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This Project documents associated Geni profiles for the office of High Sheriff of Lancaster. Period covered is 1284-1850.
This project is on History Link
Overview
The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient officer, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales. The High Sheriff of Lancashire is the representative of the monarch in the county, and is the "Keeper of The Queen's Peace" in the county, executing judgements of the High Court of Justice|High Court through an Under Sheriff.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the High Sheriff was a powerful political position; the sheriffs were responsible for the maintenance of Law and order (politics)|law and order and various other roles. Some of its powers were relinquished in 1547 as the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire was instated to deal with military duties.
The sheriff conventionally serves for a term of a year, with the term of office starting in March. Unlike other counties, the honour in Lancashire is bestowed by the monarch in their role as Duke of Lancaster, by pricking the Lites.
History of High Sheriffs
see High Sheriff of Cheshire Project in "related projects."
Lancashire
Lancashireis a Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|non-metropolitan county of Historic counties of England|historic origin in the North West England|North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster.
History
The history of Lancashire is thought to have begun with its founding in the 12th century. In the Domesday Book (1086), some of its lands had been treated as part of Yorkshire. The area in between the rivers River Mersey|Mersey and River Ribble|Ribble (referred to in the Domesday Book as "Inter Ripam et Mersam") formed part of the returns for Cheshire. The county was established in 1182. Once its initial boundaries were established, it bordered Cumberland, Westmorland, Yorkshire and Cheshire.
Lancashire emerged during the Industrial Revolution as a major commercial and industrial region. The county encompassed several hundred mill towns and collieries. By the 1830s, approximately 85% of all cotton manufactured worldwide was processed in Lancashire.
People and Stories
from: People & Stories: 'High Sherrifs of Lancashire'
Adorning the walls of the Shire Hall Lancaster Castle are the coats of arms of those who have served in the office of Sheriff (later High Sheriff) in the County. For many years Lancashire tended to be allotted to the Sheriff of Northumberland, and it was not until 1181/82 that tax records for Lancashire were listed separately by the exchequer.
List of High Sheriffs
This page lists persons to have held the position, and is divided by sovereign state and Royal house.
Part of the Kingdom of England
House of Plantagenet
- 1154-1160 Bertram de Bulmer
- 1160-1162 Geoffrey de Valoignes
- 1162-1166 Sir Bertram de Bulmer
- 1166-1170 William de Vesci
- 1170-1173 Roger de Herleberga
- 1173-1174 Renulph de Glanville
- 1174-1185 Ralph FitzBernard
- 1185-1185 Hugo Pipard
- 1185-1188 Gilbert Pipard
- 1188-1189 Peter Pipard
- 1189-1194 Richard de Vernon
- 1194-1194 Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler
- 1194-1196 Benedict Gernet, of Caton
- 1196-1198 Robert Vavasour
- 1198-1198 Nicholas le Boteler
- 1198-1199 Stephen of Thornham
- 1199-1200 Robert de Tateshall
- 1200-1204 Richard de Vernon
- 1204-1205 Vernon family|Sir William Vernon
- 1205-1215 Gilbert FitzReinfrid of Kendal
- 1205-1215 Adam FitzRoger of Yealand
- 1215-1216 Reginald de Cornehill
- 1216-1217 Ranulph de Blundevill
- 1217-1222 Jordan FitzRoger
- 1223-1223 Stepehen de Segrave
- 1223-1226 Robert de Montjoy
- 1226-1227 William Ferrers
- 1227-1228 Gerard Etwell
- 1228-1232 Sir Adam de Yealand
- 1232-1232 Peter de Rivaux
- 1232-1233 William de Lancaster
- 1233-1234 Gilbert de Wyteby
- 1234-1240 Simon de Thornton
- 1240-1241 John de Lancaster
- 1241-1245 Robert de Waterfal
- 1245-1246 Richard de Boteler
- 1246-1247 Sir Matthew de Redmayne
- 1247-1255 Sir Robert de Lathum
- 1255-1259 Sir Patrick de Ulvesby
- 1259-1259 Sir William le Boteler
- 1259-1261 Sir Geoffrey de Chetham
- 1261-1264 Sir Adam de Monalto
- 1264-1267 Roger de Lancaster
- 1267-1269 Edmund, 1st Earl of Lancaster
- 1269-1270 Sir Richard le Boteler
- 1270-1272 John de Cansfield
- 1272-1274 Sir Ranulph de Dacre
- 1274-1284 Sir Henry de Lea
- 1284-1290 Gilbert de Clifton
- 1291-1298 Sir Ralph de Montjoy
- 1298-1298 Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster
- 1298-1301 Richard de Hoghton
- 1301-1307 Sir Thomas Travers
- 1307-1309 William Gentyl
- 1309-1315 Sir Ralph de Bickerstath
- 1315-1317 Sir Edmund de Neville
- 1317-1320 Sir Henry de Malton
- 1320-1322 William Gentyl the younger
- 1322-1323 Robert de Leyburn
- 1323-1323 John Darcy
- 1323-1326 Sir Gilbert de Southworth
- 1326-1327 Sir Geoggrey de Warburton
- 1327-1327 Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster
- 1327-1328 John de Burghton
- 1328-1329 John de Hamburg
- 1329-1332 Sir John de Denum
- 1332-1335 Robert Foucher
- 1335-1336 William de Clapham
- 1336-1337 Sir William le Blount
- 1337-1342 Robert de Radcliffe
- 1342-1344 Sir John le Blount
- 1344-1345 Stephen de Ireton
- 1345-1345 Henry, 1st Duke of Lancaster
- 1345-1350 John Cockayne
- 1350-1358 Sir William Scargill
- 1358-1359 William de Radcliffe
- 1359-1361 Nicholas de Coleshill
- 1361-1361 Sir John de Ipres
- 1361-1362 Adam de Hoghton
- 1362-1371 John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster
- 1371-1371 Richard de Radcliffe
- 1371-1374 Sir John de Boteler
- 1374-1377 Richard Towneley
- 1377-1384 Sir Nicholas Harrington
- 1384-1387 Sir Ralph de Radcliffe
- 1387-1392 Robert de Standish
- 1392-1397 Sir John de Boteler
- 1397-1399 Richard Molyneux
House of Lancaster
- 1399-1399 Sir Richard de Hoghton
- 1399-1401 Sir Thomas Gerard
- 1401-1404 Sir John de Boteler
- 1404-1405 Sir Ralph Radcliffe
- 1405-1406 John Boteler
- 1406-1411 Sir John Bold
- 1411-1415 Sir Ralph Stanley
- 1415-1416 Sir Robert de Urswyk
- 1416-1418 Nicholas de Longford
- 1418-1422 Sir Robert Lawrence
- 1423-1426 Richard Radcliffe
- 1426-1449 Sir John Byron
- 1449-1461 Nicholas Byron
House of York
- 1461-1462 John Broughton
- 1462-1464 Sir John Assheton
- 1464-1465 John Pilkington
- 1465-1466 Thomas Pilkington
- 1466-1473 Sir Robert Urswick
- 1473-1480 Thomas Molyneux
- 1480-1485 Sir Thomas Pilkington
House of Tudor
- 1485-1497 Sir Edward Stanley
- 1497-1524 Lawrence Starkie
- 1524 Sir William Molyneux
- 1526 Henry Farington
- 1527 Sir William Leylond
- 1528 Sir Alexander Osbaldestone
- 1529 Sir Richard Assheton
- 1531 Sir Henry Farington
- 1532 Sir John Towneley
- 1533 Sir Edmund Trafford
- 1534 Sir Thomas Langton
- 1535 Sir Thomas Boteler
- 1536 Thomas Shireburne
- 1536 Hugh Adlington
- 1537 Sir Thomas Halsall
- 1538-1540 John Holcroft
- 1540 Sir William Laylond
- 1541 Sir Richard Hoghton
- 1542 Sir Thomas Southworth
- 1543 John Holcroft
- 1544 Sir Marmaduke Tunstall
- 1545 Sir William Norris
- 1546 Sir Thomas Holcroft
- 1547 Sir Alexander Radcliffe
- 1548 Sir Thomas Gerard
- 1549 Sir Robert Worsley
- 1550 Sir Peter Legh
- 1551 Sir John Atherton
- 1552 Sir Thomas Talbot
- 1553 Sir Thomas Gerard
- 1554 Sir Marmaduke Tunstall
- 1555 Sir John Atherton
- 1556 Sir Thomas Langton
- 1557 Sir Edmund Trafford
- 1558 Sir Thomas Gerard
- 1559 John Talbot
- 1560 Sir Robert Worsley
- 1561 Sir John Atherton
- 1562 Sir John Southworth
- 1563 Sir Thomas Hesketh
- 1564 Thomas Hoghton
- 1565 Sir Edmund Trafford
- 1566 Sir Richard Molyneux
- 1567 Sir Thomas Langton
- 1568 Edward Holland
- 1569 John Preston
- 1570 Thomas Boteler
- 1571 Edmund Trafford
- 1572 Sir John Byron Jr|John Byron of Royton.
- 1573 Richard Holland
- 1574 William Booth
- 1575 Francis Holt
- 1576 Richard Bold
- 1577 Robert Dalton
- 1578 John Fleetwood
- 1579 Ralph Assheton
- 1580 Sir Edmund Trafford
- 1581 Sir John Byron
- 1582 Richard Holland
- 1583 John Atherton
- 1584 Sir Edmund Trafford
- 1585 Thomas Preston
- 1586 Richard Assheton
- 1587 John Fleetwood
- 1588 Thomas Talbot
- 1589 Sir Richard Molyneux
- 1590 Richard Bold
- 1591 James Assheton
- 1592 Edward Fytton
- 1593 Richard Assheton
- 1594 Ralph Assheton
- 1595 Thomas Talbot
- 1596 Richard Holland
- 1597 Sir Richard Molyneux
- 1598 Richard Assheton
- 1599 Sir Richard Hoghton
- 1600 Robert Hesketh
- 1601 Cuthbert Halsall
- 1602 Sir Edmund Trafford
- 1603 John Ireland
House of Stuart
- 1604 Sir Nicholas Mosley
- 1605 Ralph Barton
- 1606 Edmund Fleetwood
- 1607 Sir Richard Assheton
- 1608 Robert Hesketh
- 1609 Sir Edmund Trafford
- 1610 Roger Nowell
- 1611 611 John Fleming
- 1612 Sir Cuthbert Halsall
- 1613 Robert Bindlosse
- 1614 Richard Shireburne
- 1615 Edward Stanley
- 1616 Rowland Mosley
- 1617 Sir Edmund Trafford
- 1618 Richard Shuttleworth
- 1619 John Holt
- 1620 Leonard Ashawe
- 1621 Edmund More
- 1622 Sir Gilbert Ireland
- 1623 Sir George Booth
- 1624 Sir Ralph Assheton
- 1625 Edward Holland
- 1626 Roger Kirkbye
- 1627 Sir Edward Stanley
- 1628 Edmund Assheton
- 1629 Edward Rawsthorne
- 1630 Thomas Hesketh
- 1631 Richard Bold
- 1632 Nicholas Towneley
- 1633 Ralph Assheton
- 1634 Ralph Standish
- 1635 Sir Humphrey Chetham
- 1636 William Farington
- 1637 Richard Shuttleworth
- 1638 Roger Kirkbye
- 1639 Sir Edward Stanley
- 1640 Robert Holt
- 1641 Peter Egerton
- 1642 Sir John Girlington
- 1643 Sir Gilbert Hoghton
- 1644-1647 John Bradshawon
- 1648 Gilbert Ireland
Commonwealth
- 1649 John Hartley
- 1650 Edmund Hopwood
- 1651 Henry Wrigley
- 1652 Alexander Barlow
- 1653 John Parker
- 1654 Peter Bold
- 1635-1656 John Atherton
- 1656 John Starkie
- 1657 Hugh Cooper
- 1658 Sir Robert Bindlosse
- 1659 Sir Richard Hoghton
House of Stuart, restoration
- 1660 George Chetham
- 1661 Sir George Middleton
- 1663 John Girlington
- 1664 Thomas Preston
- 1665 William Spencer
- 1667 Sir John Ardene
- 1668 Thomas Greenhalgh
- 1670 Christopher Banastre
- 1671 Sir Henry Sclater
- 1672 Sir Robert Bindlosse
- 1674 Sir Peter Brooke
- 1675-1677 Alexander Butterworth of Belfield, Greater Manchester|Belfield, Butterworth (ancient township)|Butterworth
- 1677-1679 Alexander Rigby
- 1679 Sir Roger Bradshaigh
- 1680 William Johnson
- 1681 Lawrence Rawstane
- 1682-1684 Thomas Legh
- 1684 Peter Shakerley
- 1686-1688 William Spencer
- 1689 John Birch
- 1690 Peter Bold
- 1691 Alexander Rigby
- 1692 Francis Lindley
- 1693 Thomas Rigby
- 1694 Thomas Ashurst
- 1695 Richard Spencer
- 1696 Thomas Norreys
- 1697 Roger Mainwaring
- 1698 William West
- 1699 Robert Dukinfield
- 1700 Thomas Rigby
- 1701 William Hulme
- 1702 Roger Nowell
- 1703 Peter Egerton
- 1704 George Birch then Thomas Birch
- 1705 Richard Spencer
- 1706 Christopher Dauntesey
Part of the Kingdom of Great Britain
House of Stuart, restoration
- 1707 Edmund Cole
- 1708 Myles Sandys
- 1709 Roger Kirkby then Alexander Hesketh
- 1710 Robert Parker
- 1711 Sir Thomas Standish
- 1712 William Rawstorne
- 1713 Richard Valentine
- 1714 William Farington
House of Hanover
- 1715 Jonathan Blackburne
- 1716 Thomas Crispe
- 1717 Samuel Crooke
- 1718 Richard Norris
- 1719 Thomas Stanley
- 1720 Robert Mawdesley
- 1721 Benjamin Hoghton
- 1722 Benjamin Gregge
- 1723 Sir Edward Stanley
- 1724 William Tatham
- 1725 Miles Sandy
- 1726 Edmund Hopwood
- 1727 Daniel Wilson
- 1728 Joseph Yates
- 1729 William Greenhaigh
- 1730 James Chetham
- 1731 William Leigh
- 1732 John Parker
- 1733 John Greaves
- 1734 William Bushell
- 1735 Arthur Hamilton
- 1736 Sir James Darcy Lever
- 1737 Thomas Norton
- 1738 Samuel Chetham
- 1739 Sir Ralph Assheton
- 1740 Roger Hesketh
- 1741 Robert Dukinfield
- 1742 Robert Bankes
- 1743 John Blackburne
- 1744 Robert Radclyffe
- 1745 Daniel Willis
- 1746 William Shawe
- 1747 Samuel Birch
- 1748 George Clarke
- 1749 Rigby Molyneux
- 1750 Charles Stanley
- 1751 James Fenton
- 1752 Richard Townley of Belfield Hall, Butterworth
- 1753 John Bradshaw
- 1754 Thomas Hesketh
- 1755 Thomas Johnson
- 1756 James Barton
- 1757 James Bayley
- 1758 Robert Gibson
- 1759 Richard Whitehead
- 1760 Samuel Hilton
- 1761 Sir William Farington
- 1762 Thomas Braddyll
- 1763 Thomas Blackburn
- 1764 Sir William Horton
- 1765 John Walmesley
- 1766 Edward Gregge
- 1767 Alexander Butler
- 1768 Thomas Butterworth Bayley
- 1769 Doming Rasbotham
- 1770 Nicholas Ashton
- 1771 Sir Ashton Lever
- 1772 William Cunliffe Shawe
- 1773 Thomas Patten
- 1774 Geoffrey Hornby
- 1775 Sir Watts Horton
- 1776 Lawrence Rawsthorne
- 1777 Samuel Clowes
- 1778 Wilson Gale Braddyll
- 1779 John Clayton
- 1780 John Atherton
- 1781 John Blackburne
- 1782 Sir Frank Standish
- 1783 James Whalley
- 1784 William Bankes
- 1785 John Sparling
- 1786 Sir John Parker Mosley
- 1787 WilIiam Bamford
- 1788 Edward Falkner
- 1789 William Hulton
- 1790 Charles Gibson
- 1791 James Starky
- 1792 William Assheton
- 1793 Thomas Townley Parker
- 1794 Henry Philip Hoghton
- 1795 Robinson Shuttleworth
- 1796 Richard Gwillym
- 1797 Bold Fleetwood Hesketh
- 1798 John Entwistle
- 1799 Joseph Starkie
- 1800 James Ackers
Part of the United Kingdom
House of Hanover
- 1801 Sir Thomas Dalrymple Hesketh
- 1802 Robert Gregge Hopwood
- 1803 Isaac Blackburne
- 1804 Thomas Lister Parker
- 1805 Meyrick Holme Bankes
- 1806 Le Gendre Piers Starkie
- 1807 Richard Crosse Legh
- 1808 Thomas Clayton
- 1809 Samuel Clowes
- 1810 William Hulton; instigator of the Peterloo Massacre
- 1811 Samuel Chetham Hilton
- 1812 Edward Greave
- 1813 William Farington
- 1814 Lawrence Rawstorne
- 1815 Le Gendre Starkie
- 1816 William Townley
- 1817 Robert Townley Parker
- 1818 Joseph Feilden
- 1819 John Walmesley
- 1820 Robert Hesketh
- 1821 Thomas R. Gale Braddyll
- 1822 James Shuttleworth
- 1823 Thomas Green
- 1824 John Entwistle
- 1825 John Hargreaves
- 1826 James Penny Machell
- 1827 Charles Gibson
- 1828 Edmund Hornby
- 1829 Henry Bold Hoghton
- 1830 Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood|Peter Hesketh, of Rossall Hall
- 1831 Peregrine Edward Towneley, of Towneley|
- 1833 Sir John Gerard, 12th Baronet, of Garswood and New Hall
- 1834 Thomas de Trafford|Thomas Joseph Trafford, of Trafford Park (one of the first Roman Catholics appointed to public office after the repeal of the Test Acts)
- 1835 Thomas Clifton, of Lytham Hall
- 1836 Charles Standish, of Standish Hall
- 1837 Thomas Bright Crosse, of Shaw Hill
- 1838 William Blundell, of Crosby Hall
- 1839 Charles Scarisbrick, of Scarisbrick
- 1840 Thomas Fitzherbert Brockholes
- 1841 Sir Thomas Bernard Birch
- 1842 Thomas Robert Wilson France
- 1843 William Garnett
- 1844 John Fowden Hindle
- 1845 Pudsey Dawson, of Hornby Castle
- 1846 William Standish Standish, of Duxbury Park
- 1847 William Gale, of Lightburne House, Ulverstone
- 1848 Sir Thomas George Hesketh
- 1849 John Smith Entwistle
- 1850 Clement Royds, of Mount-falinge
Category:High Sheriffs of Lancashire| Category:History of Lancashire
References
- Burke, John, and John B. Burke. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, Ireland, and Scotland: 2. Ed. [illustr.]. London, 1841. read online
- Collins, Arthur -B. E. S. Collins's Peerage of England; Genealogical, Biographical, and Historical. , 1811. read online
- Johnson, R, Edward Kimber, and Thomas Wotton. The Baronetage of England: Containing a Genealogical and Historical Account of All the English Baronets Now Existing: with Their Descents, Marriages, .... Illustrated ... by E. Kimber and R. Johnson. London: printed for G. Woodfall, J. Fuller, E. Johnson, Hawes, Clarke and Collins, W. Johnston, and 11 others in London, 1771. Print. read online
- search the London Gazette
- The Peerage website
- High Sheriffs of Lancashire 1129-1947 at holtancestry.com
- A Vision of Britain through Time website: "Lancaster ancient divisions"
- "A Virtual History of Lancaster"
- High Sherrifs of Lancashire - People and Stories''