High Sheriff of Louth explained
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
References
Notes and References
- The English in Louth, 1170–1330
