Sheriff

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Sheriff

Parallel form(s) of name

    Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

    • Sheriff; 1396-present

    Other form(s) of name

      Identifiers for corporate bodies

      Description area

      Dates of existence

      1396-present

      History

      York's bailiffs became sheriffs when the city became a county in 1396. The number was reduced to one in 1836.
      Replaced bailiffs in 1396. Some legal functions transferred to Recorder in 1835.

      Places

      Legal status

      Since 1974, York has been legally under the jurisdiction of the High Sheriff of North Yorkshire, and the Sheriff of York has a purely ceremonial role.

      Functions, occupations and activities

      Chosen by the corporation but represented the crown. According to the bailiff's oath of 1353, their duties were to organise the farm, enforce assizes of bread and ale, and support legal functions such as by arranging jurors. After 1835 the practical duties were limited to attending judges at the assizes, executing writs, arranging executions and general elections. The Sheriff is supported by the Sheriff's lady who may be a spouse or other female relative. The first female sheriff was Doreen Walker in 1976-77.

      Mandates/sources of authority

      Internal structures/genealogy

      General context

      York's bailiffs became sheriffs when the city became a county in 1396. The number was reduced to one in 1836.

      Relationships area

      Related entity

      Bailiff (pre-1396)

      Identifier of related entity

      GB0192-63

      Category of relationship

      temporal

      Type of relationship

      Bailiff is the successor of Sheriff

      Dates of relationship

      Description of relationship

      Access points area

      Subject access points

      Place access points

      Occupations

      Control area

      Authority record identifier

      GB0192-70

      Institution identifier

      GB0192

      Rules and/or conventions used

      International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa

      Status

      Level of detail

      Dates of creation, revision and deletion

      Language(s)

        Script(s)

          Sources

          VCH York, D1 f.313, JBM How York Governs Itself, www.mansionhouseyork.com

          Maintenance notes