what is a reeve

A reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown in Anglo-Saxon England, such as the chief magistrate of a town or district. After the Norman conquest, it was an office held by a man of lower rank, appointed as a manager). The word "reeve" was originally a general term, but soon acquired a more technical meaning. Different types of reeves were attested, including high-reeve, town-reeve, port-reeve, shire-reeve (predecessor to the sheriff), reeve of the hundred, and the reeve of a manor). In some manors, the reeve was appointed by the lord of the manor, but in others, he was elected by the peasants, subject or not to a right of veto by the lord. He was usually himself a peasant, and was chosen once a year, generally at Michaelmas). In modern times, the term "reeve" has different meanings depending on the country. In Canada, it refers to the elected head of a village or town council in certain provinces. In the United Kingdom, it can refer to a person of high rank representing the crown, or an overseer or superintendent of workers, tenants, or an estate.