The Sheriff of Canterbury was responsible for the discharge out of the Royal Exchequer of the money demanded of the City for the 'fee farm' which lasted until the reforms in 1837.  The Sheriff was not paid a salary but collected various fees which would have enabled a 'salary' to be claimed. These fees included, for example, £40 for a conviction for burglary; aquiring various assets gained by 'deodand' (which is the 'sacrificing' of any belongings that caused a person's death); payments for executions and court fees.  In the 1630's there was considerable trouble over payment of the Sheriff's expenses because of their complexities, such as being so numerous, so small in amount and very difficult to accurately determine.  The contention lasted over many years until, in the end, the City agreed to be liable for them all. 

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The Sheriff of Canterbury sat at Quarter Sessions and was also responsible for arranging executions: having coffins and gallows made, purchasing ropes and hiring the executioner etc.  Records explain the costs in accordance to the time period.  In July 1635 there is mention of 13d disbursed at the exectution of Susan Whentnall.  In 1641 a sum of £1. 17s. 5d was given to the gaoler for carrying up a person named Moore, a popish priest accused of speaking treason against Charles I by extolling the Pope's supremacy.  In 1653 £4. 10s. was paid to a Town Sergeant in connection with the execution of a man, William Lee,  accused of poisoning his wife. 

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Each of these sums were added to the Sheriff's Account.  Also in 1661 the Sheriff was paid £3. 8s. 2d in connection with the execution of some witches. 

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The Sheriff could, in turn, equally be fined.  Fines were issued for non-attendance on the Mayor (usually 3d) or at the Cathedral (more serious, at 10s).  In 1570, the Sheriff was fined

3s 4d for 'wearing his beard', but in 1587 another Sheriff was given leniency and allowed to wear his hat in Burghmote (presumably when others would be expected to remove theirs) for having a 'disease in his head'. 

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After the government reforms in 1835, from 1837 onwards the Sheriff of Kent was also the Sheriff of Canterbury, although accepted separately.  The Office became a solely honorary or ceremonial one since the abolition of the Quarter Sessions in 1972, which it remains today.