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Happy May, and welcome back to Found in the Archives, a publication of The Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court, 19th Judicial Circuit, who proudly serves The City of Fairfax & Fairfax County. In this month's edition, we will discuss some of the records here at the HRC that relate to the Sherriff's Office and how they show they ways the Office of the Sheriff has changed in Fairfax County.
Fairfax County's first Sheriff, Lewis Ellzey, was appointed in 1742 when the county was established. In Virginia, Sheriffs were originally appointed by the Governor, and they were selected from the Justices of each county court. Our first records of a Sheriff being elected is an 1845 Order Book entry calling Orland W. Huntt the "Sheriff elect."
 Fairfax Court Order Book 1852 page 336
Here at the Historic Records Center, we have some exciting Sherriff's appointment documents. Before the Revolutionary War, William Adams was appointed Sheriff of Fairfax County in 1768 by Norborne Baron de Botetourt, Governor of the Colony of Virginia from 1768-1770. Later, in 1778, Governor Patrick Henry appointed Hector Ross to assist Sheriff Henry Gunnell. In our earliest Sherriff's records like these, the appointed Sherriff was often called the High-Sherriff, and those appointed to assist him were called Under-Sheriffs.
 Fairfax County Drawer X X-I-0006
 Fairfax County Drawer X X-I-0916
 Fairfax County Drawer X X-I-0916
The duties of Sheriffs have drastically changed throughout the history of Fairfax County. Along with modern duties like arresting the accused and serving subpoenas, Sheriffs and those appointed to assist them were responsible for public whippings, empaneling juries, and the keeping of the courthouse. In 1842, Sheriff Joshua Hutchison received a fine for failing to "keep good fires in the Court House." Sheriffs were also responsible for other duties that are now maintained by other parts of the County Government, like collecting taxes and tallying elections.
 Fairfax County Court Order Book 1842 page 41
We also have records of Sheriffs being reprimanded by the court for failing to perform their duties. In 1797, Sheriff John Moss was called to court for not supervising the jailer, who was collecting illegal fees from prisoners and failing to provide adequate nutrition to them.
 "Ordered that John Moss Sheriff be summoned to appear at the next court to show cause why an Information shall not be filed against him for neglecting to attend to the Gaoler [jailer] in the ordering of his said office."
Fairfax County Court Order Book 1797 page J, December 1797 Term
Today, Fairfax County has an elected Sheriff and hundreds of Deputy Sheriffs. While quite a few of their duties have changed, they still provide many of the same services to help keep our courthouse safe.
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