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 provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Sheriff of Hertfordshire was retitled High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.[1] 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 of the United Kingdom 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.
Below is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Hertfordshire.
Prior to 1567 the Sheriff of Essex was also the sheriff of Hertfordshire.
- Anno 9 Elizabeth : This County was severed from that of Essex, and found Sheriffs by themselves.
- Before 1567 see Sheriff of Essex
- 1567 Sir George Penruddock of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire
- 1568 Rowland Lytton – Knebworth
- 1569 Henry Coningsby – North Mimms
- 1570 William Doddes
- 1571 Edward Baeshe of Stanstead Abbots (1st term)
- 1572 George Horsey of Digswell
- 1573 Thomas Leventhorpe – Shingey Hall
- 1574 Henry Cocke of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire
- 1575 John Gill – Wyddial
- 1576 Thomas Bowles – Wallington
- 1577 Edmond Verney – Pendley
- 1578 Philip Boteler – Watton
- 1579 Charles Moryson – Cassiobury
- 1580 Thomas Docwray of Putteridge Bury
- 1581 Sir John Brocket – Hatfield
- 1582 Henry Coningsby – North Mimms
- 1583 Francis Heydon – The Grove, Watford
- 1584 Edward Baeshe of Stanstead Abbots (2nd term)
- 1585 Henry Capell of Hadham Hall
- 1586 Edward Pulter – Bradfield
- 1587 Thomas Leventhorpe
- 1588 Sir John Cutts
- 1589 Edmond Verney – Pendley
- 1590 Walter Mildmay – Pishiobury
- 1591 Thomas Hanchet
- 1592 Arthur Capel – Hadham Hall
- 1593 John Leventhorpe – Shingey Hall
- 1594 Rowland Lytton of Knebworth House
- 1595 Sir Thomas Sadleir of Standon
- 1596 Ralph Coningsby of North Mimms
- 1597 Richard Spencer of Offley
- 1598 Thomas Pope Blount – Tittenhanger
- 1599 Robert Chester – Royston
- 1600 Thomas Hanchet
- 1601 Thomas Bowles – Wallington
- 1602 Sir Edward Denny – Waltham Abbey
James I
- 1603 Sir Henry Boteler – Hatfield
- 1604 Sir George Peryent – Digswell
- 1605 Thomas Docwra – Putteridge Bury (son of Thomas, HS 1580)
- 1606 Sir Leonard Hide – Throcking
- 1607 Sir John Leventhorpe – Shingey Hall
- 1608 Nicholas Trott of Quickswood in Clothill
- 1609 Ralph Sadleir – Standon
- 1610 Sir Richard Anderson – Pendley
- 1611 Sir Robert Boteler – Watton
- 1612 John Wild –
- 1613 William Frankland of Rye House
- 1614 Sir Thomas Dacres, snr of Cheshunt (died 1615) then (Aug–Nov) Thomas Dacres jnr of Cheshunt
- 1615 Sir Goddard Pemberton of Hertingfordbury (died August 1616)
- 1616 Lewis Pemberton – St Albans
- 1616 Thomas Newce – Hadham
- 1617 Edward Briscoe – Aldenham
- 1618 Thomas Read – Hatfield
- 1619 Sir Nicholas Hyde, 1st Baronet – North Mimms
- 1620 Roger Pemberton – St Albans
- 1621 William Hale – King's Walden
- 1622 Edward Newport – Pelham
- 1623 Sir Clement Scudamore – North Mimms
- 1624 Richard Sidley – Digswell
Charles I
- 1625: William Lytton of Knebworth[2]
- 1626: John Jennings
- 1627: Sir Thomas Hyde, 2nd Baronet (son of Nicholas, HS 1620)[3]
- 1628: Edward Gardiner
- 1629: William Hoe
- 1630: John Boteler K.B. of Watton Woodhall, Watton-at-Stone[4]
- 1631:
- 1632: Richard Hale – King's Walden[5]
- 1633: Henry Coghill
- 1634: William Plomer
- 1635: William Priestley
- 1636: William Leman
- 1636: Ralph Freeman[6]
- 1637: Thomas Coningesby
- 1638: Thomas Hewett of Pishiobury, Sawbridgeworth[7]
- 1639: John Gore
- 1640: Richard Cole
- 1641: Arthur Pulter of Broadfield
- 1642: John Garrett
- 1644: Robert Jesselyn
- 1644: Charles Noles
- 1646: Richard Harlakenden of Earls Colne, Essex[8]
William III
- 1695 Sir Thomas Rolt – Sacomb
- 1696 John Gape of Harpsfield Hall, St Albans
- 1697 John Billers – Thorley
- 1698 Thomas Auncel – Ickleford
- 1699 Henry Gore – Gilston
- 1700 George Nodes – Shephall
- 1701 Thomas Blackmore
Anne
- 1702 Robert Hadsley – Munden
- 1703 Edmond Field – Stansted
- 1704 Philip Boteler – Watton
- 1705 Joseph Huntsman
- 1706 Barnard Halpenny
- 1707 Henry Houblon – London
- 1708 Richard Sheppard
- 1709 Sir Richard Houblon – London
- 1710 William Robinson Lytton of Knebworth House then William Berners of Moore Place, Much Hadham
- 1711 Henry Ewer
- 1712 William Smith
- 1713 Charles Felton
George I
- 1714 Henry Long – Bayford
- 1715 John Duncomb
- 1716 William Bucknall
- 1717 Pulter Forester – Bradfield
- 1718 James Fleet – Tewin
- 1719 John Nichols
- 1720 Sir Charles Buck – Watford
- 1721 Edward Radcliffe – Hitchin
- 1722 Thomas Kentish – St Albans
- 1723 John Seer – Yardley
- 1724 Henry Sibley – Yardley[55]
- Thomas Sibley
- 1725 Samuel Poynter – Kelshall
- 1726 Richard Warren – Tewin
George II
- 1727 Benedict Ithel – Hitchin
- 1729 Edward Searle replaced by John Turvin of Gilston
- 1730 Francis Goulston – Wyddial
- 1731 Richard Chase
- 1732 Thomas Wooton
- 1733 William Freeman – Aspenden Hall
- 1734 Richard Tuach – Rickmersworth
- 1735 Thomas Rolt – Sacomb
- 1736 John Dean – Wormley
- 1737 Robert Plummer[56]
- 1738 William Gape – St Albans
- 1739 William Benn – West Mill
- 1740 William Shaw – Cheshunt
- 1741 Robert Hadsley – Jenningsbury
- 1742 Geo Carpenter – Redburn
- 1743 Thomas Ansell – Ickleford
- 1744 Richard Chase – Much Hadham
- 1745 Sir Conyers Jocelyn – Hyde Hall
- 1746 Charles Halsey – Great Gaddesden
- 1747 Edward Chester – Albury replaced by Henry Fotherley Whitfield – Rickmersworth
- 1748 William Janssen – Cheshunt
- 1749 Nicholson Calvert – Hunsdon House
- 1750 John Cheshyre – Thundridgebury
- 1751 Thomas Whittewronge – Harpenden
- 1752 Benedict Ithel – Preston
- 1753 Caleb Lomax – Childwickbury
- 1754 Fitzwilliam Barrington – Lilley
- 1755 Giles Thornton Heysham – Paul's Walden
- 1756 John Turvin – Gilston
- 1757 Jacob Houblon – West Mill
- 1758 John Robinson Lytton of Knebworth House
- 1759 Sir John Chapman of Cockenhatch
- 1760 Benjamin Trueman – Hatfield
George III
- 1761 John Ashfordby – Cheshunt
- 1762 Henry Fotherley Whitfield – Rickmansworth
- 1763 John Cope Freeman – Abbots Langley
- 1764 David Williams – Sarratt[57]
- 1765 Bibye Lake – St Margaret's
- 1766 John Seare – Tring
- 1767: Samuel Whitbread, of Bedwell Park[58]
- 1768 Lionel Lyde, later Sir Lionel Lyde, 1st Baronet – Ayot St Lawrence
- 1769 Jeremiah Hadsley – Barkway
- 1770 Henry Green – Gaddesden Hoo
- 1771 George Prescott – Theobalds
- 1772 Samuel Moody – Watford
- 1773 John Dorrien – Berkhamsted St Peter's
- 1774 Sir Abraham Hume, 2nd Baronet – Wormley Bury
- 1775 Richard Emmott – Goldings
- 1776 Thomas Harwood – Preston
- 1777 John Searancke – Hatfield
- 1778 Thomas Blackmore – Hunsdon
- 1779 Richard Baker – Hertingfordbury
- 1780 John Hunter of Gubbins, Potter's Bar
- 1781 Thomas Clutterbuck – Watford
- 1782 John Mickie – North Mimms
- 1783 Robert Machy – Tewin
- 1784 John Thomas Ellis of Wyddial Hall
- 1785 William Phillimore – Aldenham[59]
- 1786 Jeremiah Milles – Pishiobury
- 1787 John Roper of Berkhamsted st Peter[60]
- 1788 Charles Bourchier of Shenley[61]
- 1789 Drummond Smith of Tring Park[62]
- 1790 Samuel Robert Gaussen of Brookman's Park, North Mimms
- 1791 Matthew Raper of Ashlyns Hall[63]
- 1792 James Bourchier of Shenley[64]
- 1793 Sir George William Prescott, 1st Baronet of Theobalds[65]
- 1794 Samuel Lightenhouse of Orford House
- 1795 James Harding of Tring
- 1796 John Sowerby of Lilley
- 1797 Sir John Sebright, 7th Baronet of Beechwood
- 1798 Felix Calvert – Hunsdon House
- 1799 Archibald Paxton – Watford Place
- 5 February 1800: Justinian Casamajor, of Potterells[66]
- 11 February 1801: Thomas Fitzherbert, of Shenley[67]
- 3 February 1802: Jacob Bosanquet, of Broxbourne Park[68]
- 3 February 1803: Henry Brown, of North Mimms Place[69]
- 1 February 1804: Edward Garrow, of Totteridge[70]
- 6 February 1805: Emilius Henry Delmé-Radcliffe, of Hitchin Priory[71]
- 1 February 1806: George Sullivan Marten, of Sandridge Lodge[72]
- 4 February 1807: George Caswall, of Sacombe Park[73]
- 3 February 1808: James Smyth, of Ashlyns Hall[74]
- 6 February 1809: Edmond Darby, of Aston Bury[75]
- 31 January 1810: Thomas Haworth, of Boreham Lodge[76]
- 8 February 1811: Robert Taylor, of Tolmers[77]
- 24 January 1812: John Currie, of Essendon[78]
- 10 February 1813: John Fam Timins, of Aldenham[79][80]
- 4 February 1814: Nicholas Segar Parry, of Little Hadham[81]
- 13 February 1815: Andrew Reid, of Chipping Barnet[82]
- 1816 Daniel Giles of Youngsbury, Ware
- 1817 Edmund Morris of Chorleywood[83]
- 1818 George Palmer – Much Hadham
- 1819 Samuel Unwin Heathcote – Shephallbury
George IV
- 1820 John Earley Cook – Nunsbury
- 1821 Joseph Timperon – New Barnet
- 1822 Thomas Daniell – Little Berkhampstead
- 1823 Robert Sutton – Rossway, Northchurch
- 1824 Patrick Haydon – Colney Chapel
- 1825 Thomas Nash Kemble – Gubbins Park
- 1826 Sir George Duckett – Roydon
- 1827 Joseph Andrew Latour – Hexton Manor
- 1828 Sir Culling Smith – Bedwell Park
- 1829 Charles Phelips – Briggins Park
William IV
- 1830 William Hale – King's Walden
- 1831 Augustus Smith – Ashlyns Hall first appointed,[84] replaced by Hon Thomas Robert Dimsdale, Baron Dimsdale[85] – Camfield Place[86]
- 1832 Robert Plumer Ward – Gilston Park[87]
- 1833 George Jacob Bosanquet – Broxbourne Bury
- 1834 Wiliam Robert Phillimore – Newberries[88]
- 1835 William Robert Baker – Bayfordbury
- 1836 William Blake – Danesbury
Edward VII
- 1901 Major-General Apsley Cherry-Garrard, of Lamer Park – Wheathampstead[97]
- 1902 Evelyn Simpson – Baldock[98]
- 1903 Henry Tylston Hodgson – Harpenden
- 1904 Sir Edgar Reginald Sebright – Beechwood
- 1905 Thomas Fenwick Harrison – King's Walden Bury
- 1906 Hellier Gosselin-Grimshawe – Bengeo Hall
- 1907 Benjamin Samuel Faudel-Phillips – Hertford
- 1908 Arthur Salvin Bowlby – Gilston Park
- 1909 Edward Ernest Pearson – Brickendonbury
- 1910 Sir Alfred Reynolds – Ayot Bury
George V and Edward VIII
- 1935 Lt Colonel Wilfred Hubert Wild – St Albans
Edward VIII and George VI
- 1936 Col Sir Geoffrey Selby Church – Hatfield[99]
George VI
- 1937 Arthur Edwin Cutforth – Sawbridgeworth
- 1938 Henry Fowell Buxton – Ware
- 1939 Capt Sir Cecil Gustavus Newman – Royston
- 1940 Capt Reginald Henry Abel-Smith – Hatfield
- 1941 Major Albert Pam – Broxbourne
- 1942 The Rt Hon Sir Felix Cassel – Luton
- 1943 Col William Hilton Briggs – Watford
- 1944 Michael Bruce Urquhart Dewar – Hitchin
- 1945 Capt Sir Humphrey Edmund de Trafford – Royston
- 1946 Sir Patrick Ashley Cooper – Hexton Manor
- 1947 Capt Francis Pawle – Ware
- 1948 Brig Edward Henry Beddington – Much Hadham[100]
- 1949 Brig Walter Hugh Crosland – Little Berkhamsted
- 1950 The Hon David Bowes-Lyon – St Paul's Walden Bury
- 1951 Col Sir William Henry Dyke Acland – Welwyn