Beetty Dick Explained

Beetty Dick
Birth Date:	1693
Death Date:	1773
Occupation:	Town crier

Beetty Dick (1693-1773) was an elderly town crier for Dalkeith, a town in Midlothian, Scotland in the mid-18th century.^[1]

Instead of using a bell, Dick would beat a wooden plate with a spoon making a loud din to draw attention to announcements, working for just a penny per announcement.^[2] She was known for wearing a distinctive long gown, cap and cloak.^[3] Dick never married and died in 1773, her remains were interred at the east side of the old Churchyard, Dalkeith.^[4]

Dick was drawn by artist John Kay in his published work A Series of Original Portraits^[5] and the portrait hangs in an exhibition in a collection at the Dalkeith Museum.^[6]

References

1. Web site: Limited. Alamy. Beetty Dick (1693-1778), town crier of Dalkeith, wearing a mutch (cap), gown and cloak, beating a wooden plate with a spoon. Copperplate engraving by John Kay from A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings, Hugh Paton, Edinburgh, 1842 Stock Photo - Alamy. 2022-02-25. www.alamy.com. en.
2. Book: Gillon, Jack. Dalkeith & Around Through Time. 2016-03-15. Amberley Publishing Limited. 978-1-4456-5258-0. en.
3. Book: Ewan. Elizabeth L.. Biographical Dictionary of ScottishWomen. Innes. Sue. Reynolds. Sian. Pipes. Rose. 2007-06-27. Edinburgh University Press. 978-0-7486-2660-1. en.
4. Web site: CCXCI. Beetty Dick, Town-Crier of Dalkeith - Kay's Originals Vol. 2 by John Kay. 2022-02-25. www.edinburghbookshelf.org.uk.
5. Web site: CCXCI. Beetty Dick, Town-Crier of Dalkeith - Kay's Originals Vol. 2 by John Kay. 2022-02-25. www.edinburghbookshelf.org.uk.
6. Web site: Historical etched portraits by Dalkeith artist return home for exhibition. 2022-02-25. www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. en.