Jan Steven Schaars Prins

State Constable

Jan Steven Schaars Prins was born in Aalten on 23 February 1817, the son of farmer Laurens Prins and Anna Elisabeth Hiebink. In 1823, the family lived at the address Aalten 3, currently Kerkstraat 5, and his father was listed with the profession of innkeeper.

On 20 April 1843, Jan Steven Schaars Prins married Johanna Walvoort. Together they had three children. After Johanna passed away in 1851, he remarried Berendeken Walvoort in 1853. They had six children together.

From 1858 to 1885, Jan Steven Schaars Prins was a state constable in Aalten. The mere mention of his name was enough to strike fear into people’s hearts. The youth would retreat into their shells when his name was mentioned, and it was used to get naughty rascals to go to bed.

But adults also held him in awe. He was an imposing figure, which in itself helped to restore order. And when he took action, order was restored immediately.

Schaars Prins was, so to speak, a powerhouse who had faced many a challenge. He often went out alone to cite dangerous poachers, but he also demonstrated his strength against criminals. Reportedly, he was once overpowered by poachers in the Aaltense Goor and tied to a tree. He was freed by a passerby several hours later.

In 1876, Schaars Prins received an honourable distinction from King Wilhelm I of Prussia for courageous behaviour shown the previous year during the arrest of two German murderers who had escaped from the prison in Bocholt.

Jan Steven Schaars Prins passed away on 23 August 1893, in Aalten.

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