High Sheriff of Cavan


The High Sheriff of Cavan was the British Crown's judicial representative in County Cavan, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Cavan County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs. 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. However the sheriff retained his responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in the county. The usual procedure for appointing the sheriff from 1660 onwards was that three persons were nominated at the beginning of each year from the county and the Lord Lieutenant then appointed one of the nominees as his choice of High Sheriff for the remainder of the year. Often the other nominees were appointed as under-sheriffs. Sometimes a sheriff did not fulfil his entire term through death or other event and another sheriff was then appointed for the remainder of the year. The dates given hereunder are the dates of appointment. All addresses are in County Cavan unless stated otherwise.

Elizabeth I, 1558–1603

  • 1581: Eamon O'Reilly of Kilnacrott
  • 1584: Sir Henry Duke
  • 1585: Sir Henry Duke
  • 1586: Sir Henry Duke
  • 1587: Sir Henry Duke
  • 1588: Sir Henry Duke
  • 1589: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1590: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1591: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1592: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1593: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1594: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1595: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1596: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1597: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1598: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1599: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1600: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1601: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1602: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1603: Sir Edward Herbert

    James I, 1603–1625

  • 1604: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1605: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1606: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1607: Hugh Culme
  • 1608: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1609: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1610: Sir Edward Herbert
  • 1611: Hugh Culme
  • 1612: Hugh Culme
  • 1613: John Ridgeway
  • 1614: John Butler
  • 1615: James Craig
  • 1616: John Fish
  • 1617: Nicholas Lisle
  • 1618: Hugh Culme
  • 1619: Richard Lisle
  • 1620: Robert Scurlock
  • 1621: Robert Scurlock
  • 1622: Sir Stephen Butler of Belturbet

    Charles I, 1625–1649

  • 1629: Philip O'Reilly
  • 1630: Thomas Fleming
  • 1634: John Fleming
  • 1635: Thomas Fleming
  • 1636: James Fleming of Ballyneagh
  • 1638: Edward Gray
  • 1639: William Lill
  • 1640: Francis Lawrence Devall
  • 1641: Myles O'Reilly of Kevit Castle, Kilmore
  • 1641: James Talbot of Ballyconnell Castle, Ballyconnell
*
  • 2 May 1642 The Dublin Government appointed Edward Philpott

    Commonwealth, 1649–1660

  • Dec 1655: Charles Coote
  • 12 Nov 1656: Robert Saunderson of Castle Saunderson, Belturbet
  • 1 Dec 1658: Edward Philpott

    Charles II, 1660–1685

  • 1660: Humphrey Perrott of Drumhone
  • 1661: Humphrey Perrott of Drumhone
  • 1662: Thomas White of Redhills
  • 26 Feb 1663: Richard Blayney
  • 28 Nov 1663: Samuel Townley
  • 31 Dec 1664: Thomas Couch
  • 1666: Edward Philpott
  • 1667: Robert Saunderson of Castle Saunderson, Belturbet
  • 1668: Ambrose Bedell of Carn, Kildallan
  • 4 Dec 1668: Thomas Gwyllym of Ballyconnell Castle, Ballyconnell
  • 24 Nov 1669: Hugh Culme
  • 1671: Abraham Clements of Rathkenny
  • 22 Dec 1671: Richard Lewis of Lismore
  • 12 Dec 1672: Nicholas Kempston of Dunmurray
  • 22 Jan 1674: Daniel Clements of Rathkenny
  • 17 Dec 1674: John Maxwell
  • 9 Dec 1675: Thomas Newburgh
  • 21 Dec 1676: Matthew French of Belturbet
  • 22 Nov 1677: John Coyne
  • 9 Jan 1679: James Sanderson
  • 4 Dec 1679: Henry Palmer of Ballymagauran
  • 13 Jan 1681: Humphrey Perrott of Castle Bagshaw
  • 12 Dec 1681: William Lowther
  • 11 Dec 1682: Fergus Farrell
  • 25 Jan 1684: Robert Casey
  • 6 Dec 1684: Thomas Couch

    James II, 1685–1688

*
  • 28 Jan 1686: Samuel Townley of Drumrooske
  • 17 Feb 1687: Lucas Reilly
  • 10 Nov 1687: Edward Reilly
  • 16 Nov 1688: Luke Reilly

    William and Mary, 1689–1694

  • 7 Aug 1690: Daniel French of Belturbet
  • 10 Dec 1690: Francis White of Redhills
  • 1691: Francis White of Redhills
  • 1693: Arnold Cosby of Lismore
  • 7 Dec 1693: Robert Clements of Rathkenny
  • 20 Dec 1694: Thomas Coote

    William III, 1694–1702

  • 24 Dec 1695: James Kennedy
  • 3 Dec 1696: Thomas Townley of Thomascourt, Drumrooske
  • 12 Dec 1697: Charles Hampson of Aghacreevy
  • 3 Feb 1699: William Blachford of Lisanover, Templeport
  • 25 Nov 1699: John Kempson
  • 22 Nov 1700: Edward Cosby of Skea
  • 4 Dec 1701: Henry Joseph Pratt

    Anne, 1702–1714

  • 21 Nov 1702: Brinsley Butler
  • 26 Nov 1703: Thomas Fleming Junior of Belville, Crossdoney
  • 14 Dec 1704: Brockhill Newburgh of Ballyhaise
  • 23 Nov 1705: William Fitzherbert
  • 12 Nov 1706: Charles Townley
  • 14 Nov 1707: Charles Mortimer of Lislin
  • 25 Nov 1708: William Nesbitt
  • 24 Nov 1709: Henry Grattan
  • 3 Dec 1710: Edward Cosby
  • 27 Dec 1711: Thomas White
  • 16 Dec 1712: William Fitzherbert
  • 1714: Alexander Saunderson

    George I, 1714–1727

  • 1715: Charles Hampson
  • 19 Jan 1716: Samuel Madden
  • 2 Dec 1716: James Moore
  • 1718: Arnold Cosby of Lismore
  • 1719: Henry Newburgh
  • 7 Dec 1719: Charles Coote of Coote Hill
  • Nov 1720: Thomas Nesbitt of Lismore
  • 16 Dec 1720: Charles Betty of Farranseer
  • 11 Dec 1721: Mervyn Pratt of Cabra Castle, Kingscourt
  • 24 Jan 1723: Arthur Galbraith
  • 29 Nov 1723: William Berry
  • 15 Nov 1724: Charles Coote
  • 10 Dec 1725: Theophilus Clements of Rathkenny
  • 14 Dec 1726: Humphrey Butler of Belturbet

    George II, 1727–1760

  • 24 Jan 1728: Thomas Burrowes of Stradone
  • 14 Dec 1728: John Stephens of Ballinacargy
  • 21 Jan 1730: John Jones Junior of Belturbet
  • 15 Dec 1730: Nathaniel Clements
  • 6 Jan 1732: James Saunderson of Drumcassidy, Cloverhill
  • 20 Dec 1732: Thomas Davenport of Cullintragh
  • 27 Jan 1733: Brockhill Perrott of Castle Bagshaw
  • 31 Jan 1734: John Stanford of Carn, Kildallan
  • 14 Feb 1735: Balthazar John Cramer
  • 19 Feb 1736: Benjamin Copeland
  • 21 Jan 1737: Galbraith Holmes
  • 7 Mar 1738: John Enery of Bawnboy House
  • 12 Jan 1739: John Maxwell of Farnham, Cavan
  • 5 Mar 1740: Francis Saunderson
  • 3 Feb 1741: Francis White of Redhills
  • 4 Feb 1742: Thomas Newburgh of Ballyhaise
  • 9 Mar 1743: Thomas Burrowes of Stradone House, Stradone
  • 23 Feb 1744: Samuel Moore
  • 15 Feb 1745: Simon Davenport of Cullintragh
  • 13 Mar 1746: Josiah Veaitch of Drumurry
  • 1 Feb 1747: Arthur Ellis of Ballyheady
  • 4 Mar 1748: William Newburgh of Drumcarne
  • 22 Jan 1749: William Stewart of Bailieborough
  • 3 Mar 1750: Martin Armstrong of Carrickmakeegan, Drumreilly, County Leitrim
  • 12 Jan 1751: Joseph Tuite of Orange-Brooke
  • 24 Dec 1751: George Montgomery of Ballyconnell House, Ballyconnell
  • 3 Feb 1753: Nicholas Coyne of Clonoose
  • 22 Feb 1754: James Moore of Tullyvin
  • 15 Dec 1754: Brinsley Butler
  • 19 Feb 1756: John Cramer of Belturbet
  • 29 Jan 1757: Robert Maxwell of Farnham
  • 28 Jan 1758: Alexander Saunderson of Castle Saunderson, Belturbet
  • 9 Feb 1759: John Enery of Bawnboy House, Bawnboy
  • 7 Feb 1760: Charles Coote of Cootehill

    George III, 1760–1820

  • 19 Feb 1761: Archibald Acheson, 1st Viscount Gosford of Market Hill, County Armagh
  • 29 Jan 1762: Robert Nugent of Bobsgrove, Mountnugent
  • 24 Feb 1763: David Jones of Belturbet
  • 10 Feb 1764: Cosby Nesbitt of Lismore
  • 8 Mar 1765: Thomas Cosby of Bailieborough
  • 3 Mar 1766: Henry Theophilus Clements of Ashfield Lodge, Rathkenny, Cootehill
  • 26 Feb 1767: James Young of Lahard
  • 12 Feb 1768: Bedell Stanford of Carn, Kildallan
  • 31 Dec 1768: Thomas Nesbitt of Lismore
  • 15 Feb 1770: James Fleming of Belville, Crossdoney
  • 28 Dec 1770: Thomas Fleming of Cavan
  • 28 Jan 1772: Gore Ellis of Ballyheady
  • 5 Feb 1773: Robert Burrowes of Stradone House, Stradone
  • 17 Feb 1774: Wiliam Stanford of Bilberry Hill, Kildallan
  • 21 Jun 1774: Henry Theophilus Clements of Ashfield
  • 17 Feb 1775: Alexander Saunderson of Drumcassidy, Cloverhill
  • 6 Feb 1776: John Baker of Ashgrove
  • 2 Feb 1777: Humphrey Nixon of Nixon Lodge, Belturbet
  • 18 Feb 1778: John Hassard of Ennismore
  • 1779: William Perrott Newburgh of Ballyhaise
  • 12 Feb 1780: William Moore of Tullyvin
  • 4 Feb 1781: Francis Saunderson of Castle Saunderson, Belturbet
  • 21 Feb 1782: James Pratt
  • 9 Feb 1783: Richard Adams of Shercock House, Shercock
  • 19 Feb 1784: Francis Whyte of Redhills
  • 25 Feb 1785: John Moutray Jones of Belturbet
  • 20 Feb 1786: Robert Sanderson of Drumkeen
  • 20 Feb 1787: Anthony O'Reilly of Baltrasna, County Meath
  • 23 Feb 1788: Oliver Nugent of Bobsgrove, Mountnugent
  • 19 Feb 1789: John Stanford of Carn, Kildallan
  • 18 Feb 1790: Stewart Adams of Annally
  • 9 Feb 1791: Sir Robert Hodson, 1st Baronet of Skea
  • 27 Feb 1792: Broghill Newburgh of Ballyhaise
  • 18 Feb 1793: William Henry Stephens of Ballinacargy
  • 9 Feb 1794: Thomas Fleming of Castle Cosby
  • 9 Jan 1795: Nathaniel Sneyd of Ballyconnell
  • 18 Feb 1796: John Enery, Junior of Bawnboy
  • 10 Mar 1797: Christopher Bredin of Rice Hill
  • 5 Mar 1798: Cosby Nesbitt of Lismore
  • 22 Feb 1799: Joseph Pratt of Cabra Castle, Kingscourt
  • 14 Mar 1800: James Saunderson of Drumcassidy, Cloverhill
  • 16 Feb 1801: Robert Kellett of Glebe, Waterstown, Moynalty, County Meath
  • 27 Feb 1802: John Baker of Ashgrove
  • 22 Feb 1803: Thomas Burrowes of Stradone House
  • 23 Feb 1804: James O'Reilly of Baltrasna, County Meath
  • 5 Feb 1805: Samuel Moore
  • 14 Feb 1806: Andrew Bell of Drum Hill
  • 11 Feb 1807: John Bell of Bellsgrove, Aghnacreevy
  • 24 April 1807: Charles Coote of Bellamont Forest, Cootehill
  • 28 Feb 1808: Robert Saunderson of Drumkeen
  • 17 Feb 1809: Luke Magrath of Lakeville House, Gartinardress townland, Killeshandra
  • 5 Feb 1810: James Adams of Drum Lodge
  • 11 Feb 1811: John Adams of Shinan, Shercock
  • 12 Feb 1812: Perrott Thornton of Greenville, Kildallan
  • 20 Feb 1813: Henry Gore Sankey of Fort Frederick, Virginia
  • 12 Feb 1814: Henry John Clements of Ashfield Lodge
  • 20 Feb 1815: Richard Brady Blackwood of Clonervy
  • 20 Feb 1816: Cosby Young of Lahard, Killeshandra
  • 4 Feb 1817: Robert Henry Southwell of Castle Hamilton
  • 19 Feb 1818: Alexander Saunderson of Castle Saunderson, Belturbet
  • 1819: Sneyd Sankey of Fort Frederick, Virginia