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
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
- 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
- 1700: John (Hawkins) Magill of Gill Hall [5]
- 1702: Roger Hall of Mount Hall [5]
- 1704: Nicholas Price of Saintfield [5]
- 1706: Mathew Forde of Loughinisland
- 1707:
- 1709: Robert Ross of Rosstrevor [5]
- 1710:
- 1712: John (Hawkins) Magill of Gill Hall [5]
- 1714: Roth James
- 1715: Toby Hall of Mount Hall [5]
- 1716: Henry Maxwell
- 1717: Sir William Johnston, Kt[citation needed]
- 1718: Robert Hawkins-Magill [5]
- 1719: Simon Isaac
- 1720: George Lambert
- 1721: James Maxwell
- 1722: Cromwell Price of Downpatrick [5]
- 1723: W. Montgomery
- 1724: Thomas Waring [5]
- 1725: John Baylie of Innishargie House [5]
- 1726: Thomas Montgomery
- 1727: Robert Lambert
- 1728: Robert Needham
- 1729: Mathew Forde
- 1730: Edward Bayly of Ringdufferin[5]
- 1731: William Savage
- 1732: Francis Savage
- 1733: John D. Isaac
- 1734: Samuel Waring
- 1735: Richard Johnston[citation needed]
- 1736: Arthur Hill-Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon[citation needed]
- 1737: Hon. Arthur Hill
- 1738: Hill Willson
- 1739: Francis Hall
- 1740: Roger Hall of Mount Hall [5]
- 1741: James Ross
- 1742: James Echlin[citation needed]
- 1743: Robert Maxwell of Finnebrogue File:Kilruddery.JPG
- 1744: Chichester Fortescue[citation needed]
- 1745: Samuel Hill
- 1746: Bernard Ward
- 1747: Simon Isaac
- 1748: John Bateman
- 1749: Sir John Rawdon
- 1750: Henry Waring
- 1751: William Annesley, 1st Viscount Glerawly [citation needed]
- 1752: Mathew Forde (son of Mathew, H.S.1729)
- 1753: Francis Price of Saintfield [5]
- 1754: James Johnston
- 1755: W. Montgomery
- 1756: John Mathews
- 1757: Hon. W. Moore
- 1758: John Echlin of Thomastown[citation needed]
- 1759: Thomas Pottinger
- 1760: Charles Douglass [5]
- 1761: Holt Waring
- 1762: Robert Lambert Tate
- 1763: Patrick Savage
- 1764: Richard Magenis[6]
- 1765: Sir Richard Johnston, 1st Baronet[citation needed]
- 1766: Nicholas Harrison
- 1768: John Moore
- 1769: John Kennedy
- 1770: Charles Savage
- 1771: Robert Ross of Rosstrevor [5]
- 1772: James Waddell
- 1773: Gawen Hamilton of Killyleagh [5]
- 1774: T. Blackwell
- 1775: Charles Innis
- 1776: John Reilly of Scarvagh [5]
- 1777: Charles Echlin of Echlinville (Rubane)[citation needed]
- 1778: Daniel Delacherois
- 1779: John Knox
- 1780: Hill Willson
- 1781: Cromwell Price
- 1782: Charles Dowglass
- 1783: Richard Annesley, 2nd Earl Annesley[citation needed]
- 1784: Arthur Johnston
- 1785: Lord Kilwarlin
- 1786: James Arbuckle
- 1787: George Hamilton
- 1788: Sir William Johnston, 2nd Baronet[citation needed]
- 1789: James W. Hull
- 1790: Robert M'leroth
- 1791: Francis Savage
- 1792: Hon. Robert Ward
- 1793: Henry Savage
- 1794: H. Vesey Knox
- 1795: R. Johnston Smith
- 1796: Daniel Mussenden
- 1797: Thomas Waring [5]
- 1798: Charles FitzGerald, 1st Baron Lecale[citation needed]
- 1799: Marcus Corry
19th century
- 1800: Savage Hall of Narrow Water [5]
- 1801: Nicholas Price of Saintfield [5]
- 1802: Hugh Kennedy
- 1803: Mathew Forde of Seaforde House and Coolgreany [5]
- 1804: James Stevenson Blackwood, 2nd Baron Dufferin and Clandeboye[citation needed]
- 1805: James Dowsett Rose-Cleland of Rathgill [5]
- 1806: Francis Turnley
- 1807: Ross Thompson
- 1808: Andrew Savage (later Nugent) of Portaferry [5]
- 1809: Robert Bateson
- 1810: John Lushington Reilly of Scarvagh [5]
- 1811: William Sharman Crawford of Crawfordsburn [5]
- 1812: David Gordon
- 1813: James Blackwood
- 1814: Arthur Innis
- 1815: Willam Edmond Reilly of Tamnagharrie [5]
- 1816: Roger Hall
- 1817: J. Waring Maxwell
- 1818: Arthur Johnston Crawford of Rademon [5]
- 1819: Francis Savage of Ardkeen and Hollymount
- 1820: Mathew Forde of Seaforde House[5]
- 1821: Nicholas Delacherois Crommelin of Carrowdore Castle [5]
- 1822: William Richard Annesley, 3rd Earl Annesley[citation needed]
- 1823: Edward Southwell Ward
- 1824: William Montgomery of Grey Abbey[7]
- 1825: John M'Cause of Drumlough.[8]
- 1826: John H. Houston
- 1827: John Echlin, of Echlinville, Rubane, Kircubbin[9]
- 1828: Francis Needham, 2nd Earl of Kilmorey[citation needed]
- 1829: Daniel Delacherois of Donaghadee [5]
- 1830: Nicholas Charles Whyte of Loughbrickland [5]
- 1831: William Mussenden
- 1832: Arthur Innis
- 1833: Robert Gordon of Florida [5]
- 1834: Earl of Hillsborough
- 1835: Narcissus Batt of Purdysburn [5]
- 1836: Charles Mathew Douglass of Grace Hall [5]
- 1837: David Robert Ross
- 1838: Thomas J. Smith
- 1839: John Sharman Crawford of Crawfordsburn [5]
- 1840: Matthew Forde [5]
- 1841: Sir William Johnston, 2nd Baronet[10] (died 1841)
- 1841: Robert Perceval-Maxwell of Finnebrogue and Groomsport House [5]
- 1842: Robert Edward Ward of Bangor Castle[5]
- 1843: John Patrick Nugent of Portaferry[11]
- 1844: John Reed Allen, of Mount Panther and Dunover, d 14 Apr 1875, son of John Allen of Portaferry,d 2 May 1816, father of George Allen listed below
- 1845: Hugh Montgomery of Rosemount[12]
- 1846: Robert Narcissus Batt of Purdysburn[5]
- 1847: Thomas Morres Hamilton Jones of Moneyglass House, Co Antrim [5]
- 1848: Richard Bayly Blakiston-Houston of Orangefield, Belfast[13]
- 1849: William Keown, of Ballydergan House[14]
- 1850: Archibald Rowan Hamilton of Killyleagh Castle, Killyleagh.[15]
- 1851: Robert Heron
- 1852: David Stewart Ker of Montalto [5]
- 1852: Samuel Arthur Hill Delacherois Crommelin [5]
- 1853: William Brownlow Forde
- 1854: John Temple Reilly of Scarvagh [5]
- 1855: Andrew Mulholland of Springvale, Ballywalter Park
- 1856: Francis C. Leslie
- 1857: John Andrews of Uraghmore, Comber [5]
- 1858: Samuel Murland of Woodlands, Castlewollan[16]
- 1859: James Charles Price of Saintfield [5]
- 1860: John Blakiston-Houston of Orangefield and Reddens [5]
- 1861: Alexander John Robert Stewart of Ard-House, Cashelmore.[17]
- 1862: John Joseph Whyte, Colneeran, Loughbrickland[18]
- 1863: Daniel de la Cherois [5]
- 1864: Sir Thomas McClure, 1st Baronet
- 1866: John Cleland of Stormont Castle [5]
- 1867: Andrew Savage Nugent of Strangford [5]
- 1868: John Mulholland, 1st Baron Dunleath[citation needed]
- 1868: Thomas Waring of Waringstown [5]
- 1869: Samuel Madden Francis Hall of Narrow Water [5]
- 1870: Arthur Charles Innes of Dromantine, Newry[19]
- 1870: Robert Narcissus of Purdysburn[5]
- 1871: Francis Charles Needham, 3rd Earl of Kilmorey[citation needed]
- 1873: John William Perceval-Maxwell of Tyrella [5]
- 1873: Robert Francis Gordon of Florida Manor [5]
- 1875: Gawin William Rowan-Hamilton of Killyleagh[5]
- 1877: David Alfred Ker of Montalto and Portavo[20]
- 1878: William James Hall of Narrow Water [5]
- 1879: William Cowan Heron of Maryfield, Holywood [21]
- 1880: Richard Ker of Montalto and Portavo [5]
- 1882: Andrew Nugent of Portaferry House [5]
- 1883: Henry Lyle Mulholland, 2nd Baron Dunleath[22]
- 1884: Ogilvie Blair Graham of Larchfield [5]
- 1885: George Allen of Mount Panther and Dunover, d 12 Jun 1929, son of John Reed Allen above
- 1886: Robert Grimshaw Dunville [5]
- 1888: Arthur Johnston Sharman Crawford of Crawfordsburn [5]
- 1889:
- 1891: William Nevin Wallace of Downpatrick and Waterfoot House[5][23]
- 1893: Victor Coaxes of Glentoran [5]
- 1894: Charles William Dunbar-Buller of Woburn, Co.Down[5]
- 1895: Colonel Robert Gordon Sharman-Crawford of Crawfordsburn[24]
- 1896:
- 1897: John Percey Meade of Burrenwood[5]
- 1899: William James Pirrie[citation needed]
20th century
- 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
- 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
- "High Sheriffs of County Down 1714–1857". Newry and Louth Advertiser, 10/08/1857.
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