High Sheriff of Devon
Encyclopedia
The High Sheriff of Devon is the Queen's representative for the County of Devon
, a territory known as his bailiwick
. Selected from three nominated people, he holds his office over the duration of a year. He has judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court Writs.
is the oldest under the crown. It is over 1000 years old, with its establishment before the Norman Conquest. It remained first in precedence in the counties, 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. Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972
, on 1 April 1974 the office previously known as Sheriff was retitled High Sheriff
. The High Sheriff remains the Sovereign
's representative in the County for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, a territory known as his bailiwick
Bailiwick
A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and may also apply to a territory in which the sheriff's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a royal or imperial writ. The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of...
. Selected from three nominated people, he holds his office over the duration of a year. He has judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court Writs.
History
The office of SheriffHigh Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
is the oldest under the crown. It is over 1000 years old, with its establishment before the Norman Conquest. It remained first in precedence in the counties, 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. Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, on 1 April 1974 the office previously known as Sheriff was retitled High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
. The High Sheriff remains the Sovereign
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
's representative in the County for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.
Sheriffs of Devon
- Heche
- 1068-1096: Baldwin de Moeles (or de Brionne)
- 1135-1137: Richard filius Baldwin (Richard fitz Baldwin)
- 1137-1142: Adelise (Alice) - wife of Richard fitz Baldwin
- 1142: Adelise (Alice)
- 1154–1157: Richard de Redvers, 2nd Earl of DevonRichard de Redvers, 2nd Earl of DevonRichard de Redvers, 2nd Earl of Devon was Earl of Devon from 1155 until his death. He married Denise, one of the daughters and coheiresses of Reginald, Earl of Cornwall. He was High Sheriff of Devon from 1154–1157....
- 1157-1160: William de Boterellis
- 1161–1167: Hugh de Ralegh
- 1167–1172: Robert filius Bernardi
- 1173–1174: Reginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of CornwallReginald de Dunstanville, 1st Earl of CornwallReginald de Dunstanville , Earl of Cornwall , High Sheriff of Devon, Earl of Cornwall, was an illegitimate son of Henry I of England and Lady Sybilla Corbet.Reginald had been invested with the Earldom of Cornwall by King...
- 1175: William Rufus
- 1177–1179: Hugh de Gundevilla
- 1179–1189: William BriewereWilliam Brewer (justice)William Brewer was a prominent administrator and justice in England during the reigns of Richard I, King John, and Henry III...
- 1193-1195: Sir Richard ReynoldsRichard Reynell (knight)Sir Richard Reynell or Reynolds, of Pyttney or Peteneya , in the county of Somerset, flourished in the reigns of Henry II and Richard I....
with Henry de Furneaux - 1195–1197: Henry de Furneaux
- 1198: William of WrothamWilliam of WrothamWilliam of Wrotham or William de Wrotham was a medieval English royal administrator and clergyman. Although a 13th-century source says that William held a royal office under King Henry II of England , the first contemporary reference to William is in 1197, when he was put in charge of the royal...
- 1199: Hugh BardulfHugh BardulfHugh Bardulf or Hugh Bardolf was a medieval English administrator and royal justice. Known for his legal expertise, he also served as a financial administrator. He served three kings of England before his death....
- 1200: William BriewereWilliam Brewer (justice)William Brewer was a prominent administrator and justice in England during the reigns of Richard I, King John, and Henry III...
- 1200: Ralph Morin
- 1202–1208: William BriewereWilliam Brewer (justice)William Brewer was a prominent administrator and justice in England during the reigns of Richard I, King John, and Henry III...
with Ralph de Mora - 1209–1215: Robert de Veteri PonteRobert de VieuxpontRobert de Vieuxpont or Robert de Veteriponte was an Anglo-Norman landowner and administrator in the north of England.He was born the younger son of William de Vieuxpont and his wife Maud de Morville....
replaced by Eudo de Bello Campo - 1215: Henry de la Pomeray
- 1215: Robert de Erlegh
- 1217: William, Earl of Salisbury
- 1218: Robert de Alba Mara
- 1218: Robert de Curtenai
- 1222: Walter le Poer
- 1224: William Brewer the younger/ Roger de Langeford
- 1225: William de Ralega
- 1228: Roger la Zouch
- 1229: Adam de Cerne
- 1230: Ranulph de Cerne
- 1231: Thomas de Cyrencestria/ Thomas de la Wyle
- 1232: Thomas de la Wyle
- 1233: Robert de Vallibus, Richard de Langeford
- 1234: Peter de Russell
- 1234: Nicholas de MoelsNicholas de MoelsNicholas de Moels was a medieval Norman administrator in Somerset.He was born about 1195. He married, as her 2nd. husband, Hawise de Newmarch, younger daughter & co-heiress of James de Newmarch feudal baron of North Cadbury, Somerset, in about 1224...
- 1236–1249: Walter of Bath
- 1250–1251: Walter of Bathond
- 1252: Rad'us de Wilton
- 1253–1255: William of Englefeurd
- 1256–1257: Gerald de Horton and Henry de Horton (son of Gerald)
- 1258–1259: William de Curcensay
- 1260–1261: Rad'us Lodescomb
- 1262–1269: Rad'us de Esse
- 1270: William de Bikels
- 1272–1273: Thomas Delpin
- 1276: Matthew de Eggleshill
- 1277: Thomas Delpin
- 1278–1279: Warenus de Sechevile
- 1280–1285: Thomas Delpin
- 1286: William de Munketun and Roger de Ingepen
- 1287: Robert de Wodton
- 1288–1291: Matthew son of John
- 1292: Matthew and Thomas
- 1293–1301: Gilbert de Knovill