Reeve
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REEVE. The name of an ancient English officer of justice, inferior in rank
to an alderman.
2. He was a ministerial officer, appointed to execute process, keep the
king's peace, and put the laws in execution. He witnessed all contracts and
bargains; brought offenders to justice, and delivered them to punishment;
took bail for such as were to appear at the county court, and presided at
the court or folcmote[?]. He was also called gerefa.
3. There were several kinds of reeves as the shire-gerefa, shire-reeve
or sheriff; the heh-gerefa, or high-sheriff, tithing-reeve, burgh or
borough-reeve.