Vierschaarboeken (bevatten ook de Poortersboeken)
Item
Country
BE
Name of institution (English)
FelixArchief (Antwerp City Archives)
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
dut
Contact information: postal address
Oudeleeuwenrui 29, 2000 Antwerp
Contact information: phone number
0032 33389411
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
stadsarchief@antwerpen.be
Reference number
BE SA 266568
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Vierschaar (court) books, also containing the Poorters (burghers) books
Title (official language of the state)
Vierschaarboeken (bevatten ook de Poortersboeken)
Language of title
dut
Creator / accumulator
Hoge Vierschaar
Date(s)
1520/1795
Language(s)
dut
Extent
24 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Vierschaarboeken (Vierschaar books) are part of the Hoge vierschaar (High Court) series of the Stadsbestuur (City Council) fonds. It comprises judicial information concerning cases judged by that court. This series also contains the Poortersboeken (Burghers' books), in which over 28,000 immigrants were registered after their arrival in Antwerp. These names have been listed and are currently available for an online search. The information available in the archive database refers to the name, place of origin, and in some cases, also the occupation and the father's name of each individual. Florbela Veiga Frade (2006 and 2021) identified 58 burghers of the "Nação Portuguesa" (individuals of Portuguese origin) who were registered after arriving in Antwerp, between 1523 and 1666, mostly using the Poorters books. Some of them were Rodrigo Paz, who had arrived from Andalusia (Poortersboecken, 1533-1538, part I, p. 4), António Fernandes Lopes (Poortersboecken, 1541-1544, p. 2), Manuel Rodrigues, son of Rodrigues de Évora from Lisbon (Poortersboecken, 1533-1544, part II, 1559-1566, pp. 104-105), Diogo Rodrigo de Paiva (Poortersboecken, 1609-1795, part IV, 14/1/1609-24/4/1620, p. 16) and Gonçalo, Duarte and Fernando Ximenes (Poortersboecken, 1609-1795, part IV, 1/3/1620-10/12/1636).
Archival history
In the 13th century, the city of Antwerp kept its documents in the Town Hal, in a chest about two meters long, named "privilegiekom". The chest had 13 locks, whose keys were distributed among the city officials, and it could only be opened with the 13 keys. The development of the city and the growing complexity of its administration resulted in an increase in the number of documents. Therefore, the "privilegiekom" became too small to store all records. Prior to the French Revolution, the various city institutions headquartered in the Town Hall had the responsibility of keeping their own documents. However, in 1796, a city archivist was appointed to preserve and manage the archives. The city archive remained in the Town Hall until the first half of the 20th century. After that, the archive was moved to several different locations. During World War II, the most valuable documents were secured in a castle near Rochefort. In 1953, the archive was temporarily accommodated at Meirbrug. At last, on December 15, 1956, a new place in Venusstraat was inaugurated, and the city archives remained there for about 50 years. In 2006, the archive moved to the Sint-Felixpakhuis. Since then, it has been called the FelixArchief.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Vierschaar court dealt with criminal cases, disputes between individuals, and matters such as granting burghership or emancipation affairs. The sessions of this court were held with open doors and the punishments applied could include torture or the execution of the accused.
As to the Poortersboecken (Burghers' books), their creation is related to the fact that all foreigners who arrived in Antwerp prior to 1795 could only become full citizens by buying the "poorterschap" (citizenship). These new citizens were registered under the authority of the Hoge vierschaar (High Court). For the period from 1390 to 1443, the data of nearly 9,000 new Antwerp residents can be found in the Geberderde Daechseelboecken (Leatherbacked books) of the archives of the Hogere Vierspoel. From 1533 to 1795, the new "poorters" (burghers) were registered by an official of the Vierspoel at the Poortersboeken.
As to the Poortersboecken (Burghers' books), their creation is related to the fact that all foreigners who arrived in Antwerp prior to 1795 could only become full citizens by buying the "poorterschap" (citizenship). These new citizens were registered under the authority of the Hoge vierschaar (High Court). For the period from 1390 to 1443, the data of nearly 9,000 new Antwerp residents can be found in the Geberderde Daechseelboecken (Leatherbacked books) of the archives of the Hogere Vierspoel. From 1533 to 1795, the new "poorters" (burghers) were registered by an official of the Vierspoel at the Poortersboeken.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection is divided into 34 volumes, organised chronologically.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| FelixArchief (Stadsarchief Antwerpen) | Collections (official language of the state) |