June 30, 2023 – Lancashire, UK
Not all of our ancestors were farmers, labourers, and brothel owners, one long and spindly branch of the family leads back to aristocracy.
In the late Middle Ages, a distant relative named Sir John Preston was High Sheriff of Lancashire. A Sheriff back then was not the kind of guy who hands you a speeding ticket on the back roads of Alberta, the position was the equivalent of a blend of Supreme Court Justice, Crown Prosecutor, and the Chiefs of Military and Civilian Police.
The High Sheriff’s official role was “Keeper of the King’s Peace”. A Sheriff was appointed by the King from the ranks of the aristocracy, for a term of 1 – 2 years.
In 1569 the position was held by our 14th Great Grandfather, Sir John Preston of Preston Hall, Westmorland. His son, Sir Thomas Preston of Preston Hall, was also appointed to the position, in 1585.
This is what a High Sheriff of Lancashire looked like.
If our distant ancestor handed me a speeding ticket, I would definitely pay it, …
… No Argument.
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