History of Sheriff
Cheshire County High Sheriff’s
New Hampshire was divided in 5 counties in 1771, Cheshire County being one. In 1827 Cheshire County was divided into two Cheshire and Sullivan Counties. Prior to 1878 High Sheriff’s were appointed.
During 1771 – 1877 the High Sheriff was appointive.
Chapter 23
An act to regulate the choice of State and County officers under the amended constitution.
Section 2 – … sheriff … shall be elected in November 1878 for each county in the state who upon being duly qualified shall assume the duties of their respective offices on the first Wednesday of June 1879 …
1st 1879-1880 Ralph Holt
Holt was the first elected Sheriff in Cheshire County. He was elected to Office Nov 1878, took office in June 1879 until January 1880, when he had to had to step down due to his age (70), but remain with the Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff for many years after.
Current
Sheriff Eliezer “Eli” Rivera is Cheshire County’s 13th elected Sheriff since 1879
Rivera is the first elected democratic Sheriff in Cheshire County since 1879, and the first person of color elected to the office in the State of New Hampshire.
Sheriff Eli Rivera has been researching the history of the Sheriff’s Office with the help of the Historical Society of Cheshire County. If you have any information about the Sheriff’s Office please feel free to reach out to Sheriff Eli Rivera at erivera@co.cheshire.nh.us.