Beadle, Or Bedel - Definition - Law Dictionary

Definition :

Beadle, or Bedel [fr. beodan, bydel, A. S., to bid], a church-servant who is chosen by the vestry, and whose business is to attend the vestry, to give notice of its meetings, to execute its orders, to attend upon inquests, and to assist the constables. A crier or messenger of a Court, who cites men to appear and answer; an inferior officer of a parish or liberty. Many other kinds of subordinate officers are socalled.