High Sheriff of Shropshire explained

This is a list of sheriffs and high sheriffs of Shropshire

The sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the high sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct so that its functions are now largely ceremonial. From 1204 to 1344 the Sheriff of Staffordshire served also as the Sheriff of Shropshire.

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, on 1 April 1974 the office previously known as sheriff was retitled high sheriff.^[1] The high sheriff changes every March.

Sheriff

11th century

• Warin the Bald
• c. 1086 Rainald De Balliol, De Knightley (1040–1086)
• 1102 Hugh (son of Warin)

12th century

• -1114: Alan fitz Flaad (died 1114)
• 1127–1137: Pain fitzJohn (died 1137)
• 1137–1138: William Fitz Alan (exiled 1138)
• 1155–1159: William Fitz Alan (died 1160)
• 1160–1165: Guy le Strange
• 1166–1169: Geoffrey de Vere
• 1170:Geoffrey de Vere and William Clericus
• 1171–1179: Guy le Strange
• 1180–1189: Hugh Pantulf, 4th Baron of Wem
• 1190–1201: William fitz Alan II (died 1210)

13th and 14th centuries

• 1204–1344 See High Sheriff of Staffordshire
• 1208 Reginald de Lega (acting)
• 1228 (or before) Henry de Deneston ^[2]
• 1228 Henry de Verdun (I)^[3]
• 1285: Sir Roger de Pulesdon (otherwise 'de Pyvelesdon') ^[4]
• 1354–1359 John de Burton ^[5]
• 1377: Sir John Burley
• 1377: Sir Bryan Cornwall of Burford, Shropshire
• 1378: John Ludlow
• 1379: John de Drayton
• 1380: Roger Hord
• 1381: John Shery
• 1382: Edward Acton of Longnor
• 1383: John de Stepulton
• 1384: Edward Acton of Longnor
• 1386: Nicholas de Sandford
• 1387: Robert de Lee
• 1388: John de la Pole (alias Mowetho), of Mawddwy and Wattlesborough
• 1388: Robert de Ludlow
• 1389: Edward Acton of Longnor
• 1390: John de Stepulton
• 1391: Sir William Hugford of Apley, Salop and Wilden, Beds
• 1392: Henry de Winesbury
• 1393: John de Eyton of Eyton upon the Weald Moors^[6]
• 1394: Thomas de Lee of South Bache in Diddlebury
• 1395: William Worthie
• 1396: Sir William Hugford of Apley, Salop and Wilden, Beds
• 1397–1398: Adamus de Pashal
• 1399: John Cornwall of Kinlet

20th century

High sheriffs

21st century

References

• The History of the Worthies of England volume 3

Notes and References

1. Web site: Government Act 1972: Section 219 .
2. 'Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 1228', Staffordshire Historical Collections, vol. 4 (1883), p.71: Henry de Anestun (de Deneston), then Sheriff and Coroner
3. 'Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 1228', Staffordshire Historical Collections, vol. 4 (1883), p.71: Henry de Verdun, Sheriff and Coroner, states he was not outlawed, but that they took sureties for him. They, i.e., the Sheriffs, are therefore in misericordiâ
4. Calendar of Charter Rolls, Volume II, Henry III – Edward I. A.D. 1257–1300 (HM Stationery Office, Pub. by mackie & Co, Fleet St, 1906), p.294-5. 7 June 1285 at Westminster, Membrane 25, confirmation of a charter of Henry III: ...before Roger de Pyvelesdon, sheriff of Salop and Stafford
5. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions Or High Official Rank: But Uninvested with Heritable Honours, Volume 4
6. A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland Vol 1, John and John Bernard Burke (1847) p391 Google Books