Sheriff's Office History

Albemarle County Sheriff's Office 1952

History

In 1744 the Virginia General Assembly created Albemarle County by cutting off the northern portion of Goochland County.  The county seat was established at Scott's landing on the James River, in the heart of the new Albemarle County, when six magistrates were sworn in on the last day of February 1745.

The Albemarle County Sheriff's Office was created in 1745 and Joseph Thompson was appointed as the county's first sheriff.  In the early years of Albemarle County, sheriffs were appointed to office for a two year term.  It was not until 1895 that the citizens of Albemarle County elected the sheriff to a four year term in office.  Lucian Watts became the first elected sheriff of the county and served until 1911.

The Albemarle County Sheriff's Office served as the primary law enforcement agency in the county until 1983 when the Albemarle County Police Department was formed.  Sheriff George W. Bailey served as sheriff and as the first police chief of the newly formed police department.

Although the duties of the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office have changed over the years, it still proudly serves the citizens of Albemarle County.  Today, the sheriff's office is responsible for court security, prisoner transportation, and the service of civil process.

For additional history and stories of the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office please read "The Golden Badge" by Al Highsmith.

The Sheriffs of Albemarle County

2020 - Present Chan R. Bryant

2008 - 2019 J. E. "Chip" Harding

2000 - 2007 Edgar S. "Ed" Robb 

1988 - 1999 Terry Hawkins

1970 - 1987 George W. Bailey

1952 - 1970 W. Sherrard Cook

1922 - 1951 J. Mason Smith

1912 - 1921 C. M. Thomas

1895 - 1911 Lucian Watts

1851 - Charles Cocke

1849 - Thomas H. Brown

1847 - Richard Duke

1845 - Benjamin Ficklin

1843 - James Michie

1841 - Charles Brown

1839 - Francis Carr

1837 - William Woods, S.

1836 - Micajah Woods

1834 - Parmenas Rogers

1832 - John Rodes

1830 - Garrett White

1828 - William D. Meriwether

1825 - John Watson

1823 - Achilles Douglass

1821 - Charles Yancey

1819 - Charles Wingfield Jr.

1817 - Robert Davis

1815 - Benjamin Harris

1813 - Charles B. Hunton

1811 - Rice Garland

1809 - Tandy Key

1807 - Thomas Garth

1805 - Bezaleel Brown

1803 - William Michie

1801 - William D. Meriwether

1799 - Samuel Murrell

1797 - William Hughes

1795 - John Key

1793 - James Kerr

1791 - James Garland

1789 - Michael Thomas

1787 - George Gilmer

1785 - John Marks

1783 - Clifton Rodes

1781 - James Quarles

1757 - John Hunter, Nickolas Lewis, 
David Rodes, John Henderson

1755 - John Reid

1753 - Samuel Jordan

1751 - James Daniel

1749 - Charles Lynch

1747 - Edwin Hickman

1745 - Joseph Thompson

Special thanks to:
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
for the use of their files and pictures