Bristol National Bank, Bristol, CT (Charter 2250)
Bristol National Bank, Bristol, CT (Chartered 1875 - Liquidated 1929)
Town History
Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, 20 miles southwest-west of Hartford. The city is also 120 miles southwest from Boston, and approximately 100 miles northeast of New York City. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 60,833. In 1870 the population was 3,788, growing to 28,451 by 1930.
In 1785, New Cambridge was incorporated as the town of Bristol, named after Bristol, England. By 1790, the industry for which the town later became famous was established by the pioneer of clock making, Gideon Roberts. Roberts began making wooden moment clocks and peddled them by horseback through Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. As Roberts' sons grew up and began helping with the business, Gideon increased production and Bristol clocks were soon sold all over the country. By the early 19th century, nearly all of the capital and skill in town was involved in the clock industry in some form or fashion.
Bristol is the location of the general studios of ESPN, and the location of Lake Compounce, the United States's oldest continuously operating theme park. Bristol was known as a clock-making city in the 19th century, and is the location of American Clock & Watch Museum. Bristol is the site of the former American Silver Company and its predecessor companies.
Bristol's nickname is the "Mum City", because it was once a leader in chrysanthemum production, holding an annual Bristol Mum Festival.
Bristol had one National Bank chartered during the Bank Note Era, and it issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized April 14, 1875
- Chartered April 21, 1875
- Liquidated June 21, 1929
- Absorbed by Bristol America Bank and Trust Company, Bristol
In October 1877, the village of Bristol had two hotels, the Commercial House with Dillaby as proprietor, and the Bristol Hotel. There was a lodge of Masons, Franklin lodge No. 56, and a flourishing lodge of Good Templars. The Bristol Cornet Band was known as an excellent musical organization throughout the state. The Bristol National Bank was building a new office near the depot of brick with stone trimmings. In addition to the larger clock concerns, notable were Dunbar Brothers and Wallace Barnes, clock springs, and E.M. Root, maker of clock ornaments.
On Tuesday, January 9, 1900, at the annual meeting of stockholders the following directors were elected: Harry S. Bartholomew, George W. Mitchell, Julian R. Holley, the Hon. Edward B. Dunbar, W.H. Nettleton, Charles S. Treadway, Morris L. Tiffany, John H. Sessions, Jr., and the Hon. John Birge. The directors elected the following officers: President, Charles S. Treadway; vice president, John H. Sessions, Jr.; cashier Morris L. Tiffany.
On June 21, 1929, the Bristol American Bank and Trust Company succeeded the Bristol National Bank, established in 1875, and would thereafter operate under a State Charter.
On Thursday, August 8, 1929, the consolidation of the Bristol American Bank and Trust Company, formerly the Bristol National Bank, and the American Trust Company of Bristol was approved by the State Bank Commission at a hearing held Thursday afternoon in the commission rooms. No one appeared in opposition of the consolidation plan. The authorized capital of the consolidated corporation was $300,000, divided into 12,000 shares at the par value of $25 each. C.T. Treadway, chairman of the board of directors of the Bristol American Bank and Trust Companv and William F. Calder, president of both banks, were present at the hearing. They were legally represented by Attorney S. Russell Mink. Recently, the Bristol National Bank liquidated and a charter was granted to the Bristol American Bank and Trust Company for the purpose of taking over the business of the national bank. This was all done with a view of combining the two institutions under a state charter. On August 31, 1929, the Bristol American Bank and Trust Company consolidated with the American Trust Company under the name of The Bristol American Bank and Trust Company.
On March 25, 1934, Morris L. Tiffany, 74, cashier of the Bristol Bank and Trust Company died from a heart attack at his home in Sessions Street. Tiffany spent his life in local banking and was a member of the Masonic order and the Shrine. In April Joseph A. Valentine, Jr., secretary of the Bristol Bank and Trust Company, was elected cashier of the bank to succeed the late Morris L. Tiffany. Philip C. Rouleau was elected assistant cashier and J. Gordon warner was elected trust officer and assistant secretary.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The Bristol National Bank, Bristol, CT
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $2,983,750 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1875 and 1929. This consisted of a total of 342,620 notes (342,620 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 3x10-20 1 - 1800 Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 3366 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 2750 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 8340 1882 Date Back 4x5 1 - 9315 1882 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 6061 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 1665 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 1334 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1666 - 31235 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1335 - 22788
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1875 - 1929):
Presidents:
- John H. Sessions, 1875-1899
- Charles Seth Treadway, 1900-1904
- Edward Butler Dunbar, 1905-1906
- Charles Terry Treadway, 1907-1926
- William Patterson Calder, 1927-1928
Cashiers:
- Charles Seth Treadway, 1875-1899
- Morris L. Tiffany, 1900-1928
Other Bank Note Signers
- There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.
Wiki Links
- Connecticut Bank Note History
- General information on Bristol (Wikipedia)
- General information on Hartford County (Wikipedia)
- General information on Connecticut (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Bristol, CT, on 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
- Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Tue., Oct. 16, 1877.
- Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Jan. 10, 1900.
- Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Sun., June 30, 1929.
- Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Fri., Aug. 9, 1929.
- The Journal, Meriden, CT, Mon., Mar. 26, 1934.
- Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, Wed., Apr. 4, 1934.