The High Sheriff of Down is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Down. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, he has ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court Writs.
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History
The first (High) Shrivalties were established before the Norman Conquest in 1066 and date back to Saxon times. In 1908, an Order in Council made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the High Sheriff's precedence. Despite however that the office retains his responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in a county.
While the office of High Sheriff ceased to exist in those Irish counties, which had formed the Irish Free State in 1922, it is still present in the counties of Northern Ireland.
High Sheriffs
1326: John Mandeville
1400 Robert Fitz John Savage
1570/1 (8 March): Thomas Woulf
1579/80 (25 January): Thomas Woulf
1585 Thomas Woulf
1591 (5 July 1591): Ralph Brereton of Killanleaghe
1592-3 Randall or Ralph Brereton of Killanleaghe
1600 Timothy Castletown
1605 William Ward
1607 Edmond Burey
1610: Richard West
1612: George Stritsbury (Stotisbury)
1613: Anthony Hawes
1615: Nicholas West
1619: Thomas Bands
1620: Nicholas West or Ward
1621: Piers Rutbergh
1622: James Peckham
1623: William Hamilton
1624: Nicholas West
1634: Henry Savage of Ardkeen
1638: William Reading
1639: William Burley
1641: Patrick Shane of Mullogh and Erinagh
1642: Peter Hill of Hill Hall
1655: James Traile
1656: Bernard Ward of Carrignashanagh (now Castle Ward) (son of Nicholas HS 1620)
1657: Captain Roger West of Ballydugan (son of Richard HS 1610)
1658: Major Richard Bingley
1659: John Magill of Gill Hall
1660: Ralph Walsh
1661: (Sir) Robert Ward of Killough (son of Bernard HS 1656)
1662: Nicholas Ward (son of Bernard HS 1656)
1663: John Savage of Ardkeen
1664 (12 December 1663): James Lesley of Sheepland More or Sheepland Beg, Ardglass (also HS 1680-1)
1665 (28 November 1664): William Lesley
1665: Francis Aunesley of Cloughmaghericatt (now Clough) or Castlewellan
1666: Richard Price of Farinfad
1667: Robert Ward
1668: William Shaw
1669: William Waring of Clanconnel/Waringstown
1670: William Montgomery of Rosamon (sic) (Rosemount, Greyabbey)
1671: James Ross of Portavo
1671/2 (29 January 1671): Francis Annesley of Cloughmaghericatt
1673 (11 December 1672): Sir Robert Maxwell, Knight and Baronet of Killileagh
1674 (18 December 1673): James Maxwell of Drum
1675 (24 December 1674): John Hawkins of Rathfriland
1676 (25 November 1675): Randall Bruce/Brice or Beire
1677 (13 January 1677): Francis Hall
1678 (29 November 1677): Hugh Eccles
1679 (23 November 1678): William Brett of Ballynewport
1680 (27 November 1679): James Lesley (also HS 1664 & 1681)
1681 (25 November 1680): James Lesley (also HS 1664 & 1680)
1682 (10 December 1681): Murtagh McGennis/M'Gennis of Greencastle
1683 (16 February 1683): Sir Thomas Fortescue
1684 (15 December 1683): Patrick Savage of Portaferry
1685: Charles Ward
1686: Hugh Montgomery
1687: Valentine Russell of Coniamnstown, Killough
1688:Valentine Russell of Coniamnstown, Killough
1689:Richard M'Gennis
1690: Bernard Ward (son of Nicholas HS 1662)(killed in duel, 1690)
1690: Samuel Waring of Waringstown(son of William, HS 1669)
1691: Samuel Waring of Waringstown(son of William, HS 1669)
1692: Sir Arthur Rawdom, baronet
1693: Richard Johnston
1694: Nicholas Price
1695: James Montgomery
1696: John Gibbons of Ballykinler
1697: James Bagley of Inishargy
1698: John Montgomery
1699: John Haltridge of Dromore