Aalten, Bredevoort and the surrounding hamlets were formerly divided into wards known as rotten (singular: rot). Each ward had an appointed rotmeester. Their task was to convey official notices and other instructions from the central administration in Bredevoort to the residents of their ward.
Many people in Aalten will associate the term rot with the ‘mill on ‘t Rot’ and the surrounding area. The village of Aalten, however, once had eight rotten. In addition to the official matters organised by each rot, there were also more informal customs in which residents organised themselves within their ward, such as the Easter bonfires.
Rotmeesters in 1748
Village of Aalten: Roelof ten Dam, Jan Cuenink, Salomon te Bokkel, Garrit Brethouwer, Gerrit Jan Rots, Willem Kolenbrander, Gerrit Evers and Roelof Hesselink.
Bredevoort: Jannes Wenink, Jan Mentink, Berent Helders, Berent Schallenberg, Lammert te Kaveste
Hamlets: still to be researched…
Rotmeesters in 1784
Aalten – 8 rotten
- A.A. Stumph
- Jan Carlier
- J. Hn. Manschot
- Isak te Boekel
- Harme Jan ten Dam
- Jan Evers
- Hn. Gr. Degener
- Gr. Jan Prins
Barlo – 4 rotten
- Hr. Winkelhorst
- Hr. Jan te Bockel
- Jan Niehof
- Dr. Jan te Boekel op te Neet
Dale – 3 rotten
- Jan Wigers
- of the late Gert ten Velde
- of the demolished Brunink
Haart – 3 rotten
- Arent Jentink
- Rijnder ter Haar
- Hn. Hunink
Heurne – 2 rotten
- Dr. Goorheus
- Hendrik Ongena
Lintelo – 8 rotten
- Rijnder op den Heuvel
- Willem Sonder
- Derck Marod
- Bn. Hendrik Navis
- Jan Wolterink
- Roulof Oberink
- Jan Lisen
- Gr. Loman
IJzerlo – 4 rotten
- Gr. Jan Lensink
- Jan Prins
- Gert Hijdeman
- Toni Lensink
Do you have more information about the rotten and rotmeesters in Aalten, Bredevoort and the surrounding hamlets? Is there an overview showing the boundaries of these wards?
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