Old World and New World Sheriffs
Several of my ancestors have held the position of sheriff, both in the old world and in the new world. The role of sheriff, which is the oldest official post in England and Wales, has traditionally been to keep the peace. The word sheriff is comprised of two words – shire and reeve. “A reeve was an official position which began in Saxton times when the reeve was empowered to hold court and try local civil and criminal matters.” Eventually a reeve was appointed for every shire thus becoming known as the sheriff. www.historyoflaw.co.uk/sheriffs-norman-times/
My first old world ancestor who held the position of sheriff was Ralph Paynel (1050- died between 1118 and 1124). Ralph was the Sheriff of Yorkshire. Next was Payne FitzJohn de Burgh (1086-1137) who was Sheriff of Hereford. Interestingly, Payne was killed by the Welsh in an ambush where he received a javelin blow to the head.
The Wotton family was represented by several members. Nicholas Wotton (1372-1448) was Sheriff of London in 1400. He became connected to Kent when he married Joan, daughter and only heir of Robert Corbie of Kent. Through this connection Nicholas acquired the manor of Boughton Malherbe, Kent. His grandson, Sir Robert Wotton (1465-?), was knighted by Edward IV and served as sheriff of Kent in 1498 and 1499. Robert’s son, Sir Edward Wotton (1489-1551) was knighted in 1528 and was appointed sheriff of Kent in 1529 and again in 1535. Sir Edward’s son, Thomas (1521-1587) became sheriff of Kent in 1558 and again in 1578. He declined an offer of knighthood.
All of these sheriff ancestors run through the ancestry line that leads back to Elvira Estep, my great grandmother who married Marshall Vandyke.
As many people began immigrating to America and the colonies began to become established, many of the policies and traditions from England followed them. Policing proved to be a problem. There was no professional police force and what they used to “keep the peace” was often ineffective and unreliable. Eventually, “the governor in each colony began appointing sheriffs to enforce laws. The sheriff, running the jails, selecting juries and managing prisoners served as the top government agent in the county.” In addition to law enforcement, the sheriff was in charge of tax collection and supervised elections. To be appointed sheriff was considered a significant honor. https://ncsheriffs.org/about/history-of-the-sheriff
In the new world, Captain Henry Hanslap (1636-1698) was appointed sheriff of Anne Arundel County in Maryland in 1685. Another ancestor, Stephen Warman III (1670-1740) was also appointed sheriff of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The ancestral lines of Henry Hanslap and Stephen Warman III lead to Stephen Watkins II and Frances Hanslap Warman who were my 4th great grandparents.
Working as a sheriff was prestigious but also an endeavor filled with responsibility. Both my old world and new world ancestors were willing to take on this role of trust and importance.