Farmers NB of Bucks County, Bristol, PA (Charter 717)
Farmers NB of Bucks County, Bristol, PA (Chartered 1865 - Open past 1935)
Town History
Bristol, Pennsylvania
Bristol is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is located 23 miles northeast of Center City in Philadelphia, 71 miles southeast of Allentown, 5 miles southeast of Hulmeville, and lies opposite Burlington, New Jersey, on the Delaware River.
Bristol was settled in 1681 and first incorporated in 1720. After 1834, it became very important to the development of the American Industrial Revolution as the terminus city of the Delaware Canal, providing greater Philadelphia with the day's high quality anthracite coal from the Lehigh Canal via Easton. The canal and a short trip on the Delaware River also gave the town access to the mineral resources available in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York via each of the Morris Canal, the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and the Delaware and Raritan Canal, and connected the community to those markets and trade from New York City.
Although its charter was revised in 1905, the original charter remains in effect, making it the third-oldest borough in Pennsylvania after Chester and Germantown. It had 7,104 residents in 1900; 9,256 in 1910; 10,273 in 1920; and 11,895 in 1940. The most recent 2020 census showed its population at 9,861.
Samuel Clift founded the Borough of Bristol, having received a land grant from Edmund Andros, who was then governor of New York. The grant became effective on March 14, 1681 (new style) or March 4, 1681 (old style) at the same time as William Penn's Charter from Charles II became effective. Clift was required by the grant to maintain ferry service across the Delaware River to Burlington, New Jersey, and to run a public house or inn. The inn later became known as the George II.
By the 1880s, Bristol Borough was home to many factories, including companies manufacturing wall paper and carpet. In World War I, the Bristol Borough docks had sufficient space for a shipyard to construct twelve building slips for the construction of merchant vessels. In 1917 Averell Harriman organized the Bristol Borough shipyards founding the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation (later called Merchant-Sterling) and given the U-boat menace, would land a contract to build 40 identical cargo ships for the war. The residential area that developed around the shipyards was soon named Harriman, Pennsylvania, and most of the housing built therein is still in use today. In 1922 Harriman was annexed by Bristol Borough. Most of the shipping was finished too late to enter World War I, but some of the shipyard's output was used post-war in relief and troop support missions. The majority of the contracts were canceled in 1919, and the ship yards rapidly became excess real estate. Between the two world wars, the eighty-acres of the shipyard were let out to various concerns, including one area converted to building amphibious planes—the flying boats technology which was the heart and soul of long distance air travel until at the time. During World War II the old shipyards were used to build those and other airplanes, but most of the manufacturing in WW II was not directly related to the war.
In 1961, Bristol Borough gained national attention when the song "Bristol Stomp", by The Dovells hit #2 on the Billboard pop chart. The song remains a local favorite, and it is often played at ceremonies, parades, and sporting events.
Bristol Borough was settled in 1681, and named after Bristol, England. It was originally used as a port and dock. In 1697, the Pennsylvania Provincial Council ordered that a town be laid out in the location. A petition was submitted by Joseph Bond, Anthony Burton, John Hall and William Wharton to the Council for incorporation, and was granted in 1702. Until 1725, Bristol Borough served as county seat of Bucks County.
Bristol had one National Bank chartered during the Bank Note Era, and it issued National Bank Notes.
Hulmeville, Pennsylvania
Hulmeville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,003 at the 2010 census. The Hulme family name, originally DeHoulme, is of Norman origin, dating from William the Conqueror. Members of the family originally settled in Lancashire, England, a branch later moved to Cheshire. The American family came from this branch. George Hulme Sr. and George Hulme Jr. immigrated to Bucks County from Tilston, Cheshire, about 1700, purchasing land and settled in Middletown Township John Hulme Sr., grandson of George Sr. and his son, George Hulme Jr., moved from Buckingham to Fallsington and ran a weaving business until 1796 when John Jr. purchased land along the Neshaminy Creek and called it Milford. Within a few years, the village built up to a number of dwellings, mills and other shops. The five sons of John Jr. became a miller, two storekeepers, a tanner and a farmer. John Jr. served a term in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and helped start a post office at Milford established on 1 October 1809, his son Isaac, the first postmaster. The village name then changed to Hulmeville. It is claimed that the General Assembly changed the name in honor of John Jr.
Hulmeville was the site of the first bank in Bucks County, the Farmers Bank of Bucks County, which issued Obsolete Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized December 13, 1864
- Chartered January 13, 1865
- Succeeded Farmers Bank of Bristol
- Bank was Open past 1935
The Farmers Bank of Bucks County was organized December 12th, 1814, at Hulmeville with John Hulme, Jr., president and George Harrison, cashier. A portion of the house of George Hulme was occupied as a banking room and the president was directed to procure a "large chest made of strong plank covered with sheet iron and secured by strong locks and bolts in a secret manner." The original capital was $60,000. This was increased to $90,000 in 1836 and to $92,220 in 1837, being 6,148 shares at $15 each. The bank moved from Hulmeville to Bristol in 1824, occupying the brick house at Mill and Cedar Streets where the bakery of John Irwin later stood. In 1830, the property on Radcliffe Street was purchased from James Craig who had built it in 1818 as a private residence. Mr. Craig was a nephew of Nicholas Biddle, president of the Bank of the United States and modeled the building after the old Bank of the United States, later the Philadelphia Custom House. Joseph Hulme became president in 1818, John Newbold in 1821, Anthony Taylor in 1823, Jon Paxson in 1838, Anthony Burton in 1850, Caleb N. Taylor in 1874, Pierson Mitchell in 1888, and Benjamin J. Taylor in 1894. The bank had just three cashiers before receiving its national charter. George Harrison was succeeded by William Newbold in 1823; Robert C. Beatty was elected cashier in 1827, holding the position until his death in 1867.[2]
In December 1814, the committee on banks reported a bill to enable the several banks in this State to issue notes under five dollars, but not below one dollar. The same committee reported that the following banks had been incorporated under the act of last session, viz. Bank of Gettysburgh, Hamburgh, Northern Liberties, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Westmoreland Bank of Pennsylvania, Lancaster Trading Company, Marietta and Susquehanna Trading Company Centre Bank of Pennsylvania, Farmer's Bank of Reading, Schuylkill Bank of Philadelphia, Commercial Bank of Pennsylvania, Alleghany Bank of Pennsylvania, Mechanic's Bank of Philadelphia, Bank of Germantown, York Bank, The Farmer's Bank of Lancaster, Bunk of Swatara, Easton Bank, Pennsylvania Agricultural and Manufacturing Bank, Bank of Washington, Northumberland Bank, Juniata Bank, Delaware County, Chester County, Columbia Bank of Penn., Beaver Bank, Bank of Pittsburgh, Huntingdon Bank, Monongahela Bank of Brownsville, Northwestern Bank of Pennsylvania, Union Bank of Pennsylvania, Northumberland, Union and Columbian Bank, and Farmer's Bank of Bucks County.[3]
In January 1818, Joseph Hulme, Esq., was appointed president of the Farmers Bank of Bucks County in place of John Hulme, Esq., deceased.[4]
On July 4, 1837, the bank reported resources of $201,432.14, with circulation $48,735.50 and deposits of $35,129.91. R.C. Beatty was cashier and Anthony Taylor, president.[5]
On June 23, 1841, notice was given that the Farmer's Bank of Bucks County would make application to the next Legislature the change the name to the "Farmer's Bank of Bucks County" to continue in the Borough of Bristol and the amount of capital of $200,000 as currently authorized.[6]
In July 1897, the directors were Benj. J. Taylor, president; Louis A. Hoguet, Dr. John P. Agnew, John Burton, Geo. A. Shoemaker, Harvey H. Gillam, Edward Swain, Edwin M. Thomas and Charles E. Scott. Mr. Hoguet was the oldest member having served for 40 years.[7]
In July 1907, the Farmers National Bank of Bucks County announced the opening of a Savings Department. The officers were Benjamin J. Taylor, president; Charles E. Schott, cashier; and Thomas Scott, assistant cashier. The directors were Benjamin J. Taylor, Harvey H. Gillam, Charles E. Scott, George A. Shoemaker, Edwin M. Thomas, John C. Stockert, and Charles S. Vandegrift. The bank had capital of $92,220, surplus and undivided profits $212,500.[8]
On Tuesday, January 10, 1928, Francis J. Byers was elected a member of the board to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Hugh B. Eastburn. The directors were Joseph R. Grundy, A. Brock Shoemaker, A. Russell Burton, Clarence J. Buckman, Thomas Scott, Clarence W. Winter, Walter F. Leedom, Jacob C. Schmidt, and Francis J. Byers. Officers chosen by the board were Joseph R. Grundy, president; A. Brock Shoemaker, vice president; Thomas Scott, cashier; and William H.H. Fine, assistant cashier.[9] The bank reported total assets of $3,328,215.13 at the close of business on February 28th. The capital stock paid in was $138,330, surplus $650,000, undivided profits $181,585.93, circulation $32,250, demand deposits $684,553.45 and time deposits $1,630,073.59.[10]
On Thursday, May 7, 1931, four men, three armed and a fourth sitting at the wheel of a car, staged an unsuccessful attempt at robbery. The quartet was frustrated in its efforts by Cashier Thomas Scott. The attempt was made shortly after 10 o'clock. Credit for preventing the hold-up belonged to Thomas Schott. It was his coolness and presence of mind that delayed the bandits in their attempt until such time as other employees of the institution had learned what was taking place and stepped on the alarm. The bandits fled amid a fusillade of shots fired by Special Officer John Healey and Ralph Ratcliffe, receiving teller of the bank. The four bandits were hotly pursued down Radcliffe Street, out Mill to the Bristol Pike in the direction of Philadelphia. The car used in the hold up was found abandoned in a strip of woods just off the State Road near Station Avenue, Cornwells Heights. Officer Healey said he was standing near the trust company when the gong went off. "I ran for the bank and saw the machine draw away from the curb. I fired three times at the car." Healey was not sure whether he hit any of the bandits, but one bullet struck the left front door near the rear post, another grazed the left front post of the windshield and the third went directly through the windshield about on the level of a man's head. Healey said that he jumped into Harold Hunter's car and raced along with Hunter after the machine. Harry Spicer who had a store on Radcliffe near Mill Street said that the man sitting beside the driver was slumped down in the seat and was deathly white. "He held a long pistol in his hand and the doors of the car were still open," according to Spicer. Lester Thorne, treasurer, and Donald Moyer, receiving teller, Bristol Trust Company, ran out into the street and along with the Rev. S. Brooks Knowlton, pastor of the Bristol Presbyterian Church and who resided across the street from the bank, gave chase in Thorne's car. It was believed that the bandits turned off the Bristol Pike at St. Charles' Church, Cornwells Heights, doubling back on their tracks and proceeding up the Hulmeville Road to Hulmeville. A few minutes after the affair, Joseph R. Grundy, president of the bank, arrived on the scene and congratulated Scott. Ratcliffe, the receiving teller was covered by the two men who followed the first bandit into the bank. One of the pair approached the glass booth occupied by Miss Grace Illiek. The sounding of the alarm frightened all three and they fled.[11]
On Saturday, November 14, 1931, with the capture in New York City of a 24-year-old Camden, New Jersey, highwayman, who escaped from his cell in the Camden County Jail early on the morning of August 17 by sawing his way through two sets of steel bars and a steel plate, while his prison colleagues covered the screeching of the instrument by bellowing songs, the robbery of the Chalfont National Bank and the Farmers National Bank of Bucks County, had been solved. The Chalfont National Bank was robbed on March 13 by four youthful bandits and $2,840 was stolen. The Bristol bank was held up on May 7, this year, but no money was stolen, the bandits being chased away amid pistol fire by an officer and bank employees and the sounding of the burglar alarm. All four bank robbers were now in the hands of police.[12]
In 1952, the Croydon office opened as the first branch of the Farmers National Bank of Bucks County. The main office was located at 244 Radcliffe Street while the branch office was at Rt. 13, & Clover Avenue, Croydon. A second branch was constructed at the Fairless Hills Shopping Center.[13]
In 1956, the Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company merged with Farmers National Bank of Bucks County. Fidelity modernized the Croydon office upon taking possession, adding drive-in facilities and a vault for safe deposit boxes.[14] The Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company was formed when the Fidelity Trust Company and the Philadelphia Trust Company merged in July 1926. W.P. Gest became chairman of the board and H.G. Brengle, president.[15] The trust company had resources of over $115 million with capital and surplus $27.7 million and individual trust funds $600 million. The directors were William P. Gest, Edward T. Statesbury, Edward Walter Clark, John S. Jenks, Levi L. Rue, Morris R. Bockius, W.W. Atterbury, Samuel M. Vauclain, J. Franklin McFadden, Thomas S. Gates, Samuel T. Bodine, A.G. Rosengarten, Jonathan C. Neff, Ledyard Heckscher, Arthur H Lea, Benjamin Rush, Sidney F. Tyler, J. Howell Cummings, Henry G. Brengle, Joseph E. Widener, Charles Day, Thomas D.M. Cardeza, William A. Law, Samuel M. Curwen, Earl B. Putnam, Robert K. Cassatt, Lammot duPont, J.D. Winsor, Jr., and L.H. Kinnard.[16]
Official Bank Title
1: The Farmers National Bank of Bucks County, Bristol, PA
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $1,326,680 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1865 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 167,343 notes (147,020 large size and 20,323 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments Original Series 4x5 1 - 3600 Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 1600 Series 1875 4x5 1 - 1547 Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 2028 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 5353 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 2797 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 1900 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 960 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 3650 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 2900 1902 Plain Back 4x5 3651 - 9966 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 2901 - 7004 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 1528 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 888 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 230 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 2780 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 1405 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 262
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1865 - 1935):
Presidents:
- Anthony Burton, 1865-1874
- Caleb Newbold Taylor, 1875-1887
- Pierson Mitchell, 1888-1893
- Benjamin J. Taylor, 1894-1918
- Joseph Ridgway Grundy, 1919-1935
Cashiers:
- Robert C. Beatty, 1865-1866
- Charles T. Iredell, 1867-1881
- Charles E. Scott, 1882-1923
- Thomas Scott, 1924-1935
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
- Farmers NB of Bucks County, Bristol, PA History (NB Lookup)
- Pennsylvania Bank Note History (BNH Wiki)
Sources
- Bristol, PA, 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
- ↑ The Bristol Daily Courier, Bristol, PA, Tue., Nov. 13, 1956.
- ↑ The Bucks County Gazette, Bristol, PA, Thu., July 15, 1897.
- ↑ Carlisle Weekly Herald, Carlisle, PA, Fri., Dec. 30, 1814.
- ↑ The United States Gazette, Philadelphia, PA, Wed., Jan. 14, 1818.
- ↑ The United States Gazette, Philadelphia, PA, Sat., July 8, 1837.
- ↑ The Keystone, Harrisburg, PA, Wed., Sep. 15, 1841.
- ↑ The Bucks County Gazette, Bristol, PA, Thu., July 15, 1897.
- ↑ The Bucks County Gazette, Bristol, PA, Fri., July 26, 1907.
- ↑ The Bristol Daily Courier, Bristol, PA, Wed. Jan. 11, 1928.
- ↑ The Bristol Daily Courier, Bristol, PA, Thu., Mar. 8, 1928.
- ↑ The Bristol Daily Courier, Bristol, PA, Thu., May 7, 1931.
- ↑ The Bristol Daily Courier, Bristol, PA, Tue., Nov. 17, 1931.
- ↑ The Bristol Daily Courier, Bristol, PA, Sat., Dec. 13, 1952.
- ↑ The Bristol Daily Courier, Bristol, PA, Tue., Nov. 13, 1956.
- ↑ The Brooklyn Daily Times, Brooklyn, NY, Tue., Apr. 13, 1926.
- ↑ The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Mon., July 12, 1926.