High Sheriff of Louth

The High Sheriff of Louth was the Crown's representative for County Louth, a territory known as his bailiwick. Selected from three nominated people, he held his office for the duration of a year. He had judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs.

History

The office of High Sheriff is the oldest under the British crown. It was established in Louth in 1227 and remained first in precedence in the county until the reign of Edward VII, when an Order in Council in 1908 gave the Lord-Lieutenant the prime office under the Crown as the Sovereign's personal representative. In the United Kingdom, the High Sheriff remains the Sovereign's county representative for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order. The office of High Sheriff of Louth was abolished in 1922 when the Irish Free State became largely independent.

High Sheriffs of County Louth

1234: Ralph de Pitchford^[1]
1270–1272: John de Pitchford^[1]
1274: John de Baskervill^[1]
1275: Roger de Crumba^[1]
1281–1284: Nicholas de Netterville^[1]
1285–1291: William de Spineto
1287: Nicholas de Netterville^[1]
1291: Thomas de Stanley^[1]
1293: Richard Taaffe^[1]
1297: William de Hatch^[1]
1310: William Dowdall^[1]
1311: Richard Gernon (murdered)
1315: Richard Taaffe
1329: Geoffrey de Brandwade^[1]
1331: John Gernon
1346: James Audley
1355: John Clinton, or Clintoun (also Escheator for Louth)
1375: John Dowdall
1377: John Taaffe
1381: Peter Peppard
1385: Milo Haddesor
1386: George Telyng
1400: Thomas Talbot
1401: Walter Plunkett
1402: John Clynton of Keppock
1403: Sir John Bedilowe, Kt
1405: John Dowdall (killed)
1407: John Cusack
1408: John Cusack
1410: Walter Plunkett (second term)
1424: Sir James White
1425: Sir John Bellew, Kt
1426: John Bellew
1427: John Bellew
1440: Sir Nicholas Taaffe
1496: Patrick Plunkett
1497: Richard Plunkett
1499: John Gernon of Killencoole
1558: Edward Gernon of Gernonstown
1562: Sir John Bellew
1578: Roger Gernon or Garland
1593: Thomas Gernon
1594: Roger Gernon
1595: Rice Jones
1596: Rice Jones

17th century

1613: Ambrose Jones
1634: James Clinton of Clintonstown
1640: Bartholomew White
1642: Anthony Townley
1643: Anthony Townley
1644: Anthony Townley
1655: William Taylor
1656: William Toxteth
1657: James Smallwood
1658:
1659: John Ruxton
1660: John Ruxton
1661: John Fowke
1662: Nicholas Moore
1663: Sir James Graham
1664: Sir Thomas Bramhall, 1st Baronet
1665: Thomas Toxteth
1666: Wolstan Dixie
1667: Arthur Brownlow
1668: Major James Garstin
1669: William Armitage
1670: William Disney
1671: Henry Bellingham
1672: Henry Townley
1673: William Peppard
1674: John Ruxton
1675: John Thomlinson
1676: Timothy Armitage / Thomas Franke
1677: James Smallwood
1678: James Smallwood
1679: John Pepper
1680: Nehemiah Donellan
1681:
1682: Robert Moore
1683: Robert Moore (2nd year)
1684: Thomas Bellingham / John Holt
1685: Norman Garstin
1686: Sir Patrick Bellew, 1st Baronet
1687: Roger Bellew
1688: Roger Bellew
1689: John Taaffe
1690: Thomas Bellingham
1691: Henry Tichbourne
1692: Joseph Tomlinson
1693: William Barron
1694: Blayney Townley
1695: William Render
1696: John Smith
1697: John Graham
1698: John Keating
1699:

18th century

1700: James Tisdall
1701: Joseph Tomlinson
1702: Timothy Armitage
1703: Edward Singleton
1704: William Stannus
1705: William Eccleston of Drumshallon
1706: Henry Tichbourne
1707: John Ruxton
1708: William Brabazon
1709: Thomas Fortescue
1710: Thomas Clarke
1711: William Fortescue
1712:
1713: James Leigh
1714: Peter Ludlow of Ardsallagh Castle
1715: William Aston of Beaulieu
1716: Thomas Tippin
1717: James Tisdall
1718: Robert Sibthorpe
1719: William Moore
1720: Randle Hern
1721: Ephraim Dawson / Thomas Tipping / James Stannus
1722: George Ball
1723: John Pepper of Pepper's Town
1724: Nicholas Moore of Ardastowne
1725: Stephen Sibthorpe
1726: Harry Townley
1727: Thomas Fortescue
1728: William Ruxton of Ardee
1729: Brabazon Newcomen
1730: Brabazon Eccleston of Drumshallon
1731: Wallop Brabazon of Killelly
1732: Richard Hansard of Peghanstown
1733: John Sotheby
1734: Henry Bellingham jnr of Castle Bellingham
1735: James Wallace
1736: Robert Parkinson
1737: John Taaffe
1738: John Graham
1739: Thomas Tennison of Thomastown
1740: Rt Hon William Graham of Castlering
1741: James Poe of Dromgoldstown
1742: Tichborne Aston
1743: John Harper of Mell
1744: Trevor Stannus of Stannus Hill
1745: Thomas Tipping of Castletown
1746: William Henry Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont
1747: William Lee
1748: Ephraim Stannus of Carlingford
1749: Arthur Craven of Dromcashill
1750: Edward Smith of Maine
1751: William Brabazon of Willville
1752: Ross Moore of Carlingford
1753: Oliver Plunkett of Louth Hall
1754: William Foster of Dunleare
1755: James Fortescue
1756: Robert Sibthorpe
1757: James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassill
1758: Anthony Foster of Dunleare
1759: Robert Ball of Priorstown
1760: Latham Blacker
1761: Blayney Townley Balfour of Townley Hall
1762: Edward Tipping of Ballraggin
1763: Anthony Garstin of Bragganstown
1764: William Eccleston of Termafikin
1765: Thomas Newcomen of Callistown
1766: Richard Dawson jnr of Atherdee
1767: Charles Craven of Applefield
1768: John McClintock
1769: John Foster of Collon
1770: Thomas Fortescue of Dromiskin
1771: Blayney Townley Balfour of Townley Hall
1772: William Eccleston of Drumshallon
1773: William Filgate of Lissreny
1774: John Bowes Benson of Catherine Grove
1775: Samuel Poe of Poe's Court
1776: John William Foster of Rosy Park
1777: Edward Smith Stafford of Maine
1778: Thomas Lee of Tullykeel
1779: William Shiels of Newtown Darver
1780: Philip Brabazon of Belleview
1781: Henry Bellingham of Castle Bellingham
1782: John Thomas Foster of Dunleer
1783: Richard Cooper of Rathescar
1784: Henry Coddington of Dunleer
1785: Charles Cobbe of Dowdstown
1786: Thomas James Fortescue of Ravensdale
1787: Matthew Fortescue of Stephenstown
1788: James Tisdall of Bawn
1789: Turner Camac of Greenmount Lodge
1790: Henry Foster of Green Mount
1791: Thomas William Filgate of Arthurstown
1792: Hon. Mathew Plunkett of Charlestown
1793: Blayney Townley Balfour of Townley Hall
1794: Francis Manning of Drakestown
1795: Nicholas Coddington
1796: John Burne jnr
1797: William Latham Blacker Hamlin of Rath Esker Lodge
1798: John McClintock jnr of Drumcar
1799: Wallop Brabazon of Rath

19th century

1800: Chichester Fortescue
1801: Turner Macan of Greenmount Lodge
1802: John Strahan of Dundalk
1804: Francis Eastwood of Killincoole
1805: Francis Eastwood of Killincoole
1806: John Bolton of Maine
1807: Alexander Filgate of Lisrenny
1808: John Page of Dundalk
1809: Robert Thompson of Anagassan
1810: Henry Brabazon of Dromiskin
1811: Right Hon. Thomas Henry Foster of Collon
1812: Hon Robert Jocelyn, Viscount Jocelyn replaced by Charles Eastwood of Castletown
1813: Philip Pendleton of Dromgooldstown
1814: Matthew Fortescue of Stephenstown
1815: George Shiels Eccleston of Dromiskin
1816: Brabazon Disney Shiel of Newtown Darver
1817: Turner Macan of Greenmount, Castlebellingham
1818: Faithful Fortescue of Conderry
1819: William Parkinson Ruxton of Red House
1820: Thomas Lee Norman of Corbollis
1821: Faithful William Fortescue of Miltown Grange
1822: Thomas Tisdall
1823: John Fitzherbert Ruxton of Ardee House
1824: James Thomas Townley Tisdall of Bawn^[2]
1825: Nathaniel Manning of Drakestown
1826: John Woolsey of Milestown, Castlebellingham
1827: Robert Portland, of Blackhail, Drogheda^[3]
1828: Berkeley Buckingham Stafford^[4]
1829: Sir Alan Edward Bellingham, 3rd Baronet of Castlebellingham
1830: Turner Macan of Greenmount, Castlebellingham
1831: Patrick Bellew, 1st Baron Bellew of Barmeath
1832: William Filgate of Lisrenny
1833: Edward Tipping of Bellurgan Park
1834: Francis Donagh of Newtown
1835: George Taaffe of Smarmore Castle
1836: Mathew O'Reilly of Thomastown
1837: Henry Chester of Cartown, Drogheda
1838: Michael Chester of Stone House
1839: Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont of Dromisken
1840: John McClintock, 1st Baron Rathdonnell
1841: Blaney Balfour jnr of Townley Hall, Dunleer
1842: Robert Jocelyn, Viscount Jocelyn of Dundalk
1843: Samuel McClintock of Newtown, Drogheda
1844: Sir Richard Robinson, 2nd Baronet of Rokeby Hall, Dunleer
1845: Frederick J. Foster, Castle Ring^[5]
1846: Lewis Upton of Glyde Farm, Ardee
1847: William Ruxton of Ardee House, Ardee
1848: Miles William O'Reilly of Knockabbey Castle, Louth
1849: Sir John Stephen Robinson, 3rd Baronet of Rokeby Hall, Dunleer
1850: Sir Frederick George Foster, 2nd Baronet^[6]
1851: George Ruxton of Rahanna, Ardee
1852: John Murphy of Castletown, Dundalk
1853: Richard Macan of Greenmount, Castlebellingham
1854: Edward Joseph Bellew, 2nd Baron Bellew of Barmeath
1855: Richard Thomas Montgomery of Beaulieu, Drogheda
1856: Myles Taaffe of Smarmore, Ardee
1857: Matthew O'Reilly Dease of Charleville, Dunleer
1858: Michael Carraher of Cardistown, Ardee
1859: Arthur Blackburn of Corderry, Ardee
1860: Laurence Waldron of Ballybrack Dalkey, Co. Dublin
1861: Lieut.-Col. John Charles William Fortescue of Stephenstown, Dundalk
1862: Henry Edward Singletown of Hazley Heath, Hampshire
1863: Charles Brinsley Marlay
1864: Edward Singleton Belpatrick, Collon
1865: Henry St. George Smith of Piperstown, Drogheda
1866: St. Clair Kilburn Mulholland, of Kelburn
1867: Charles Cobbe of Newbridge, Donabate
1868: William Woolsey of The Crescent, Castlebellingham
1869: Ralph Smyth of Newtown House, Drogheda
1870: James Hugh Smith-Barry
1871: Richard Altamont Smythe of Newtown, Drogheda
1872: John Arthur Henry Moore-Brabazon
1873: Robert Foster Dunlop of Monasterboice Ho., Collon
1874: Thomas Mahon Richardson of Prospect, Dundalk
1875: John Frederick Foster of Glyde Court, Ardee
1876: Percy Fitzgerald of Fane Valley, Dundalk
1877: Arthur Pemberton Heywood Lonsdale
1878: John Taafe of Smarmoor Castle^[7]
1879: William de Salis Filgate of Lissrenny
1880: John R. Garstin
1881: John Alexander Lee-Norman of Corbollis, Ardee
1882: Arthur Macan of Drumcashel, Castlebellingham
1883: Conway Edward Dobbs
1884: Philip Callan of Dowdstown, Ardee
1885: Blayney Reynell Townley Balfour of Townley Hall, Drogheda
1886: Thomas Plunkett Cairnes Stameen, Drogheda
1887: George Charles Smyth of Newtown, Drogheda
1888: Malcolm Brown Murray of Roden Place, Dundalk
1889: Major-Gen. O'Brien Bellingham Woolsey of Milestown, Castlebellingham
1890: Patrick Ternan of Listoke, Drogheda.
1891: John Coleman Kiernan of Rathbrist, Drogheda.
1892: Patrick Casey Connolly of Beaulieu, Drogheda.
1893: Henry Chester of Williamstown, Castlebellingham.
1894: Edmond O'Conor of Charleville, Dunleer.
1895: Charles Bertram Bellew, 3rd Baron Bellew of Barmeath.
1896: Major James Patrick Waldron
1897: Alan Henry Bellingham, 4th Baronet.
1898: Sir Gerald Collingwood Robinson, 4th Baronet of Rokeby Hall, Dunleer.
1899: Henry J. Daly of Donacarney House, Drogheda.

20th century

1900: Capt. Mark Singleton.
1901: Sir Augustus Vere Foster, 4th Baronet of Glyde Court, Ardee.
1902: George Leopold Bryan, 4th Baron Bellew of Barmeath.
1903: Major Matthew Charles Edward Fortescue of Stephenstown, Dundalk.
1904: William Bellingham Jameson of Beaulieu, Drogheda.
1905: Richard Walter Walsh of Williamstown, Castlebellingham.
1906: John Roland Singleton of Mell, Drogheda
1907: George Joseph Taaffe of Smarmore Castle.^[7]
1908: Blayney Reynall Townley Balfour of Townley Hall, Drogheda.
1909: John James Eastwood Bigger of Falmore Hall, Dundalk.
1910: Richard Johnston Montgomery of Killineer House, Drogheda.
1911: Alfred Bellingham Cairnes of Listoke, Drogheda.
1912: John Dobbin Bell of Killin, Dundalk.
1913: Maxwell Thomas Moore-Boyle of Dundalk.
1914: Captain George Knaggs of Corderry.
1915: William Townley George Seymour Macartney-Filgate.
1916: Thomas William Bell of Dundalk.
1917: Thomas Callan Macardle of Dundalk.
1918: Charles Davis Guinness of Dundalk.

References

High Sheriffs 1361–1918 Archived 13 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k The English in Louth, 1170–1330
^ "High Sheriffs, 1824". The Connaught Journal. 1 March 1824. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
^ "New Sheriffs". The Kilkenny Independent. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
^ Burke, Bernard; Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1 January 1912). A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Ireland. p. 656.
^ "New Irish Sheriffs". The Armagh Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
^ "Ireland Old News". Ballina Chronicle. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
^ ^a ^b Visitation of Ireland

[TEiL-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k The English in Louth, 1170–1330

[2] "High Sheriffs, 1824". The Connaught Journal. 1 March 1824. Retrieved 10 May 2011.

[3] "New Sheriffs". The Kilkenny Independent. Retrieved 28 April 2011.

[4] Burke, Bernard; Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1 January 1912). A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Ireland. p. 656.

[5] "New Irish Sheriffs". The Armagh Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2011.

[6] "Ireland Old News". Ballina Chronicle. Retrieved 26 April 2011.

[Visitation_of_Ireland-7] Visitation of Ireland

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