The "poorter"ship of Turnhout 

The "poorter"ship was the statute of citizens, in the possession of all the city rights. Not everyone who during the "Ancien Régime" at Turnhout lived, in this case. If you were born out of a marriage from a citizen of Turnhout, you automaticly got the statute of a "poorter". Of cause this was the case for most of the Turnhout-people. You could also get the "poorter"ship, for example by wedding as a "foreigner" with a "poorters"daughter or by living in the city for over a year and paying taxes. The most easy way was however to buy one in as a "poorter". The "poorters"money that has to be paid for that fluctuated , and amounted in the 15de century doubel as much for foreigners who were born outside "Vlaanderen" as for the "Vlamish people". By acception the "poorter"ship was allowed for free, for example to persons who did a good turn to the city or persons who want to start a new company.

A proper life and privileges......

The statute of "poorter" was an important trump to build up a proper life. In the first way there are some priviliges on the juridical level. But more important are the economic priviliges, like exemption of toll in the whole of Vlaanderen and especially the possibility to practising of crafts in the city. 

Who wants to be admitted as a "Turnhoutse poorter", by marriage, lodge or bargain, must fill certain formalities. Each request was researched. One was not allowed to possession of a citizenship of another town or legal area. For that you could let yourself being "ontpoortered" and pay the "exueright" , a tax because of alienation of fortune from that city. A stranger who wants to buy the citizenship also must produce a proof of good behaviour. After resuming ones responsibility by the citymagistrate to be a candidate "poorter", accompanied by a town-dweller who was standing for surety, one must finaly to take the oath.

"Nieuwe Poorters te Turnhout" (E. van Autenboer)

The "poorter"books of Turnhout (1662-1797) were by  the keeper of the records R.Peeters provided with an index. In this index only the people are registered who bought there "poorter"ship.

In the so called “Nieuwe Poorters Te Turnhout (1663-1800)" the records in the "Poorters"book are being supplied with information from other sources. These sources are:

1.      The "Poortersbook" 1662-1796.

2.      The "Borgemeesters" bills.

3.      The accounts of the Holy Spirit.

4.      The specifications of the civil servant.

5.      The Parish Church registers.

6.      The orginal surety letters on the city-archive of Turnhout.

7.      The lists ofsurety letters who were brought in at Turnhout. 

8.      The maintained "poorters" letters or copy's of it archived at the city-archive.

In the historiography at the “Nieuwe Poorters te Turnhout 1663-1800" is wrote about two persons (three mentions) of our family.  Regards to the eight sources the mentioning is as follows:

Maria Theresia Eijkens

With regards to the surety: Surety-letter, Descending Kasterlee, date 1698,  Parish church register Marriages; number 6327 d.d. 17 may 1779 (Marriage with Jan Swanet = Joannes Antonius Swanet).

Jan Swanet (= Joannes Antonius Swanet)

See Maria Theresia Eijkens: Joannes Antonius Suanet.

Anthonis Swanet (= Joannes Antonius Swanet)