The High Sheriff of Down is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Down. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258.[1] Besides his judicial importance, he has ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court Writs.[2]

History

edit

The first (High) Shrivalties were established before the Norman Conquest in 1066 and date back to Saxon times.[3] In 1908, an Order in Council made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the High Sheriff's precedence.[4] Despite however that the office retains his responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in a county.[2]

While the office of High Sheriff ceased to exist in those Irish counties, which had formed the Irish Free State in 1922, it is still present in the counties of Northern Ireland.

High Sheriffs

edit
 
The 2nd Earl of Kilmorey. H.S.1828
 
Sir Thomas McClure, 1st Baronet H.S.1864
 
Francis Charles Needham, 3rd Earl of Kilmorey H.S. 1871 Published in Vanity Fair in 1876.
  • 1326: John Mandeville
  • 1610: Richard West
  • 1620: Nicholas Ward
  • 1624: Nicholas Ward
  • 1634: Henry Savage
  • 1641: Peter Hill[citation needed]
  • 1655: James Trail[citation needed]
  • 1656: Bernard Ward (son of Nicholas HS 1620)
  • 1657: Roger West (son of Richard HS 1610)
  • 1661: Robert Ward[citation needed] (son of Bernard HS 1656)
  • 1662: Nicholas Ward (son of Bernard HS 1656)
  • 1663: John Savage
  • 1667: Robert Ward[citation needed]
  • 1669: William Waring of Waringstown[5]
  • 1670: William Montgomery
  • 1675: John Hawkins of Rathfriland[5]
  • 1690: Bernard Ward (killed in duel, 1690)
  • 1699: John Haltridge

18th century

edit

19th century

edit

20th century

edit
  • 1900: William Edward Montgomery of Grey Abbey[5]
  • 1901: Roger Hall of Narrow Water[5]
  • 1902: James Nugent Blackwood-Price of Saintfield House[5]
  • 1903: Edwin Hughes of Dalchoulin[5]
  • 1904: George Herbert Brown of Tordeevra[25]
  • 1905: Andrew Smythe Montague Browne of St. John's Point, Killough[26]
  • 1907: John Milne Barbour[27]
  • 1908: Robert Hugh Wallace of Myra Castle[5][28]
  • 1909: William George Forde of Seaforde[5]
  • 1910: Henry Thompson of Altnaveigh[5]
  • 1911: Robert David Perceval-Maxwell of Finnebrogue[29]
  • 1913: Francis Charles Adelbert Henry Needham, 4th Earl of Kilmorey[citation needed]
  • 1915: Sir Robert John Kennedy of Cultra Manor, Craigavad[21]
  • 1916:
  • 1922: Richard Blakiston-Houston[citation needed]
  • 1923: Edmond Henry Stuart Nugent of Portaferry House, Portaferry,[30]
  • 1924: William Sinclair Kingan of "Glenganagh", Bangor n[31]
  • 1925: Major Daniel Dixon, Benvue, Windsor Park, Belfast,[32]
  • 1926: Capt. Roger Hall of Narrow Water, Warrenpoint[33]
  • 1927: Reynell James Pack-Beresford of Woburn, Donaghadee[34]
  • 1928: Alexander Robert Gisborne Gordon of Delamont, Killyleagh[27][35]
  • 1929: J. M. Andrews of Maxwell Court, Comber,[27][36]
  • 1930: Captain Arthur Charles Nugent of The Lodge, Rostrevor, Co. Down[37]
  • 1931: Charles Henry George Mulholland, 3rd Baron Dunleath of Ballywalter Park. Ballywalter,[38]
  • 1932: Lieut.-Col. Ralph Gore Devereux Groves-Raines of Ardview House, Killinchy,[39]
  • 1933: Reverend Edward Hyde Blackwood-Price of Saintfield House, Saintfield,[40]
  • 1934: Captain Thomas William Forde, Seaforde,[41]
  • 1935: David Wilson Smyth of "The Limes," Malone Park, Belfast[42]
  • 1936: Sir David Douglas Reid, Baronet of Rademon, Crossgar[43]
  • 1937: Captain John Robert Perceval-Maxwell of Finnebrogue, Downpatrick[44]
  • 1938: Sir Roland Thomas Nugent of Portaferry House, Portaferry[45]
  • 1939: Major David Allied Wilham Ker of Portavo, Donaghadee[46]
  • 1940: Major Robert Workman of Craigdarragh, Helen's Bay,[47]
  • 1941: George Ernest Clark of Seapark, Greenisland, Whiteabbey,[48]
  • 1942: Major Thomas William Gillilan Johnson Hughes, Dalchoolin, Craigavad,[49]
  • 1943: Lt.-Col. Sir Walter Dorling Smiles, Portavoe Point, Donaghadee[50]
  • 1944: John Matthew Blakiston-Houston of Reddens, Ballywalter,[51]
  • 1945: Colonel Guy James Brownlow of Ballywhite, Portaferry[52]
  • 1946: Lieut-Colonel Ogilvie Blair Graham of Larchfield, Lisburn,[53]
  • 1947: James Hurst of The Hill, Drumaness, Ballynahinch,[54]
  • 1948: Commander Kenneth Clarke Kirkpatrick, Church Hill, Newcastle[55]
  • 1949: Derek William Charles Keppel, Viscount Bury of Ros-Cuan[55]
  • 1950: Lt.-Col. Desmond Charles Forde of The Lodge, Seaforde[56]
  • 1951: Colonel Michael Charles Perceval-Price of Saintfield House, Saintfield[57]
  • 1952: Captain David John Richard Ker of Portavo, Donaghadee[58]
  • 1953: Edward James Augustus Howard Brush of Drumnabreeze, Maralin[59]
  • 1954: Major-General Gerald Ion Gartlan of Cabra House, Newry[60]
  • 1955: Major Hugh Edward Montgomery of Greyabbey.[61]
  • 1956: Thomas Dickson Ferguson of Ballyvally House, Banbridge.[62]
  • 1957: Major Gerard Henry Aubrey Perceval-Maxwell of Ballydugan House, Downpatrick,[63]
  • 1958: Thomas John Anthony Kingan of Glenganagh, Bangor,[64]
  • 1959: Major William Brownlow of Ballywhite, Portaferry[65]
  • 1960: Lieut.-Colonel Sir Charles George Wickham of Ashdene, Comber,[66]
  • 1961: Wing Commander Ralph Chevallier Preston of Garden Lodge, Holywood,[67]
  • 1962: Lieut-Cmdr James Osborne King of Rademon, Crossgar[68]
  • 1963: Lt.-Col. James Dickson Ferguson of Aghaderg Glebe, Loughbrickland, Banbridge[69]
  • 1964: William Andrews of Artiara, Comber[70]
  • 1965: Major William Charles Mitchell of Murlough, Dundrum.[71]
  • 1966: Major David Mitchell Anderson of Creevy Rocks, Saintfield[72]
  • 1967: John Corbett of Tyrella House, Downpatrick[73]
  • 1968: Gavin Richard Perceval-Maxwell of Groomsport House, Groomsport[74]
  • 1969: Commander Robert Graham Lowry of Glasdrumman House, Annalong, Newry.[75]
  • 1970: Lieutenant-Colonel James Glencairn Cunningham of Ballytrim, Killyleagh.[76]
  • 1971: James Christy Brownlow of Ballydugan House, Downpatrick.[77]
  • 1972: Wing Commander John Higginson of Ballyward Lodge, Ballyward, Castlewellan[78]
  • 1973: Lt.-Col. F. M. R. Byers of Waterfoot House, Newcastle[79]
  • 1974: General Sir John Anderson of Ballyhossett, Downpatrick[80]
  • 1975: Denys Archibald Rowan-Hamilton[81]
  • 1976: Christopher Francis Cecil Lindsay of Mallory, Killyleagh[82]
  • 1977: James Robert William Murland of Knocknamorney, Saintfield[83]
  • 1978: Archibald Gordon-Pugh of Annalong, Newry[84]
  • 1979: Colonel Edgar Donald Reid Shearer of Saltwater Cottage, Finnebrogue, Downpatrick[85]
  • 1980: James Hampden Wolfe Pooler of Tullynakill House, Tullynakill Road, Comber, Newtownards[86]
  • 1981: John David Maxwell of "Old Court", Castle Street, Strangford[87]
  • 1982: William Norman Brann of Drumavaddy[88]
  • 1983: W.J. Hall of Castle Espie House, Comber[89]
  • 1984: J.E.C. Lewis-Crosby of Marybrook House, Crossgar[90]
  • 1985: E.R. Sandford of Portadown[91]
  • 1986: P. Forde of Seaforde[citation needed]
  • 1987: J. Gorman of Killyleagh[citation needed]
  • 1988: H.E. Henshall of Killinchy[citation needed]
  • 1989: Richard Patrick Blakiston-Houston[citation needed]
  • 1990: D.R.S. Kingan of Hillsborough[citation needed]
  • 1991: N.C.W. Clarke of Comber[92]
  • 1992: M.W.S. Maclaran of Holywood[93]
  • 1993: S.B. Cunningham of Killyleagh[94]
  • 1994: M.G.B. Browne of Comber[95]
  • 1995: B. David Faulkner of Seaforde[96]
  • 1996: William Stephen Brann of Killyleagh[97]
  • 1997: Lucinda M. L. Blakiston of Ballywalter[98]
  • 1998: Brian Lindsay Henderson of Holywood[99]
  • 1999: Margaret E. Crawford of Saintfield[100]

21st century

edit
  • 2000: Daphne Montgomery of Rosemount, Greyabbey, Newtownards[101]
  • 2001: Richard John Gordon, Whiterock Road, Killinchy,[102]
  • 2002: Nicholas Edward Lindsay of Mill Point, Finnebrogue, Downpatrick[103]
  • 2003: David Graham Shillington of Skeagh Road, Dromore[104]
  • 2004: Mary Gordon Haughey, Ballyedmond Castle, Rostrevor,[105]
  • 2005: James Derek Shaw, Elmfield, Gilford[106]
  • 2006: Mary Fionnuala Cook of Banbridge[107]
  • 2007: John Dudley Francis Fisher, Rathturret, Warrenpoint[108]
  • 2008: Alan Raymond Gillespie[109]
  • 2009: Lady Augusta Nicholson, Ballyalloly House, Ballyalloly Road, Comber[110]
  • 2010: David Corbett, Tyrella House, 90 Clanmaghery Road, Downpatrick[111]
  • 2011: Ian Webb, Killymard, Circular Road East, Holywood[112]
  • 2012: Anne Frances Mackie of Lisburn[113]
  • 2013: Ivan Cunningham[114]
  • 2014: Simon Brien[115]
  • 2015: Patrick Cross of Downpatrick[116]
  • 2016: Philip Baxter of Lisburn[117]
  • 2017: Henry John Stewart Catherwood of Holywood[118]
  • 2018: Susan Cunningham[119]
  • 2019: Henry Shields of Ballynahinch[120]
  • 2020: Austin Richard Baird of Holywood[121]
  • 2021: Kathleen Mary Spencer of Killinchy[122]
  • 2022: James Matthew Smyth of Downpatrick[123]
  • 2023: Prof William Michael Mawhinney of Lisburn[124]
  • 2024: Suzanne Carol Wild of Comber[125]

References

edit
  • "High Sheriffs of County Down 1714–1857". Newry and Louth Advertiser, 10/08/1857.
  1. ^ John David Griffith Davies; Frederick Robert Worts (1928). England in the Middle Ages: Its Problems and Legacies. A. A. Knopf. p. 119.
  2. ^ a b Alexander, George Glover (1915). The Administration of Justice in Criminal Matters (in England and Wales). The University Press. pp. 89.
  3. ^ Morris, William Alfred (1968). The Medieval English Sheriff to 1300. Manchester: Manchester University Press. pp. 73. ISBN 0-7190-0342-3.
  4. ^ Millward, Paul (2007). Civic Ceremonial: A Handbook, History and Guide for Mayors, Councillors and Officers. Shaw. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-7219-0164-0.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Ireland, 1912, Bernard Burke
  6. ^ Atkinson, Edward Dupré (1898). An Ulster Parish: Being a History of Donaghcloney (Waringstown). Hodges, Figgis. p. 87. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  7. ^ "High Sheriffs, 1824". The Connaught Journal. 1 March 1824. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  8. ^ "HIGH SHERIFFS FOR 1825". The Connaught Journal. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  9. ^ "New Sheriffs". The Kilkenny Independent. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  10. ^ Complete Baronetage, p. 381
  11. ^ "1843 Belfast / Ulster Street Directory". Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  12. ^ "High Sheriffs, 1845". The Armagh Guardian. 4 February 1845. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  13. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954)". Trove. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  14. ^ "Co Cavan Newspaper Extracts". Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Ireland Old News". Ballina Chronicle. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  16. ^ "No. 6775". The Edinburgh Gazette. 29 January 1958. p. 181.
  17. ^ "High Sheriffs, 1861". The Cavan Observer. 26 January 1861. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Ireland Old News". Ballina Chronicle. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  19. ^ "No. 8027". The Edinburgh Gazette. 25 January 1879. p. 104.
  20. ^ "Cavan Weekly News". Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  21. ^ a b Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes. 1916.
  22. ^ Kelly's Handbook. 1916.
  23. ^ Fred Rankin, J. (1997). Down Cathedral: the church of Saint Patrick of Down By J. Fred Rankin. p. 147. ISBN 9780901905857. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  24. ^ "No. 13440". The Edinburgh Gazette. 2 May 1919. p. 1589.
  25. ^ "Twixt Bay & Burn" (PDF). Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  26. ^ Kelly's Handbook. 1916.
  27. ^ a b c Biographies of Members of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
  28. ^ Fred Rankin, J. (1997). Down Cathedral: the church of Saint Patrick of Down By J. Fred Rankin. p. 155. ISBN 9780901905857. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  29. ^ "The County Families of the United Kingdom". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  30. ^ "No. 79". The Belfast Gazette. 5 January 1923. p. 3.
  31. ^ "No. 130". The Belfast Gazette. 21 December 1923. p. 567.
  32. ^ "No. 184". The Belfast Gazette. 2 January 1925. p. 1.
  33. ^ "No. 240". The Belfast Gazette. 29 January 1926. p. 41.
  34. ^ "No. 289". The Belfast Gazette. 7 January 1927. p. 3.
  35. ^ "No. 341". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1928. p. 2.
  36. ^ "No. 393". The Belfast Gazette. 4 January 1929. p. 1.
  37. ^ "No. 445". The Belfast Gazette. 3 January 1930. p. 1.
  38. ^ "No. 497". The Belfast Gazette. 2 January 1931. p. 2.
  39. ^ "No. 550". The Belfast Gazette. 8 January 1932. p. 13.
  40. ^ "No. 602". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1933. p. 627.
  41. ^ "No. 656". The Belfast Gazette. 19 January 1934. p. 21.
  42. ^ "No. 707". The Belfast Gazette. 11 January 1935. p. 13.
  43. ^ "No. 759". The Belfast Gazette. 10 January 1936. p. 13.
  44. ^ "No. 811". The Belfast Gazette. 8 January 1937. p. 9.
  45. ^ "No. 863". The Belfast Gazette. 7 January 1938. p. 1.
  46. ^ "No. 915". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1939. p. 1.
  47. ^ "No. 967". The Belfast Gazette. 5 January 1940. p. 1.
  48. ^ "No. 1019". The Belfast Gazette. 3 January 1941. p. 1.
  49. ^ "No. 1072". The Belfast Gazette. 9 January 1942. p. 10.
  50. ^ "No. 1124". The Belfast Gazette. 8 January 1943. p. 8.
  51. ^ "No. 1176". The Belfast Gazette. 7 January 1944. p. 1.
  52. ^ "No. 1228". The Belfast Gazette. 4 January 1945. p. 2.
  53. ^ "No. 1280". The Belfast Gazette. 4 January 1946. p. 2.
  54. ^ "No. 1332". The Belfast Gazette. 3 January 1947. p. 3.
  55. ^ a b "No. 1384". The Belfast Gazette. 2 January 1948. p. 2.
  56. ^ "No. 1489". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1950. p. 2.
  57. ^ "No. 1541". The Belfast Gazette. 5 January 1951. p. 2.
  58. ^ "No. 1593". The Belfast Gazette. 4 January 1952. p. 2.
  59. ^ "No. 1645". The Belfast Gazette. 2 January 1953. p. 2.
  60. ^ "No. 1698". The Belfast Gazette. 8 January 1954. p. 9.
  61. ^ "No. 1750". The Belfast Gazette. 7 January 1955. p. 3.
  62. ^ "No. 1802". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1956. p. 3.
  63. ^ "No. 1854". The Belfast Gazette. 4 January 1957. p. 2.
  64. ^ "No. 1906". The Belfast Gazette. 3 January 1958. p. 2.
  65. ^ "No. 1959". The Belfast Gazette. 9 January 1959. p. 7.
  66. ^ "No. 2010". The Belfast Gazette. 1 January 1960. p. 2.
  67. ^ "No. 2063". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1961. p. 1.
  68. ^ "No. 2115". The Belfast Gazette. 5 January 1962. p. 3.
  69. ^ "No. 2167". The Belfast Gazette. 4 January 1963. p. 2.
  70. ^ "No. 2225". The Belfast Gazette. 10 January 1964. p. 12.
  71. ^ "No. 2284". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1965. p. 11.
  72. ^ "No. 2340". The Belfast Gazette. 7 January 1966. p. 6.
  73. ^ "No. 2399". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1967. p. 4.
  74. ^ "No. 2461". The Belfast Gazette. 5 January 1968. p. 6.
  75. ^ "No. 2525". The Belfast Gazette. 3 January 1969. p. 3.
  76. ^ "No. 2596". The Belfast Gazette. 9 January 1970. p. 13.
  77. ^ "No. 2677". The Belfast Gazette. 15 January 1971. p. 13.
  78. ^ "No. 2758". The Belfast Gazette. 14 January 1972. p. 11.
  79. ^ "No. 2838". The Belfast Gazette. 12 January 1973. p. 17.
  80. ^ "No. 2968". The Belfast Gazette. 11 January 1974. p. 13.
  81. ^ "No. 3106". The Belfast Gazette. 24 January 1975. p. 41.
  82. ^ "No. 3233". The Belfast Gazette. 9 January 1976. p. 17.
  83. ^ "No. 3368". The Belfast Gazette. 14 January 1977. p. 15.
  84. ^ "No. 3503". The Belfast Gazette. 20 January 1978. p. 33.
  85. ^ "No. 3638". The Belfast Gazette. 26 January 1979. p. 54.
  86. ^ "No. 3767". The Belfast Gazette. 11 January 1980. p. 13.
  87. ^ "No. 3899". The Belfast Gazette. 9 January 1981. p. 11.
  88. ^ "No. 4041". The Belfast Gazette. 8 January 1982. p. 9.
  89. ^ "No. 4194". The Belfast Gazette. 7 January 1983. p. 1.
  90. ^ "No. 4355". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 1984. p. 1.
  91. ^ "No. 4510". The Belfast Gazette. 28 December 1984. p. 1105.
  92. ^ "No. 5172". The Belfast Gazette. 4 January 1991. p. 1.
  93. ^ "No. 5273". The Belfast Gazette. 3 January 1992. p. 1.
  94. ^ "No. 5380". The Belfast Gazette. 8 January 1993. p. 15.
  95. ^ "No. 5482". The Belfast Gazette. 7 January 1994. p. 1.
  96. ^ "No. 5588". The Belfast Gazette. 13 January 1995. p. 1.
  97. ^ "No. 5750". The Belfast Gazette. 16 August 1995. p. 759.
  98. ^ "No. 5800". The Belfast Gazette. 14 February 1997. p. 137.
  99. ^ "No. 5906". The Belfast Gazette. 20 February 1998. p. 161.
  100. ^ "No. 6000". The Belfast Gazette. 15 January 1999. p. 21.
  101. ^ "No. 6103". The Belfast Gazette. 14 January 2000. p. 13.
  102. ^ "No. 6209". The Belfast Gazette. 19 January 2001. p. 45.
  103. ^ "No. 6308". The Belfast Gazette. 28 December 2001. p. 1292.
  104. ^ "No. 6412". The Belfast Gazette. 20 December 2002. p. 1444.
  105. ^ "No. 6523". The Belfast Gazette. 9 January 2004. p. 1571.
  106. ^ "Notice: 1110/4 (Issue: 6629)". Belfast Gazette. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  107. ^ "Notice: 1110/9 (Issue: 6730)". Belfast Gazette. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  108. ^ "No. 6830". The Belfast Gazette. 22 December 2006. p. 6434.
  109. ^ "No. 6935". The Belfast Gazette. 21 December 2007. p. 8406.
  110. ^ "No. 7045". The Belfast Gazette. 2 January 2009. p. 1.
  111. ^ "No. 7149". The Belfast Gazette. 29 December 2009. p. 1.
  112. ^ "No. 7258". The Belfast Gazette. 7 January 2011. p. 1.
  113. ^ "No. 7363". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 2012. p. 1.
  114. ^ Whitaker's Shorts 2014: Governance.
  115. ^ Whitaker's Shorts 2015: Governance.
  116. ^ "No. 7682". The Belfast Gazette. 2 January 2015. p. 910.
  117. ^ "No. 7792". The Belfast Gazette. 8 January 2016. p. 14.
  118. ^ "No. 7908". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 2017. p. 2.
  119. ^ "No. 8013". The Belfast Gazette. 5 January 2018. p. 18.
  120. ^ "No. 8117". The Belfast Gazette. 4 January 2019. p. 2.
  121. ^ "No. 8222". The Belfast Gazette. 6 January 2020. p. 2.
  122. ^ "No. 8329". The Belfast Gazette. 11 January 2021. p. 10.
  123. ^ "No. 8434". The Belfast Gazette. 10 January 2022. p. 10.
  124. ^ "No. 8542". The Belfast Gazette. 9 January 2023. p. 10.
  125. ^ "No. 8646". The Belfast Gazette. 8 January 2024. p. 14.