The High Sheriff of Essex was an ancient sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Sheriff of Essex was retitled High Sheriff of Essex."Sheriffs appointed for a county or Greater London shall be known as high sheriffs, and any reference in any enactment or instrument to a sheriff shall be construed accordingly in relation to sheriffs for a county or Greater London." () The high shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown in England and Wales, their purpose being to represent the monarch at a local level, historically in the shires.
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 that the lord-lieutenant became more senior than the high sheriff. Since then the position of high sheriff has become more ceremonial, with many of its previous responsibilities transferred to High Court judges, magistrates, coroners, local authorities and the police.
This is a list of sheriffs and high sheriffs of Essex. Prior to 1567 the Sheriff of Essex was also the Sheriff of Hertfordshire.
List of joint sheriffs 939 AD: Hugh De Lytton, Sheriff of Litton Parish"Lytton Historical Society" c.1042–1049: Leofeild 1067–1070: Jacque de Buckland Robert FitzWimarc Swein"Domesday Book Online" Ralph Baignard ?-1072 Ilbert 1072–c.1086 Peter de Valognes"English Historical Review" Edward de Saresburg Stephen 1129 William of Eynesford 1130 Richard Basset 1139 Alberie de Vere II, and Richard Basset, Justices of England 1140-1142 Geoffrey de Mandeville 1147 MauriceThe Medieval English Sheriff, p.106 1155 Richard Basset, Alberie de Vere
List of sheriffs of Essex and Hertfordshire Henry II 1156-57 Richard de Luci 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 1194 Geoffrey, the son of Peter & Simon of Pattishall 1195 William Longchamp 1196 William Pointell 1197-98 Hugh de Neville
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 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 1318 John de Doure 1319 Ralph de Gifford 1320 John de Doure 1321 Nicholas Engain 1322-23 Thomas Gobyn 1324-26 Richard de Perrers
Edward III 1327 William Baud 1328-29 Richard de Perrers 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 Gernon 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, Essex 1379 Edward Benstede of Bennington, Hertfordshire 1380 John Sewale 1381 Walter Godmaston 1382 Geoffrey de Dersham 1383 Thomas Bataill of Otes in High Laver, Essex 1384 John Walton 1385 Geoffrey Brockhole 1386-87 John Ruggewyn 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 of Bocking, Essex 1399 (Sep-Nov) Robert Tey of Marks Tey, Essex 1399 Edward Benstede of Bennington, Hertfordshire 1400 Sir John Howard of Stansted Mountfichet (1st term) 1401 Sir William Marney of Layer Marney, 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 Edward Benstede 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 Sir John Howard 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 Sir John Howard 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 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 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 – 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 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 of Moulsham
Elizabeth 1559 Ralph Rowlett 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, Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Sheriffs of Essex From 1567 Sheriffs were Sheriffs of Essex only. 1567–1600
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
Bibliography (with amendments of 1963, Public Record Office)