Sheriffs

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Index of first names

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Scotland
A sheriffdom is a judicial district of Scotland. Originally identical to the Shires of Scotland, from the eighteenth century many counties were grouped to form "sheriffdoms".

By 1975 there were 12 sheriffdoms, with only Lanarkshire not grouped with another county. Following the abolition of the counties and formation of new local government areas in 1975 and 1996 the number of sheriffdoms has been reduced to six.

Shires originated in the twelfth century when the office of sheriff was introduced to Scotland. These shires eventually became the counties of Scotland. Malcolm III appears to have introduced sheriffs as part of a policy of replacing Gaelic forms of government with Norman feudal structures. This was continued by his sons Edgar, Alexander I and in particular David I. David completed the division of the country into sheriffdoms by the conversion of existing thanedoms.

“The Sheriff of Roxburgh was historically the royal official responsible for enforcing law and order in that area of Scotland. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date (until) 1745, the hereditary sheriffs were replaced by salaried sheriff-deputes, qualified advocates who were members of the Scottish Bar”. [Wikipedia]. Article by Sally E. Douglas:



England

  • George Douglas, of Chilston Park, High Sheriff of Kent in 1833
  • John Douglas of Gyrn, (died 21st October 1839) was, in 1821, high sheriff of Lancashire.
  • John Douglas was a coroner in Newcastle 28 September 1674 - 14 April 1685 (or sheriff, under-sheriff or coroners clerk)
  • Thomas Douglas, of Grantham in Lincolnshire, High Sheriff of that County in 1776.
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Ireland
  • Charles Mathew Douglass, of Grace Hall, J.P. and D.L., (1793-1880), High Sheriff co. Down 1836, (1793-1880)
  • St John Thomas Blacker-Douglass of Grace Hall was High Sheriff of Armagh in 1861

 

 

 

USA

 

  • Benjamin Douglas (1785-1848), Sheriff 1831-34 Chautauque County
  • Col Edward Douglas, High Sheriff and Burgess at Jamestown
  • Gilbert Douglass (died 1837 aged 54), high sheriff of Green Co., Illinois
  • Gilbert Douglass, Sheriff  1826-28 Chautauque County (Possible brother of Benjamin)
  • William Douglass (d 1782) was a resident of Loudon County, Virginia, and was appointed sheriff of that county in 1777


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Last modified: Monday, 25 March 2024