The High Sheriff of Louth was the Crown's representative for County Louth, a territory known as his bailiwick. Selected from three nominated people, he held his office for the duration of a year. He had judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs.
History The office of High Sheriff is the oldest under the British crown. It was established in Louth in 1227 and remained first in precedence in the county 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. In the United Kingdom, the High Sheriff remains the Sovereign's county representative for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order. The office of High Sheriff of Louth was abolished in 1922 when the Irish Free State became largely independent.
High Sheriffs of County Louth 1234: Ralph de PitchfordThe English in Louth, 1170–1330 1270–1272: John de Pitchford 1274: John de Baskervill 1275: Roger de Crumba 1281–1284: Nicholas de Netterville 1285–1291: William de Spineto 1287: Nicholas de Netterville 1291: Thomas de Stanley 1293: Richard Taaffe 1297: William de Hatch 1310: William Dowdall 1311: Richard Gernon (murdered) 1315: Richard Taaffe 1329: Geoffrey de Brandwade 1331: John Gernon 1346: James Audley 1355: John Clinton, or Clintoun (also Escheator for Louth) 1375: John Dowdall 1377: John Taaffe 1381: Peter Peppard 1385: Milo Haddesor 1386: George Telyng 1400: Thomas Talbot 1401: Walter Plunkett 1402: John Clynton of Keppock 1403: Sir John Bedilowe, Kt 1405: John Dowdall (killed) 1407: John Cusack 1408: John Cusack 1410: Walter Plunkett (second term) 1424: Sir James White 1425: Sir John Bellew, Kt 1426: John Bellew 1427: John Bellew 1440: Sir Nicholas Taaffe 1496: Patrick Plunkett 1497: Richard Plunkett 1499: John Gernon of Killencoole 1558: Edward Gernon of Gernonstown 1562: Sir John Bellew 1578: Roger Gernon or Garland 1593: Thomas Gernon 1594: Roger Gernon 1595: Rice Jones 1596: Rice Jones
17th century
18th century
19th century
20th century
References High Sheriffs 1361–1918