The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Beadsman \Beads"man\, Bedesman \Bedes"man\, n.; pl. -men. A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for the soul of its founder; an almsman. [1913 Webster] Whereby ye shall bind me to be your poor beadsman for ever unto Almighty God. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
beadsman n 1: a person who is paid to pray for the soul of another [syn: beadsman, bedesman]