… or perhaps just a few years before …..

the second year of Edward the Sixth (1549), when that king, by charter, durante beneplacito, dignified it with the title of City ; appointed bailiffs, and other chief officers ; granted them power to hold all pleas within the city, suburbs, and precincts thereof ; and, that the limits of the same, then being in the county of Stafford, might be better known, authority was given to the bailiffs, &c. On the first day of May, yearly, to make perambulation around the city, &c. by view of the sheriff of Staffordshire. History of the City of Lichfield, John Jackson 1805

It is hard for us to imagine the importance of this to the citizenry of Lichfield. The ability to hold pleas (court cases) within the City would have given them to quick access to justice for minor crimes such as minor theft, drunkenness, tresspass and debt. The most serious cases, such as murder, witchcraft and rioting, would still have had to be dealt with by the Sheriff of Staffordshire to be passed on to the assize courts, where a judge and jury would pass judgement - presumably far away in Stafford.

It must have annoyed the Sheriff of Staffordshire to have to come over to Lichfield on the 1st of May and supervise the perambulation of the boundary.

The before-mentioned charter was confirmed, by the charter of queen Mary , in the first year of her reign (1553), and by authority of Parliament. By the same charter, the court of record, granted to be holden for ever, in all pleas arising within the city, &c. the action should be before the bailiffs and citizens ; and if it cannot be determined there, then before the justices next coming into the city, and not out of the city, or before any other justices .

That the city, suburbs, &c. which then were in, and parcel of, the county of Stafford, from the ensuing feast of St. Thomas , should be a city and county of itself, for ever , and not parcel of Staffordshire. That there should be one sheriff of the city and county of Lichfield , to be chosen on the feast of St. Thomas, and continue till that of Șt. Michael ; and then another to be chosen , &c.

That the said sheriff should , yearly on the feast of the Nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary, perambulate the limits of the city , &c. as heretofore, that the boundaries thereof might be better ascertained .

These great privileges, were granted in consequence of the faithful services of the bailiffs and citizens in time of rebellion. History of the City of Lichfield, John Jackson 1805

So it was in 1553 that a charter provided Lichfield with visiting justices for the more serious crimes and a sheriff! The major court cases (and all that money from fines) no longer goes to the sheriff of Staffordshire!

It was a significant honour to be appointed sheriff but that honour was often very costly. If the people of the County of Lichfield did not pay the full amount of their taxes and fines, the sheriff was required to make up the difference out of his own pocket. Furthermore, the sheriff was expected to serve as host for judges and other visiting dignitaries, providing them with protection, accomodation and lavish entertainment - all at his own expense. For these reasons, the office of sheriff was not often sought after. In fact, many well-qualified men did everything they could to avoid being chosen. The law on this point was quite clear — if a man was chosen to be sheriff, he had to serve or (yes, you have guessed it) be fined!

Sheriffs are responsible for maintaining law and order, presiding over the county court with the visiting justices, carrying out the sentences passed down by the justices and are responsible for the annual payment that each shire made to the king at the Exchequer (just like the Sheriff of Nottingham!), as well as other debts owed to the king such as the proceeds from the county courts.

One of the duties was to supervise the biannual ‘view of frankpledge’ at which he checked that all adult free men were in ‘Tithings’ (ten + thing) , the ten-strong groups. Everyone in a Tithing was responsible for the behaviour of the others in the group. If on of them broke the law the others were responsible for catching them and taking them to court. If they didn’t, the whole Tithing was fined. Imagine one pupil in a school class misbehaves. The teacher demands “Who did it?” but nobody owns up so the teacher puts the whole class in detention. That is the way the Tithing system worked.

The Sheriff investigated major crimes and with the help of a jury of local people who would swear an oath to say who they believed had committed the crime. The Sheriff would then hold the criminal after capture in the local gaol. You can still see part of the original Lichfield gaol at the back of the Guildhall.

A Sheriff could organise a posse comitatus (power of the community) to deal with an emergency such as a riot, to catch a felon, to arrest those who prevented the execution of a writ (e.g. for siezing property to satisfy a debt). This is why Sheriffs of the Wild West organise a ‘posse’ to chase the outlaws!

The main duty of the our sheriff was to annually perambulate the boundary of the City and County of Lichfield - a distance of over 20 miles. this is the tradition that we are trying to maintain. I hope you will support us.