List of sheriffs of Essex County, Massachusetts

This is a list of sheriffs of Essex County, Massachusetts. In the earliest days of the county the office of sheriff was called the marshall.[1] Since 1692 the office has been called the sheriff.[1] The Sheriff originally was an appointed office, it has been an elected position since 1856.[1] The sheriff is elected to serve a six-year term.

The current Essex County Sheriff is Kevin Coppinger.

Sheriff Picture Term Party Note
George Corwin[1] 1692–1696
William Gedney[1] 1696–1702
Thomas Wainwright[1] 1702
William Gedney[1]
Daniel Denison[1] 1708–1710
William Gedney[1] 1710–1715
John Denison[1] 1715–1722
John Denison[1] July 3, 1722 – December 12, 1728 Joint Sheriff of Essex County with Benjamin Marston from July 3, 1722, to December 12, 1728.
Benjamin Marston[1] July 3, 1722, – December 12, 1728 Joint Sheriff of Essex County with John Denison from July 3, 1722, to December 12, 1728.
Benjamin Marston[1] December 12, 1728 – January 24, 1745-6 Joint Sheriff of Essex County with John Denison from July 3, 1722, to December 12, 1728.
Robert Hale[1] 1746–1766
Richard Saltonstall[1] 1766–1779
Michael Farley[1] 1779–1792
Bailey Bartlett[1] 1792–1831
Joseph E. Sprague[1] 1831–1852
Frederick Robinson[1] 1852–1854 Republican
Thomas E. Payson[1] 1854–1856 Whig
James Cary[1] 1856–1866
Horatio G. Herrick[1] 1866–1893 Republican
Samuel A. Johnson 1893–1919 Republican Died in office.
Patrick F. Tierney 1919–1921
Arthur G. Wells 1921–1932 Republican Died in office.
Frank E. Raymond 1932–1953 Republican
Earl Wells 1953–1964 Republican Died in office. Succeeded by his son.
Roger E. Wells 1964 Republican Acting
William J. Casey 1964–1965 Democratic Appointed by Gov. Endicott Peabody
Roger E. Wells 1964–1975 Republican
Robert Ellis Cahill 1975–1978 Democratic Resigned after he suffered a heart attack and stroke.[2]
Charles Reardon 1978–1996 Democratic Resigned after pleading guilty to corruption charges.[3]
Frank G. Cousins, Jr 1996–2017 Republican Appointed in 1996 by Massachusetts Governor William Weld.
Kevin Coppinger 2017–present Democratic
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Hurd, Duane Hamilton (1888), History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Volume I., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: J. W. Lewis & Company, p. xi
  2. ^ Guiley, Rosemary (2011). Haunted Salem: Strange Phenomena in the Witch City: Strange Phenomena in the Witch City. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811744218.
  3. ^ Lorant, Richard (September 18, 1996). "Essex County sheriff resigns in corruption". SouthCoastToday.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.