The High Sheriff of

Essex Essex () is a Ceremonial counties of England, county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the Riv ...

was an ancient

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

title originating in the time of the

Angles The Angles ( ang, Ængle, ; la, Angli) were one of the main Germanic peoples who settled in Great Britain in the post-Roman period. They founded several kingdoms of the Heptarchy in Anglo-Saxon England. Their name is the root of the name ...

, not long after the invasion of the

Kingdom of England The Kingdom of England (, ) was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from 12 July 927, when it emerged from various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, until 1 May 1707, when it united with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. On ...

, which was in existence for around a thousand years. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the

Local Government Act 1972 The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant Acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...

, the title of Sheriff of Essex was retitled High Sheriff of Essex. The high shrievalties are the oldest

secular Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin ''saeculum'', "worldly" or "of a generation"), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. Anything that does not have an explicit reference to religion, either negativ ...

titles under the Crown in England and Wales, their purpose being to represent the monarch at a local level, historically in the

shire Shire is a traditional term for an administrative division of land in Great Britain and some other English-speaking countries such as Australia and New Zealand. It is generally synonymous with county. It was first used in Wessex from the begin ...

s. The office was a powerful position in earlier times, as sheriffs were responsible for the maintenance of law and order and various other roles. It was only in 1908 under

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until Death and state funeral of Edward VII, his death in 1910. The second chil ...

that the lord-lieutenant became more senior than the high sheriff. Since then the position of high sheriff has become more

ceremonial A ceremony (, ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin, via the Latin '' caerimonia''. Church and civil (secular ...

, with many of its previous responsibilities transferred to High Court judges,

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judic ...

coroner A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death, and to investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within the coroner's jur ...

s, local authorities and the

police The police are a Law enforcement organization, constituted body of Law enforcement officer, persons empowered by a State (polity), state, with the aim to law enforcement, enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citize ...

. This is a list of sheriffs and high sheriffs of Essex. Prior to 1567 the Sheriff of Essex was also the

Sheriff of Hertfordshire The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire was an ancient Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the foundation of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. On 1 April 1974, under the provisio ...

List of sheriffs

Edmund I

*939 AD: Hugh De Lytton, Sheriff of Litton Parish"Lytton Historical Society"

William I, William II, Henry I, Stephen

* 1067–1070: Jacque de Buckland * Robert FitzWimarc * Swein"Domesday Book Online" * ?-1072 Ilbert * 1072–c1086

Peter de Valognes Peter de Valognes (1045-1110) was a Norman noble who became a great landowner in England following the Norman Conquest. Land holdings Between 1070 and 1076 Peter de Valognes was granted lands in the six counties of Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshir ...

* Edward de Saresburg * Stephen * 1129 William of Eynesford * 1130

Richard Basset Richard Basset (died between 1135 and 1144) was a royal judge and sheriff during the reign of King Henry I of England. His father was also a royal justice. In about 1122 Basset married the eventual heiress of another justice; the marriage settle ...

* 1139 Alberie de Vere II, and

, Justices of England * 1140-1142 Geoffrey de Mandeville * 1147 Maurice

Henry II

*1155

, Alberie de Vere *1156-57

Richard de Luci Richard de Luci (or Lucy; 1089 – 14 July 1179) was first noted as High Sheriff of Essex, after which he was made Chief Justiciar of England. Biography His mother was Aveline, the niece and heiress of William Goth. In the charter for Sées Ca ...

*1158-63 Maurice de Tiretie *1164 Fuelle de Bovilla *1165-68 Nicolas the Dean *1169 Nicolas the Clerk *1170-81 Robert de Mancell *1182-88 Otho, the son of William

Richard I

*1189-90 Otho, the son of William *1191 Geoffrey, the son of Peter *1192-93 Geoffrey, the son of Peter & Richard Heriet *1193

Simon of Pattishall Simon of Pattishall (or Pateshull) (died 1217) was an English judge and civil servant who is considered the first Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. Life The first appearance of Pattishall in the records was in 1190, where he served as the eschea ...

*1194 Geoffrey, the son of Peter &

*1195

William Longchamp William de Longchamp (died 1197) was a medieval Lord Chancellor, Chief Justiciar, and Bishop of Ely in England. Born to a humble family in Normandy, he owed his advancement to royal favour. Although contemporary writers accused Longchamp's fa ...

*1196 William Pointell *1197-98

Hugh de Neville Hugh de Neville (died 1234) was the Chief Forester under the kings Richard I, John and Henry III of England; he was the sheriff for a number of counties. Related to a number of other royal officials as well as a bishop, Neville was a me ...

John

*1199-1200 Hugh de Nevill *1201-1203 Richard de Montfichet *1204 Hugh de Nevill *1205-1208 Matthew Mancel *1209-1213 Earl Alberie *1214 Matthew Mancel *1215 Robert Mancel

Henry III

*1216 Robert Mancel *1217-18 William Mancel *1219-20 Walter de Verdon *1221-22 Stephen de Segne *1223 Richard d’Argenton *1224-27 William de Cultwarden *1228-31 William de Coleworth *1232 Robert de Waltham *1233 William de Holewell *1234-35 William de Coleworth *1236-37 Peter de Thany *1238 Peter de Thany * Richard de Gray *1239

Bertram de Criol Sir Bertram de Criol (Criel, Crioill, Cyroyl, or Kerrial, etc.) (died 1256) was a senior and trusted Steward and diplomat to King Henry III. He served as Constable and Keeper of Dover Castle, Keeper of the Coast and of the Cinque Ports, Keeper o ...

*1240 John de Watton *1241 John de Watton *1242-44 Richard de Montfichet *1245 Richard de Montfichet *1246-49 William son of Reynald *1250 Richard de Whitland *1251-53 Hery de Helegeton *1254-55 Ralph de Arderne *1256 Thomas Rameden * Robert Delval *1257-58 Hubert de Montecampo *1259-60 Richard de Thany *1261-62 Mathias Delamar * William Delamar *1263 Mathias Delamar * William Delamar * John Bocking *1264 Nicholas de Espigornel *1265-66 Richard de Suchirch *1267 Richard de Suchirch * Richard de Herlawe *1268 John de Canimill *1269 Walter de Blummil *1270-71 Walter de Essex

Edward I

*1272-1273 Walter de Essex *1274 Thomas de Sandwie *1275-1277 Lawrence de Scaccario *1278 William de Sancto-Claro *1279-1283 Reginald de Ginge *1284 Reginald de Ginge *1285 William de Lambourn *1286 Hugh le Blunt *1287 Hugh le Blunt *1288-1289 Ralph Boxted *1290 Henry Grapinel *1291 Henry Grapinel *1292 (May–Dec) John Grapinel (Carbonel) *1292 (Dec)-1293 William de Grosse *1294-1296 William de Sutton *1297-1298 Simon de Bradenham *1299-1300 John de Lee *1301 William de Harpenden *1302 John de Wenegrave *1303 John de Bassingbourne *1304 John de la Lee *1305 John de la Lee * John de Bassingbourne *1306 John de Harpesfeld

Edward II

*1307 Edward de Baud *1308-09 Alan de Goldingham *1310 Geoffrey de la Lee *1311 John de la Lee *1312 John Aygnel *1313 John Ward *1314-17

Richard de Perrers Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...

*1318 John de Doure *1319 Ralph de Gifford *1320 John de Doure *1321 Nicholas Engain *1322-23 Thomas Gobyn *1324-26

Edward III

*1327 William Baud *1328-29

*1330–31 John de Wanton *1332 John de Hay *1333–1334 Adam Bloy * William Boyd *1334-39 Sir John de Coggeshall *1340 William Atemore *1341 Richard de Monte Caviso *1342 Henry Garnet *1343-46 Sir John de Coggeshall *1347 Sir John de Coggeshall * Peter de Boxted *1348 William Bret * Humphrey de Walden *1349 Peter de Boxted *1350 Thomas Lacy *1351-53 Sir John de Coggeshall *1354 Hugh Fitz-Simon *1355 William de Enefeld *1356-57 Thomas de Chabham *1358-59 Roger de Louth *1360 Hugh Blount *1361 William de Lyre *1362 Guy de Boys *1363 Thomas Fitling *1364 John Jernoun *1365 Thomas de Helpeston *1366 John Oliver *1367 John Oliver * John Shardelon *1368 John Henxtworth *1369 John Henxtworth * Roger Keterich *1370 Thomas de Bassingbourn *1371 William Baud *1372 John de Bampton *1373 John Filiol *1374 Edward Fitz-Simons *1375 John Battaile *1376 Robert Fitz-William

Richard II

*1377 Robert Goldington *1378 Sir John Fitz-Symond of

North Shoebury North Shoebury (once known as Shoebury Parva and Little Shoebury) is a suburb of the city of Southend-on-Sea, in the City of Southend-on-Sea, in the ceremonial county of Essex, England. North Shoebury was once an ecclesiastical parish. The 1870 ...

, Essex *1379

Edward Benstede Edward is an English language, English given name. It is derived from the Old English, Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements ''wikt:ead#Old English, ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and ''wikt:weard#Old English, weard'' "gua ...

of Bennington, Hertfordshire *1380 John Sewale *1381 Walter Godmaston *1382 Geoffrey de Dersham *1383 Thomas Bataill of Otes in

High Laver High Laver is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. The parish is noted for its association with the philosopher John Locke. History High Laver is historically a rural agricultural parish, pred ...

, Essex *1384 John Walton *1385 Geoffrey Brockhole *1386-87

John Ruggewyn John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Seco ...

of Standon, Hertfordshire *1388 Henry English of Wood Ditton, Cambridgeshire *1388 (Dec to Jan) Sir Robert Swinburne of Little Horkesley and Matching, Essex *1389 Sir Walter Attelee of Albury, Hertfordshire *1390 Geoffrey Michale *1391 Sir William Coggleshall of Codham Hall and Coggeshall, Essex (1st term) *1392 Adam Frances *1393 Thomas Coggeshall *1394 Thomas Sampkin *1395-97 William Bateman *1398 Sir Robert Turk of Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Henry IV

*1399 (Aug–Sep)

John Doreward John Doreward (died 1420) was a Serjeant-at-law and Speaker of the House of Commons of England. Early life Outside the affairs of parliament, little is known of Doreward. He was apparently the son of William Doreward of Bocking, Essex who was ...

of Bocking, Essex *1399 (Sep-Nov) Robert Tey of Marks Tey, Essex *1399

of Bennington, Hertfordshire *1400

Sir John Howard ''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as p ...

of Stansted Mountfichet (1st term) *1401 Sir William Marney of

Layer Marney Layer Marney is a village and civil parish near to Tiptree, in the Colchester borough, in the county of Essex, England. Layer Marney has a Tudor palace called Layer Marney Tower and a church called Church of St Mary the Virgin. In 2001 the pop ...

, Essex *1402 Helming Leget of Black Notley, Essex *1403 Sir Thomas Swinbourn of Little Horkesley and East Mersea, Essex *1404 Sir William Coggleshall of Codham Hall and Coggeshall, Essex (2nd term) *1405

of Bennington, Hertfordshire *1406 Sir Gerard Braybrooke of Danbury, Essex *1407 Helming Leget of Black Notley, Essex *1408 William Loveney *1409 John Walden *1410 Thomas Aston *1411 Sir William Coggleshall of Codham Hall and Coggeshall, Essex (3rd term)

Henry V

*1412 Philip Englefield *1413 Sir John Tyrell of Heron (1st term) *1414

of Stansted Mountfichet (2nd term) *1415 Sir Thomas de la Barre of Ayot St. Lawrence *1416 Lewis John of West Horndon *1417 Reginald Malyns *1418

of Stansted Mountfichet (3rd term) *1419 Robert Darcy of Maldon, Essex

Henry VI

*1420-21 Lewis John of West Horndon *1422 Sir John Tyrrell of Heron (2nd term) *1423 Sir Maurice Brewyn of South Okington (1st term) *1424 John Barley of Albury, Hertfordshire *1425 John Doreward of Bocking *1426 Conand Aske *1427 Thomas Tyrell of Heron *1428 John Hotoft of

Knebworth Knebworth is a village and civil parish in the north of Hertfordshire, England, immediately south of Stevenage. The civil parish covers an area between the villages of Datchworth, Woolmer Green, Codicote, Kimpton, Whitwell, St Paul's Walden ...

*1429 Nicholas Richbull *1430 Henry Langley of Rickling *1431 Sir Nicholas Thorley *1432 John Durward *1433 Robert Whytingham of Pendley *1434 Geoffrey Rockyll *1435 Sir Maurice Brewyn of South Okington (2nd term) *1436 Edward Tyrell *1437 Richard Alrede *1438 Robert Whytingham *1439 Richard Witherton *1440 Thomas Tyrell *1441 Ralph Asteley *1442 Nicholas Morley of Hallingbury *1443 John Hende, the elder (d.1461) *1444 Thomas Tyrell of Heron *1445 Thomas Pigott *1446 Thomas Baud of Hadham Hall *1447 John Hende, the elder (d.1461) *1448 George Langham *1449 Geoffrey Rockhill *1450 Philip Boteler of Watton *1451 Thomas Barrington *1452 John Godmanston *1453 Sir Thomas Cobham *1454 Humphrey Bohun *1455 Ralph Bothe *1456 John Hende, the younger (d.1464) *1457 Lewis John *1458 Robert Darcy of Danbury *1459 Thomas Tyrell of Heron

Edward IV

*1460 Thomas Ince *1461-62 Thomas Langley *1463 Sir John Clay *1464 Roger Ree *1465 Sir Lawrence Raynsford *1466 Henry Barley *1467 Sir William Pirton *1468 Walter Writell *1469 Ralph Baud - Hadham Hall *1470 Walter Writell *1471 Sir Roger Ree *1472 Alured Cornburgh *1473 John Sturgeon - Hitchin *1474 Richard Flance *1475 Henry Langley *1476 William Green *1477 Alured Cornburgh *1478 John Wode *1479 John Sturgeon - Hitchin *1480 Thomas Tyrell - Heron *1481 John Fortescue *1482 William Say - Broxbourne

Edward V

*1483 William Say - Broxbourne

Richard III

*1483-84 Sir William Say - Broxbourne *1485 John Sturgeon Esq of Hitchin

Henry VII

*1486 (half the year) Sir Robert Percy *1486 Sir John Fortescue, Kt of Hatfield *1487 Henry Marney *1488 Sir William Pyrton *1489 Henry Tey *1490 John Boteler of Watton *1491 Robert Turbeville *1492 John Berfeild *1493 Henry Marney (2nd term) *1494 Sir Richard Fitz-Lewis of West Horndon *1495 Richard Plomer *1496 William Pulter of Hitchin *1497 Robert Newport of Pelham *1498 Thomas Peryent of Digswell *1499 Sir John Verney of Pendley *1500 Sir Roger Wentworth of Codham Hall *1501 Sir Henry Tye *1502 William Pyrton *1503 Humphrey Tyrell of Heron *1504-05 William Skipworth of St Albans *1506 Roger Darcy *1507-08 John Brocket of Hatfield *1509 Humphrey Tyrell of Heron

Henry VIII

*1510 John Leventhorpe - Shingey Hall *1511 William Lytton - Knebworth *1512 Anthony Darcy - Danbury *1513 Edward Tyrell - Heron *1514 John Seyntclere *1515 William Fitz-William *1516 Sir John Vere *1517 Thomas Bonham *1518 Sir Thomas Tyrell - Heron *1519 Sir John Cutts *1520 Sir John Vere *1521 Thomas Bonham of Stanway, Essex *1522 Sir Thomas Tey *1523 John Christmas *1524

Henry Barley Henry Barley or Barlee (1487 – 12 November 1529), of Albury, Hertfordshire, was a Member of Parliament during the Tudor period. Family Henry Barley, born about 1487, was the son of William Barley (1451–1521) of Albury, Hertfordshire, and E ...

of Albury, Hertfordshire *1525 Sir John Vere *1526 Thomas Leventhorpe - Shingey Hall *1527 Thomas Bonham of Stanway, Essex *1528 Edward Tyrell - Heron *1529 Sir Giles Capel - Hadham Hall *1530 John Bowles - Wellington *1531 John Brocket - Hatfield *1532 John Smith *1533 Sir Philip Boteler - Watton *1534 Sir

Brian Tuke Sir Brian Tuke (died 1545) was the secretary of Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey. He became treasurer of the household. Life He may have been the son of Richard Tuke (died 1498?) and Agnes his wife, daughter of John Bland of Nottinghamshire. The ...

- Hatfield *1535 Sir William West *1536 Thomas Peryent - Digswell *1537 Sir Henry Parker of Furneux Pelham, Hertfordshire *1538 Sir John Raynsford of Bradfield, Essex *1539 John Smith *1540 Sir Philip Boteler - Watton *1541 Sir John Mordaunt of West Horndon, Essex *1542 Ralph Rowlet - St Albans *1543 John Bowles - Wellington * John Sewster *1544 John Wentworth *1545 Anthony Cooke of Gidea Hall, Essex *1546 Robert Lytton - Knebworth *1547 John Conyngsby - North Mimms

Edward VI

*1547

Edward Brocket Edward Brocket (1490/91–1558/69), of Broadfield, Hertfordshire, Broadfield and Letchworth, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. He was a Member of Parliament, Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Hertfordshire (UK Parliament const ...

of Hatfield *1548 John Cock of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire *1549 Sir John Gates - Cheshunt *1550 Sir George Norton *1551 Sir Henry Tyrell - Heron *1552 Sir Thomas Pope - Tittenhanger

Mary

*1553 Sir John Wentworth

Philip & Mary

*1554 Edward Brocket of Hatfield *1555 William Harris of Cricksea *1556 Sir John Boteler of Watton-at-Stone *1557 Sir Thomas Pope of Tittenhanger *1558

Thomas Mildmay Sir Thomas Mildmay (ca. 1540–1608) was an English courtier and politician. He was born the eldest son of Thomas Mildmay (before 1515–1566), educated at Christ's College, Cambridge and entered Lincoln's Inn in 1559. Walter Mildmay was his ...

of Moulsham

Elizabeth

*1559

Ralph Rowlett Sir Ralph Rowlett (by 1513 – 20 April 1571), of Holywell House, St Albans, Hertfordshire, was an English politician. He was the eldest son of Ralph Rowlett of London and St Albans by his first wife Jane Knight. He succeeded his merchant f ...

of Holywell House, St Albans, Hertfordshire *1560 Edward Capel - Hadham Hall *1561 Sir Thomas Golding *1562 Sir Thomas Barrington *1563 Henry Fortescue of Faulkbourne *1564 William Ayloffe *1565 Robert Chester - Royston *1566 John Brocket of

Brocket Hall Brocket Hall is a neo-classical country house set in a large park at the western side of the urban area of Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, England. The estate is equipped with two golf courses and seven smaller listed buildings, apart fro ...

, Hatfield, Hertfordshire

1567–1600

* ''From 1567 Sheriffs were Sheriffs of Essex only''

1601–1700

1701–1800

1801–1900

1901–1973

List of high sheriffs

1974–1999

2000–present

Notes

References

*''Whitaker's Almanack'', various editions. *''London Gazette'', annual announcements {{High Shrievalties

Local government in Essex High Sheriffs of Essex High Sheriffs of Essex