High Sheriff of Donegal

The High Sheriff of Donegal was the British Crown's judicial representative in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland, from the late 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Irish Free State and replaced by the office of Donegal County Sheriff. The High 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 his choice as 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 Donegal unless stated otherwise.

County Donegal was created in 1607.

High Sheriffs of County Donegal

1640: Henry Vaughan
1664: Thomas Grove of Castle Shanahan
1669: John Nesbitt
1682: Paul Benson
1686: John Forward
1686: Lancelot Carleton {{CN|date=December 2024}}
1687: Charles Hamilton of Cavanough
1694: Sir Francis Hamilton, 3rd Baronet of Killock in the County of Down.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1697: William Stewart, of Fort Stewart

18th century

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1707: Charles Stewart of Horn Head HouseA genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Ireland, 1912, Bernard Burke
1715: Humphrey Wray of Ards
1720: Wybrants Olphert of Ballyness
1722: William Babington
1724: Thomas Grove of Castle Shanaghan
1725: James Nesbitt of Tullydonnell
1727: William Grove of Castle Grove
1731: John Galbraith
1732:
1735: James Nesbitt of Boyle
1736:
1737: James Grove of Grovehall
1738: William Stewart of Killymoon and Ballymenagh
1739: James Hamilton of Carlow
1740: John Boyd of Letterkenny{{cite web|url = http://www.donegalhistory.com/old/DA59.pdf|title = Donegal Annual, 2007|publisher = County Donegal Historical Society|access-date = 4 October 2013|archive-date = 4 October 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220052/http://www.donegalhistory.com/old/DA59.pdf|url-status = live}}
1742: Frederick Stewart of Horn Head House
1743:
1747: John Olphert of Ballyconnell
1750: Gustavus Hamilton Stewart of Ray
1751:
1754: John Harvey of Malin Hall{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
1755: Sir Ralph Gore, 6th Bt. (later created 1st Earl of Ross)
1757: Henry Hamilton (from 1775 Sir Henry Hamilton, 1st Baronet of Manor Cunningham) Complete Baronetage, p. 382
1758:
1761: Richard Bateson {{CN|date=December 2024}}
1764: Captain Robert McClintock of Dunmore House, Carrigans
1765:
1766: George Young of Culdaff
1768: Charles Stewart of Horn Head House
1769:
1771: George Nesbitt of Woodhill
1772: John Boyd of Ballymacool House{{cite web|url = http://www.donegalhistory.com/old/DA59.pdf|title = Donegal Annual, 2007|publisher = County Donegal Historical Society|access-date = 4 October 2013|archive-date = 4 October 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220052/http://www.donegalhistory.com/old/DA59.pdf|url-status = live}}
1773: Colonel Alexander Montgomery
1774:
1776: William Knox of Kilcaddan
1777:
1780: Thomas Nesbitt of KilMacredan
1781: Laurence O'Hara of Brookfield {{London Gazette|issue=12158|page=1|date=30 January 1781}}
1782: Richard Charleton of Birdstown {{London Gazette|issue=12273|page=1|date=23 February 1782}}
1783: Charles Nesbit {{London Gazette|issue=12422|page=4|date=11 March 1783}}
1784: William Mortimer of Rathmelton{{London Gazette|issue=12525|page=3|date=6 March 1784}}
1785: John Lamy of Raphoe {{London Gazette|issue=12628|page=125|date=12 March 1785}}
1786: Henry Vaughan Brooke of Brooke Hill {{cite web| url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/brooke-henry-vaughan-1743-1807| title = BROOKE, Henry Vaughan (?1743-1807), of Brooke Hill, co. Donegal.| publisher = History of Parliament Online| access-date = 2012-10-04| archive-date = 18 December 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211218100834/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/brooke-henry-vaughan-1743-1807| url-status = live}}
1788: Francis Mansfield
1789: Wybrants Olphert of Ballyness
1790:
1791: Alexander Stewart of Ards, Letterkenny {{cite web|url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/stewart-alexander-ii-1746-1831|title = STEWART, Alexander II (1746-1831), of Ards, Letterkenny, co. Donegal.|publisher = History of Parliament Online|access-date = 2 August 2013|archive-date = 1 August 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130801103859/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/stewart-alexander-ii-1746-1831|url-status = live}}
1799: Sir James Stewart, 7th Baronet{{cite web|url = http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/stewart-sir-james-1756-1827|title = STEWART, Sir James, 7th Bt. (?1756-1827), of Fort Stewart, co. Donegal.|publisher = History of Parliament Onli9ne|access-date = 2012-12-07|archive-date = 1 August 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130801103927/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1790-1820/member/stewart-sir-james-1756-1827|url-status = live}}

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19th century

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1800: John Atkinson.
1800: Andrew Hamilton of Ballymadonnell.
1804: Robert Harvey.Papers by Command-Great Britain, Parliament, House of Commons-Volume 16
1805: William Stewart of Horn Head House.
1806: John Boyd.
1807: James C. Nesbitt.
1808: William Stewart.
1809: Alexander Boyd.
1810: John McDonnell.
1811: Andrew Ferguson.
1812: William Law.
1813: Henry Brooke.
1814: Arthur Chichester of Greencastle.
1815: Hon. James Hewett.{{cite book|title= Reports from Commissioners Volume 4 (Ireland)|year = 1824}}
1816: Henry Irwin.
1817: Thomas John Atkinson of Cavangarden, Ballyshannon.
1818: Sir Robert Alexander Ferguson
1819: Robert Montgomery.
1820: James Stewart of Brown Hall and St Ernan's and Edmond Packenham.
1821: Hon. Francis Howard.
1822: Sir Robert Bateson, 2nd Bt.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1824: George Knox, of Prehen House, Derry{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1824 | newspaper = The Connaught Journal | date = 1 March 1824 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Galway/1824/MAR.html | access-date = 10 May 2011 | archive-date = 13 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055402/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Galway/1824/MAR.html | url-status = live }}
1825: Sir Charles Style, of Cloghar-lodge.{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1825 | newspaper = The Connaught Journal | date = 7 February 1825 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Galway/1825/FEB.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 6 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090106143418/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Galway/1825/FEB.html | url-status = live }}
1827: Connolly Gage, of Castle Finn.{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1827 | newspaper = The Kilkenny Independent | date = 24 February 1827 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Kilkenny/1827/FEB.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 21 November 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081121015012/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Kilkenny/1827/FEB.html | url-status = live }}
1828: John Hart, of Kilderry, Derry {{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1828 | newspaper = The Newry Commercial Telegraph | date = 11 March 1828 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Newry/1828/18280311.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 9 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090109054043/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Newry/1828/18280311.html | url-status = live }}
1829:
1830: Sir Edmund Samuel Hayes, 3rd Baronet of Drumboe Castle{{Cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/hayes-sir-edmund-1806-1860|title=HAYES, Sir Edmund Samuel, 3rd bt. (1806-1860), of Drumboe Castle, co. Donegal | History of Parliament Online|access-date=1 August 2013|archive-date=14 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914140250/http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/hayes-sir-edmund-1806-1860|url-status=live}}
1831: Alexander Robert Stewart of Ards House, Creeslough."The heraldic calendar"
1832: Sir James Stewart, 8th Baronet of Fort Stewart."The heraldic calendar" Ramelton.
1834: John Creighton, of Lifford.{{cite web| url= http://www.from-ireland.net/county/article/Official-Authorities,-1834,-Co.-Donegal/Donegal| title= Official Authorities, 1834, Co. Donegal| access-date= 2011-05-05| archive-date= 18 August 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110818115046/http://www.from-ireland.net/county/article/Official-Authorities%2C-1834%2C-Co.-Donegal/Donegal| url-status= live}}
1834: Thomas Brooke of Manor Brooke and Lough Eske."The heraldic calendar"
1835: Robert McClintock of Dunmore House, Carrigans.
1836: John Harvey of Malin Hall.{{cite book|title=Gentleman's and Citizen's Almanack|year=1837| page=190}}
1837:
1838: John Vandeleur Stewart of Rock Hill.
1840: John Robert Boyd of Dunduan House.
1841: The Hon. James Hewitt (became The 4th Viscount Lifford in 1855) of Meenglass House, Stranorlar."The heraldic calendar"
1842: Wybrants Olphert of Ballycommell.
1844: Thomas Batt of Rathmullan.
1845: Lord George Hill of Ballygar.{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1845 | newspaper = The Armagh Guardian | date = 4 February 1845 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Armagh/1845/18450204.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 30 May 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090530003634/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Armagh/1845/18450204.html | url-status = live }}
1846: John Robert Boyd of Ballymacool.
1848: Thomas Conolly.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1848: Benjamin Geale Humfrey of Cavanacor.
1849: James Hamilton of Brown Hall and St Ernan's,{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1849 | newspaper = Anglo-Celt | date = 26 January 1849 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1849/JAN.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 20 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080720005935/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1849/JAN.html | url-status = live }} Donegal Town
1850: Francis Stewart Mansfield of Castle Wray.
1850: John Fergusen of Castle Forward, Derry.{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1850 | newspaper = Ballina Chronicle | date = 2 January 1850 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Mayo/1850/JAN.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 22 April 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090422110909/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Mayo/1850/JAN.html | url-status = live }}
1852: Thomas Alexander of Buncrana.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1853: Alexander John Robert Stewart of Ards House, Dunfanaghy.Anglo Celt Cavan.November 1852
1854: William Sinclair of Holyhill.
1855: James Grove of Castle Grove.
1856: William Henry Marsham Style of Glenmore, Stranorlar{{London Gazette|city=Edinburgh|issue=6566|date=29 January 1856|page=108}}
1858: Horatio Granville Murray-Stewart of Broughton.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1858: Benjamin Geale Humfrey of Cavanacor. (also Sheriffs of City of Derry)
1860: James Thompson Macky of Belmont, Derry.{{London Gazette|city = e|issue = 6982|page=88|date= 24 January 1860}}
1861: William John Forster of Derry.{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1861 | newspaper = The Cavan Observer | date = 26 January 1861 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1861/JAN.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 8 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080708201421/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1861/JAN.html | url-status = live }}
1862: George Knox of Prehen House.{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1862 | newspaper = The Cavan Observer | date = 18 January 1862 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1862/JAN.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 22 November 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081122040915/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1862/JAN.html | url-status = live }}
1863: Viscount Sudley.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1864: Thomas Norman of Glengollan.
1865:
1867: The 4th Earl Erne, of Crom Castle{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1867: James Henry Todd-Thornton of Westbrook.
1868: Horatio Granville Murray-Stewart of Cally, Gatehouse.{{cite book | title = The Harrow School Register, 1800-1911| first = R. Courteney|last = Welch|year = 191}}
1868: John Keys Humfrey of Cavanacor.
1870: George Miller Harvey of Malin Hall. {{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
1871: Charles Frederick Stewart of Horn Head.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
William Wray
1873: John George Adair of Glenveagh Castle
1874: James Bogle Delap of Monellan.{{cite book|title = The county families of the United Kingdom|url = https://archive.org/details/countyfamiliesof01walf|first = Edward|last= Walford|year = 1860}} ebooks
1875: John Stouppe Charley.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1877: Captain Baptist Johnston Barton.{{cite news | title = High Sheriffs, 1877 | newspaper = Cavan Weekly News | date = 26 January 1877 | url = http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1877/JAN.html | access-date = 9 July 2009 | archive-date = 12 October 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081012102341/http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1877/JAN.html | url-status = live }}
1878: Robert McClintock of Dunmore House, Carrigans.
1879: Ernest Grey Lambton Cochrane of Red Castle.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1881: Alexander Charles Hector Stewart.
1882: William Edward Hart of Kilderry, County Londonderry.{{cite book|title= Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes|year= 1916}}
1884–87: Sir Samuel Hercules Hayes, 4th Baronet of Drumboe CastleComplete Baronetage, p.427
1886: Robert Lyon Moore of Molenan.
1887: Thomas Butler Stoney of Oakfield House, Raphoe.{{CN|date=December 2024}}
1888: Francis Coffin Macky of Belmont, County Londonderry.
1889:
1890: Captain William Knox of Clonleigh "County Families"
1891: Henry Stubbs of Danby.
1892: William Henry Boyd of Ballymacool House.
1893: Thomas John Atkinson of Cavangarden, Ballyshannon.
1894: Robert Crawford of Stonewold, Ballyshannon.{{cite web|url = http://www.h-f-h.org.uk/gallery/crawfords.pdf|title = Crwafords of Donegal|access-date = 2012-12-21|archive-date = 4 October 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220328/http://www.h-f-h.org.uk/gallery/crawfords.pdf|url-status = live}}
1895: Henry Chichester Hart of Carrablagh House.
1896: William Knox of Clonleigh.
1897:
1898: John Stewart Hamilton of Browns Hall, Donegal.
1899: James Montgomery Sinclair of Holyhill and Bonneyglen, Inver. (suicide 1899)
1899–1900: John Herdman of Sion House.

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20th century

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1901: James Boughey Monk Lingard-Monk, Dunlewy House, Dunlewy, Gaoth Dobhair."County Families"
1902: John Conyngham McClintock of Tiernaleague House, Carndonagh.
1903: Colonel William McClintock of Dunmore House.
1904:
1905: Sir Harry Jocelyn Uruquhart Stewart, 11th Baronet of Fort Stewart, Ramelton.
1906: Edmund Christopher Stewart of Ardrummon House.
1907: Sir Arthur Robert Wallace of Ardnamona.
1908: Richard Francis Ernest Cochrane.The county families of the United Kingdom
1909: Henry Musgrave.{{cite web| url = http://www.hevac-heritage.org/victorian_engineers/musgrave%27s/musgrave%27s.htm| title = Musgraves of Belfast| access-date = 4 October 2013| archive-date = 4 October 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220237/http://www.hevac-heritage.org/victorian_engineers/musgrave%27s/musgrave%27s.htm| url-status = live}}
1910: Charles Norman of Glengollan.
1911: Fisher Henry Freke Evans of Churchlands.
1912: Henry Herbert Ronald White of Lough Eske.
1914: George Lawrence Young of Culdaff House, Culdaff.{{cite book|title= Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes|year= 1916}}

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References

Donegal

Category:History of County Donegal