The Sheriff was the chief law officer in the county, but he was also the primary tax collector. Many people did not pay their taxes, and the Sheriff was liable for any taxes not paid, except those allowed as delinquent by the Court. There are many cases in which the Legislature voted extensions for individual Sheriffs to settle their accounts. This could become a nightmare if the Sheriff died in office.
The Sheriff was also the chief political figure in the county, until the office of County Judge was created. He sold the property of bankrupts, and foreclosures. He enforced the orders of the County Court, and provided security for their meetings.
The Sheriff was generally the senior magistrate on the County Court, as determined by length of time served on the court. Under the Second Constitution of Kentucky of 1799, Sheriffs were appointed by the Governor, though this office had been elective under the first constitution, which produced many political consequences.
Name | Notes | |
---|---|---|
John Hall | Commissioned Sheriff, 26 Jan 1801 | |
John Brown | Commissioned Sheriff, refused to Qualify, Apr 1803 | |
Archibald Huston | Commissioned Sheriff, 20 Apr 1803 | |
Archibald Reid | Commissioned Sheriff, 14 Dec 1804 | |
John Bush | Commissioned Sheriff, 1807 | |
Archibald Huston | Commissioned Sheriff, 25 Jan 1808 | |
Elzaphan Hume | Commissioned Sheriff, 9 Nov 1808 | |
Alexander McPherson | Commissioned Sheriff, 1 Nov 1810 | |
William Sebree | Commissioned Sheriff, 21 Jan 1813 | |
Roger Wiggington | Commissioned Sheriff, 16 Oct 1814 | |
Abner Gaines | Commissioned Sheriff 1817 | |
Jeremiah Kirtley | Commissioned Sheriff, 16 Dec 1818 | |
Joseph Graves | Commissioned Sheriff 1820 | |
Benjamin Willis | Commissioned Sheriff, 23 Oct 1822 | |
Whitfield Early | Commissioned Sheriff, 13 Nov 1824 | |
John Merrill | Commissioned Sheriff, 11 Dec 1826 | |
Benjamin Stephens | Commissioned Sheriff, 15 Jan 1829 | |
Thomas Connelly | Commissioned Sheriff 1830 | |
Cave Johnson | Commissioned Sheriff, 28 Nov 1832 | |
Chasteen Scott | Commissioned Sheriff, 5 Dec 1834 | |
John Cave | Commissioned Sheriff, 18 May 1836 | |
John P. Gaines | Commissioned Sheriff, 25 Apr 1837 | |
Benjamin Watts | Commissioned Sheriff, 21 Nov 1838 | |
Samuel Hardesty | Commissioned Sheriff, 1 Dec 1840 | |
Willis Calvert | Commissioned Sheriff 1842 | |
Robert Walton | Commissioned Sheriff, 11 Oct 1844 | |
Robert B. Vickers | Commissioned Sheriff, 6 Nov 1846 | |
William J. Sandford | Commissioned Sheriff, 8 Jan 1848 | |
Benjamin White | Commissioned Sheriff, 16 Oct 1848 | |
Henry James | Commissioned Sheriff, 15 Oct 1850 | |
James Calvert | Commissioned Sheriff, 10 Aug 1852 |