Overzicht
John Bernard William Maitland (1826–1894) was, among other roles, a notary in Dinxperlo and, from 1882 to 1894, in Aalten. In addition, he served as a deputy cantonal court judge and was a member of the Provincial States of Gelderland.
John Bernard William Maitland was born on 7 May 1826 in Vorden, the son of retired captain John Maitland and Catharina Willemina Mellink. On 28 October 1862, he married Bernarda Aleida Schepers in Dinxperlo. This marriage produced three sons and a daughter, all born in Dinxperlo.
All three sons passed away at a young age, also in Dinxperlo; one died after just 15 days (Bernard), while the other two reached the ages of only 8 (John) and 17 (Dirk). Only their daughter, Catharina Antoinette Bernarda, reached adulthood, married and had children of her own.
Profession and residence
On 16 December 1859, Maitland was appointed notary in Dinxperlo by Royal Decree. Up to that point, he had been working as a candidate notary (kandidaat-notaris) in Vorden. Two months later, on 16 February 1860, he was additionally appointed deputy cantonal court judge in Aalten. He held this position until the Aalten cantonal court was abolished in 1877.
Op 18 juli 1882 werd Maitland benoemd tot notaris te Aalten, als opvolger van notaris B.A. Roelvink, die eerder dat jaar was overleden. Samen met zijn vrouw en dochter nam hij zijn intrek in het huis van wijlen notaris Roelvink aan de Gasthuisstraat (tegenwoordig Haartsestraat). Omstreeks 1886 verhuisden zij naar een statig huis in de Landstraat, wat tegenwoordig nummer 41 heeft.
Public and civic roles
Alongside his profession, Maitland was also active in civic life. In Dinxperlo, for instance, he served as the director of the ‘Aurora’ choral society. From 1877 to 1885, Maitland was a member of the Provincial States of Gelderland, representing the electoral district of Aalten.
En in 1892 nodigde Maitland ‘een aantal ingezetenen’ van Aalten uit in de sociëteit, om van gedachten te wisselen over de oprichting van een plaatselijke VVV. Om dat doel te bereiken zouden “van de schoonste punten photographiën genomen worden en wandelkaarten gemaakt”. Wij hebben echter geen aanwijzingen kunnen vinden dat dit ook daadwerkelijk heeft plaatsgevonden.
Passing
John Bernard William Maitland passed away on 11 October 1894 in Aalten. He was buried at the Old Cemetery on Varsseveldsestraatweg.
He was succeeded by P. Losecaat Vermeer, who until then had been a candidate notary in Nijmegen.
