1967.

1958 - 2023 David M. SQUIRE born in Poole in 1942 son of Henry G. Squire and his wife Violet. Married Janet E. BEER at Poole in 1974. Is the country's longest serving Town Crier.

Sergeants at Mace

1837 Samuel SCOTT

1889 C J PADLEY and Charles JAMES

1895 - 1898 John PADLEY and George SQUIBB

1903 George SQUIBB and Samuel VENABLES

1911 - 1915 George SQUIBB and James DYER

1927 - 1935 R J PEARCE

1939 A H PAYTREES