Our Heritage
Explore the rich history of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Here you'll find a brief account of our beginnings, a record of past sheriffs, and a gallery of historical photos.
How We Began
The roots of law enforcement in Beaufort County date to the early 1700s, when the area was part of Bath County in colonial North Carolina. Prior to 1726, a single Provost Marshal served the entire province. In 1726, John Bonde became the first dedicated Provost Marshal for Bath County.
From 1726 to 1738, the Provost Marshal was the county's chief law officer. In 1729, Bath County was dissolved, and the Beaufort Precinct was established as a county. In 1738, the title of Provost Marshal was changed to Sheriff, and William Ormond was appointed as Beaufort County's first Sheriff. This transition laid the foundation for today's Beaufort County Sheriff's Office—one of North Carolina's oldest continuous law enforcement agencies.
Past Sheriffs
Below are the past Sheriffs of Beaufort County. Special thanks to the George H. & Laura E. Brown Library for their assistance in compiling this information. We will continue to update this information as able. If you have quality pictures of any of our Sheriffs or other photos pertaining to the sheriff's office, please consider sharing them with us to help honor our heritage.
Date
1738-1739
1739-1740
1740-1754
1754-1755
1755-1758
1758-1760
1760-1762
1762-1764
1764-1769
1769-1771
1771-1780
1780-1784
1784-1785
1785-1786
1786-1787
1787-1788
1788-1791
1791-1792
1792-1793
1793-1794
Name
W. Ormand
John Barrow
No Record
Thomas Williams
James Ellison
Thomas Bonner
James Ellison
Thomas Respess
Roger Ormond
Thomas Respess
Alderson Ellison
No Record
Richard Respess
Alderson Ellison
David Perkins
Edmond McKeel
John Kennedy
John Smaw
John Kennedy
Isiah Woodard
Date
1794-1795
1795-1796
1796-1797
1797-1798
1798-1799
1799-1801
1801-1806
1806-1807
1807-1808
1808-1810
1810-1813
1813-1814
1814-1815
1815-1816
1816-1817
1817-1818
1818-1821
1821-1822
1822-1823
1823-1826
Name
John Smaw
John Kennedy
Lewis Blount
Isiah Woodard
Lewis Blount
James Bonner
Stephen Owens
Wm. Smaw
Slade Pearce
Thomas Ellison
Slade Pearce
Wm. Smaw
Thomas Ellison
Wm. Smaw
Slade Pearce
Wm. Smaw
Allen Grist
Stephen Owens
Allen Grist
Stephen Owens
Date
Name
1826-1827
1827-1828
1828-1829
1829-1830
1830-1831
1831-1832
1832-1838
1838-1839
1839-1845
1845-1855
1855-1860
1860-1867
1867-1870
1870-1871
1871-1874
1874-1876
1876-1878
1878-1881
1881-1883
1883-1906
Allen Grist
Stephen Owens
Slade Pearce
E. Clark
Allen Grist
Stephen Owens
Allen Grist
Wm. D. Roscoe
Allen Grist
Henry A. Ellison
Jarvis B. Harding
No Record
S. T. Carrow
F. J. Satchwell
W. B. Campbell
F. J. Satchwell
S. T. Carrow
F. J. Satchwell
S. T. Carrow
R. T. Hodges
Date
Name
1906-1906
1906-1914
1914-1918
1918-1930
1930-1931
1931-1931
1931-1932
1932-1962
1962-1974
1974-1981
1981-1998
1998-2014
2014-2022
2022-
Dr. Joshua Tayloe
George E. Ricks
William B. Windley
James H. Harris
Fenner B. Cutler
Millie M. Cutler
James H. Harris
William Rumley
Jack D. Harris
Ottis E. Davis
Nelson L. Sheppard
Robert A. Jordan
Ernest L. Coleman
Scott Hammonds
Historical Photos Gallery
Over the past few decades, Beaufort County has seen significant changes in policing styles and law enforcement services. To stay proactive, the agency operates as a full-service law enforcement agency divided into seven divisions: Patrol, Administration, Investigations, Telecommunications, Special Operations, Support Services, and Detention.
Share Your Photos
If you have any photos pertaining to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, or if you would like to provide information about any of the photos shown on this page, we would love for you to help us honor our heritage by sharing that information with us. Use the form below to get started!