Agricultural National Bank, Pittsfield, MA (Charter 1082)
Agricultural National Bank, Pittsfield, MA (Chartered 1865 - Open past 1935)
Town History
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Pittsfield’s population was 43,927 at the 2020 census. Although the population has declined in recent decades, Pittsfield remains the third largest municipality in Western Massachusetts, behind only Springfield and Chicopee.
In 1738, a wealthy Bostonian named Col. Jacob Wendell bought 24,000 acres of lands known originally as Pontoosuck, a Mohican word meaning "a field or haven for winter deer", as a speculative investment. He planned to subdivide and resell to others who would settle there. He formed a partnership with Philip Livingston, a wealthy kinsman from Albany, New York, and Col. John Stoddard of Northampton, who had claim to 1,000 acres here.
A group of young men came and began to clear the land in 1743, but the threat of Indian raids around the time of King George's War soon forced them to leave, and the land remained unoccupied by Englishmen for several more years.
Soon, many others arrived from Westfield, Massachusetts, and a village began to grow, which was incorporated as Pontoosuck Plantation in 1753 by Solomon Deming, Simeon Crofoot, Stephen Crofoot, Charles Goodrich, Jacob Ensign, Samuel Taylor, and Elias Woodward. Mrs. Deming was the first and the last of the original settlers, dying in March 1818 at the age of 92. Solomon Deming died in 1815 at the age of 96.
Pittsfield was incorporated in 1761. Royal Governor Sir Francis Bernard named Pittsfield after British nobleman and politician William Pitt. By 1761 there were 200 residents and the plantation became the Township of Pittsfield. By the end of the Revolutionary War, Pittsfield had grown to nearly 2,000 residents, including Colonel John Brown, who in 1776 began accusing Benedict Arnold of being a traitor, several years before Arnold defected to the British. Brown wrote in his winter 1776-77 handbill, "Money is this man's God, and to get enough of it he would sacrifice his country."
Pittsfield was primarily an agricultural area because of the many brooks that flowed into the Housatonic River; the landscape was dotted with mills that produced lumber, grist, paper, and textiles. With the introduction of Merino sheep from Spain in 1807, the area became the center of woolen manufacturing in the United States, an industry that would dominate the community's economy for almost a century.
Pittsfield had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all three of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized April 18, 1865
- Chartered April 28, 1865
- Succeeded Agricultural Bank
- Bank was Open past 1935
On February 20, 1818, the charter of the Agricultural Bank of Pittsfield was enacted and the petitioners named in the act, all Pittsfield residents, were Thomas Gold, David Campbell, Lemuel Pomeroy, John B. Root, Nathan Willis, Theodore Hinsdale, Jr., Henry C. Brown, Samuel D. Colt, Josiah Bissell, Timothy and Henry H. Childs, Jonathan and Phineas Allen and Joseph Shearer. On March 9, 1818, Nathan Willis, Thomas Gold, and Samuel D. Colt solicited subscriptions for capital stock of the Agricultural Bank of Berkshire to raise $100,000 in capital by issuing shares with a par value of $100. The subscription book was kept in Pittsfield at the office of Thomas A. Gold, Esq. Due to unfavorable weather for travel, subscriptions were kept open until April 20. The meeting scheduled for the 8th was moved to the 27th of April at Cohen's Coffee House in Pittsfield.
Of the original stock, a total of $90,000 was subscribed by Boston men, Nathan Appleton, William Appleton, John Bellows, and William Cochran. Of this group, Nathan Appleton was perhaps best known as his daughter married Henry W. Longfellow, the poet. At that time Nathan Appleton's family spent summers in Pittsfield. They occupied what was known as the Longfellow House at 156 East Street. It was built in 1790 by a Mr. Noble, purchased by Thomas Gold and upon his death passed to his son Thomas Augustus "Gus" Gold. Nathan Appleton married a daughter of Gus Gold. In 1853 it was conveyed by Mr. Appleton to Thomas F. Plunkett and it would stay in the Plunkett family for many years.
Ezekiel R. Colt, cashier, announced a stockholders' meeting on August 31 and reminded all that the first installment was due before or on that day. Mr. Colt was the first cashier and served from 1818 until he resigned in 1853. Mr. Colt was succeeded in 1853 by John R. Warriner who held the office until 1882 when he was elected president. The bank's presidents were Thomas Gold from 1818 to 1826; Henry C. Brown, 1826-1827; Edward A. Newton, 1827-1830; Henry Shaw, 1830-1841; Edward A. Newton again, 1841-1845; Nathan Willis, 1845-1849, Mr. Newton for a third time, 1849-1854; George W. Campbell, 1854-1861; and Thomas F. Plunkett, 1861-1865.
| Years | Cashier | President |
|---|---|---|
| 1818-1826 | Ezekiel R. Colt | Thomas Gold |
| 1826-1827 | Ezekiel R. Colt | Henry C. Brown |
| 1827-1830 | Ezekiel R. Colt | Edward A. Newton |
| 1827-1830 | Ezekiel R. Colt | Henry Shaw |
| 1830-1841 | Ezekiel R. Colt | Edward A Newton |
| 1841-1845 | Ezekiel R. Colt | Nathan Willis |
| 1845-1849 | Ezekiel R. Colt | Nathan Willis |
| 1849-1853 | Ezekiel R. Colt | Edward A. Newton |
| 1853-1854 | John R. Warriner | Edward A. Newton |
| 1854-1861 | John R. Warriner | George W. Campbell |
| 1861-1865 | John R. Warriner | Thomas F. Plunkett |
On Monday, October 6, 1856, at the annual meeting of the stockholders, the following gentlemen were chosen directors: George W. Campbell, Thomas F. Plunkett, Edward A. Newton, Ensign H. Kellogg, Wm. B. Cooley.
On Thursday, April 6, 1865, at a special meeting of the stockholders of the Agricultural Bank, votes were passed authorizing the directors to convert the bank into a National Banking Association. J.R. Warriner was Cashier. On April 28, 1865, Freeman Clark, Comptroller of the Currency, authorized the Agricultural National Bank of Pittsfield to commence the business of banking. On June 1 the Agricultural Bank commenced business as the Agricultural National Bank.
On June 14, 1865, at a meeting of the directors, the following officers were chosen: Hon. Ensign H. Kellogg, president; Phinehas Allen, vice president; and John R. Warriner, cashier. A resolution was passed stating "That the prosperity and usefulness of this cherished institution have never been greater than during the last years of its life, during the Presidency of the Hon. Thomas F. Plunkett, and that while the Bank is under great obligations to him for the ability, fidelity and care with which he has discharged its duties, the directors desire personally to thank him for that uniform official kindness and courtesy by which their duties have been made easy and agreeable."
On Tuesday, January 9, 1866, Messrs. E.H. Kellogg, P. Allen, Thos. F. Plunkett, Wm. B. Cooley, W.M. Root, David S. Francis, Edwin Clapp, Josiah Carter and Z.M Crane were chosen directors for the ensuing year. The directors re-elected Hon. E.H. Kellogg, president; Phinehas Allen, vice president. The quarterly report signed by J.R. Warriner, cashier, as of April 2, 1866, showed Resources of $647,510.63 including Notes and bills discounted, $248,234.62, Banking house $8,800, U.S. Bonds to secure circulation $200,000, and Liabilities included capital stock of $200,000, Surplus of $28,229.76, notes in circulation $158,500, and individual deposits of $190,973.45.
On Tuesday, January 18, 1870, at the annual meeting of stockholders, Messrs. Ensign H. Kellogg, Phinehas Allen, Thos. F. Plunkett, Wm. B. Cooley, Washington M. Root, Josiah Carter, Edwin Clapp, David S. Francis and Jarvis N. Dunham were chosen directors for the ensuing year. The directors re-elected Ensign H. Kellogg, president and Phinehas Allen, vice president.
On Sunday morning, October 31, 1875, Hon. Thomas F. Plunkett, the well-known democratic politician of western Massachusetts, died at his residence in Pittsfield at the age of 71 years. He was born in Lenox, and began his business life in Chester, removing to Pittsfield in 1836. Soon afterwards he bought the Pittsfield cotton mills and became a very prosperous manufacturer, retiring from business in 1866. He was often in the Legislature, member of the Senate in '42, '43, and '62 and of the House in '34, '35, '69, '70 and '75. As a legislator, he was a well-known economist, his counsel was much sought, and his opinions, especially on finance, carried weight. Mr. Plunkett spent much time and energy in building the Stockbridge and Pittsfield Railroad, in organizing the Ashley waterworks, in the formation of the Pittsfield gas company, and in buying and laying out the cemetery. He was State director of the Boston & Albany Railroad in '42, '69 and '70, trustee of the Worcester lunatic asylum from '46 to '49, a director in the Berkshire county savings bank and president of the Agricultural National Bank and Berkshire Life Insurance Company for several years. While in Europe some years ago, Mr. Plunkett unconsciously became a study for the character of "The Senator" in James De Mille's Dodge Club.
On January 13, 1874, at the annual meeting of stockholders, Messrs. E.H. Kellogg, W.M. Root, Thomas F. Plunkett, Edwin Clapp, Josiah Carter, David S. Francis, J.N. Dunham, J.L. Peck, and William R. Plunkett were chosen as directors. The directors elected E.H. Kellogg, president and Washington M. Root, vice president.
On January 10, 1899, stockholders of the Agricultural bank elected the following directors: W.M. Crane, W.R. Plunkett, I.D. Ferrey, W.A. Whittlesey, A.H. Rice, F.W. Dutton, R.W. Adam, F.G. Crane, and H.A. Francis. The latter was elected to succeed the late James L. Warriner. The election of officers was deferred until next Monday. On Monday, January 16, the directors choose officers for the following year. Lieut. Gov. W. Murray Crane was elected president and W.R. Plunkett, vice president.
From 1818 the Agricultural bank occupied a building on the site of the Athenaeum. The old building was sold and moved in 1853 to 424 East Street, where it was used as a dwelling. From 1853 to 1868 the bank occupied a two-story building it constructed on a lot bought from William G. Backus which was located just east of the first building on the south side of the park in Pittsfield. In 1868, the directors voted to move to quarters in the Berkshire Life Insurance Company building where it remained until 1908 when it moved into the magnificent four-story structure erected on the George Brown property on the east side of North Street.
In January 1926, the directors were Irving D. Ferrey, president; Frank W. Dutton, vice president; Arthur H. Rice, president, A.H. Rice Company; Henry A. Francis, president, Pontoosuc Woolen Manufacturing Company; John C. Crosby, justice of the supreme judicial court; Simon England, England Brothers' Dry Goods; C.C. Chesney, manager, General Electric Company, Pittsfield works; Winthrop M. Crane, Jr., president Crane & Co., Inc., Dalton; William L. Adam, treasurer, Berkshire County Savings Bank; James R. Savery, treasurer, Berkshire Woolen Company; John Barker, vice president, Berkshire Life Insurance Company; Fred G. Crane, Jr., treasurer, Crane & Co., Inc., Dalton.
On Monday, January 8, 1962, Laurence R. Connor, president of the Agricultural National Bank since 1930, was elevated to the post of chairman of the board. He was only the second man to be elected to the chairmanship in the bank's 144 years. Named to succeed him as president was Gardner L. Brown who had been executive vice president since 1960. Mr. Connor Joined the bank in 1927 as trust officer after service as chief trust department examiner for the comptroller of the currency. At the age of 31 he was elected president to succeed Winthrop M. Crane Jr., who was serving as interim president at the time. The new president came to the bank in 1960 from Lewiston, Maine where he had been executive vice president of the First National Bank of Lewiston. The proposed merger of the North Adams National Bank and the Agricultural National Bank of Pittsfield was expected to become effective by the end of March, if the stockholders of the two banks and the federal regulators gave their approval. The resulting institution would take the name of First Agricultural National Bank of Berkshire County. On January 9, 1962, directors of the North Adams National Bank, who previously had voted for the merger, gave formal approval to the agreement of consolidation. Directors of Agricultural National had approved the agreement Monday. In the new institution, Laurence R. Connor, would retain his position as chairman of the board, and Gardner L. Brown would be president. Other officers would be Charles W. Isbell, Senior Vice President; Paul K. Fodder, Senior Vice President and Trust Officer; and Ralph E. Ballou, Marvin R. Denzel, Thomas F. Plunkett, Jr., and Selwyn I. Atherton, vice presidents. On April 2, 1962, the Comptroller of the Currency, James J. Saxon, approved the consolidation.
On April 2, 1963, the proposed consolidation of the National Mahaiwe Bank of Great Barrington and the First Agricultural National Bank of Berkshire County received the tentative approval of the comptroller of the currency. The plan of consolidation had been approved previously by directors of the two banks. The approval of the comptroller of the currency was given subject to the approval of the shareholders. On August 1 last year the First National Bank of Adams joined the merger and on Oct. 1 the institution opened a branch in Dalton. National Mahaiwe Bank of Great Barrington operated a branch in Sheffield, giving the First Agricultural National offices in six communities with total assets in excess of $46 million and trust assets of more than $62 million.
In 1984, the First Agricultural National Bank was bought by Multibank Financial Corp. Ten years later it was bought by Bank of Boston. In 1996, when Bank of Boston merged with BayBank, it became BankBoston until November 1998 when it was acquired by Banknorth Group Inc., of Burlington, Vermont and became First Massachusetts Bank.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The Agricultural National Bank of Pittsfield, MA
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $3,222,360 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1865 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 356,346 notes (356,346 large size and No small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments Original Series 3x1-2 1 - 7750 Original Series 4x5 1 - 11100 Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 1000 Original Series 3x10-20 1251 - 2050 Original Series 20 1001 - 1250 Original Series 50-100 1 - 484 Series 1875 3x1-2 1 - 3860 Series 1875 4x5 1 - 7660 Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 2101 Series 1875 50-100 1 - 140 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 11678 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 9416 1882 Brown Back 50-100 1 - 990 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 3500 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 8800 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 8801 - 29352
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1865 - 1936):
Presidents:
- Hon. Thomas Fitzpatrick Plunkett, 1865-1865
- Ensign Hosmer Kellogg, 1866-1881
- John Root Warriner, 1882-1889
- James Lyman Warriner, 1889-1898
- Winthrop Murray Crane, (Sr.), 1899-1903
- Irving Dwight Ferrey, 1904-1925
- Frank Wood Dutton, 1926-1928
- Winthrop Murray Crane, Jr., 1929-1929
- Laurence Randolph Connor, 1930-1935
Cashiers:
- John Root Warriner, 1865-1881
- Irving Dwight Ferrey, 1882-1903
- Frank Wood Dutton, 1904-1918
- Clark James Harding, 1919-1931
- Henry M. White, 1933-1935
Other Bank Note Signers
- Jarvis Nelson Dunham, Vice President ~1870s
- There are currently no known Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.
Wiki Links
- Massachusetts Bank Note History
- General information on Pittsfield (Wikipedia)
- General information on Berkshire County (Wikipedia)
- General information on Massachusetts (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Pittsfield, MA, Wikipedia
- Don C. Kelly, National Bank Notes, A Guide with Prices. 6th Edition (Oxford, OH: The Paper Money Institute, 2008).
- Dean Oakes and John Hickman, Standard Catalog of National Bank Notes. 2nd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1990).
- Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Wed., Mar. 11, 1818.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Wed., Apr. 15, 1818.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Wed., Aug. 26, 1818.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., July 21, 1853.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., Apr. 13, 1865.
- The Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., May 18, 1865.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., June 1, 1865.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., June 22, 1865.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., Jan. 11, 1866.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., Apr. 5, 1866.
- The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., Jan. 20, 1870.
- The Berkshire County Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., Jan. 22, 1874.
- New England Farmer, Boston, MA, Sat., Nov. 6, 1875.
- The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Tue., Jan. 10, 1899.
- The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Tue., Jan. 17, 1899.
- The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Tue., Apr. 13, 1926. A sketch of the bank may be found here.
- The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Mon., Nov. 19, 1928.
- The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Mon., Jan. 8, 1962.
- The North Adams Transcript, North Adams, MA, Wed., Jan. 10, 1962.
- The North Adams Transcript, North Adams, MA, Mon., Apr. 2, 1962.
- The North Adams Transcript, North Adams, MA, Tue., Apr. 2, 1963.
- The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Fri., Dec. 23, 1983.
- The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA, Thu., Apr. 13, 2000.