The documents in this series result from the right of the Duke of Lancaster to appoint each year the Sheriff of the County Palatine of Lancaster. The records in this series only cover the period from 1684 to 1876. Each piece consists of bundles of folded documents, relating to the yearly appointment of a sheriff for the county. Each bundle may include one each of the following documents; sign manual of election, warrant for letters patent, draft letters patent, warrant for commission, commision, and oath of office.
Also included in the series are the documents addressed to commissioners in Lancashire to hear the oaths of each new sheriff and to certify that they had done so. These certificates and oaths are often found attached to the commissions. Small bundles of correspondence between Duchy officials, commissioners and the prospective sheriff can also be found from the 1830s.