National Bank of Chester County, West Chester, PA (Charter 552)

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Bank of Chester County. The historical marker states, Physician, congressman, William Darlington, began a service of 33 years as president of the Bank of Chester County in this building, 1830. Especially noted for his many contributions to the science and study of botany in the early 1800s. He died in 1863.
Bank of Chester County.  The historical marker states, Physician, congressman, William Darlington, began a service of 33 years as president of the Bank of Chester County in this building, 1830.  Especially noted for his many contributions to the science and study of botany in the early 1800s.  He died in 1863.

NB of Chester County/NB of Chester County & TC, West Chester, PA (Chartered 1864 - Closed (Merger) 1970)

Town History

Bank of Chester County obsolete $100 proof, Haxby PA-700. Central vignette of allegorical maidens with, perhaps, Agriculture seated with The Arts and Knowledge on both ends and Music, the Arts, and Proserpina, flanked by dual portraits of an unidentified military officer.
Bank of Chester County obsolete $100 proof, Haxby PA-700.  Central vignette of allegorical maidens with, perhaps, Agriculture seated with The Arts and Knowledge on both ends and Music, the Arts, and Proserpina, flanked by dual portraits of an unidentified military officer. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

West Chester is a borough and the county seat of Chester County, in southeastern Pennsylvania. Located within the Philadelphia metropolitan area, the borough had a population of 18,461 at the 2010 census. Much of the West Chester University of Pennsylvania North Campus and the Chester County government are located within the borough. The center of town is located at the intersection of Market and High Streets.

The area was originally known as Turk's Head after the inn of the same name located in what is now the center of the borough. West Chester has been the seat of government in Chester County since 1786 when the seat was moved from nearby Chester in what is now Delaware County. The borough was incorporated in 1799. In the heart of town is its courthouse, a classical revival building designed in the 1840s by Thomas U. Walter, one of the architects for the Capitol in Washington, DC. In the 18th century West Chester was a center of clockmaking. In the late 19th century the Hoopes, Bro. and Darlington company became a major wheelworks, first for wagons and later automobiles. In the early 20th century, an important industry was the Sharples cream separator company. In the late 20th century, Commodore International, one of the pioneers of home computers, giving its headquarters as West Chester, was located approximately a mile northeast of the borough.

The West Chester Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Other listed buildings are the Bank of Chester County, Buckwalter Building, Butler House, Chester County Courthouse, William Everhart Buildings, Farmers and Mechanics Building, First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, New Century Clubhouse, Joseph Rothrock House, Sharples Homestead, Sharples Separator Works, Warner Theater, West Chester Boarding School for Boys, and the components of the West Chester State College Quadrangle Historic District.

West Chester had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all three of those banks issued National Bank Notes. West Chester also had an Obsolete Bank, the Bank of Chester County, that issued Obsolete Bank Notes during the Obsolete Bank Note Era (1782-1866).

Bank History

Bank of Chester County, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Obsolete $20 note, Haxby PA-700, with a signature of President William Darlington. The note is dated Aug. 1, 1855.
Bank of Chester County, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Obsolete $20 note, Haxby PA-700, with a signature of President William Darlington. The note is dated Aug. 1, 1855. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A State charter for the Bank of Chester County was enacted by the legislature on August 2, 1814 and the bank opened for business on November 11, 1814. This was the only bank in Chester County until 1857. William Darlington raised a company during the War of 1812, was a major in a Pennsylvania Regiment, a Medical Doctor, a botanist and a Congressman (March 4, 1815-March 3, 1817 and March 4, 1819-March 3, 1823). He was president of the Bank of Chester County (1830-1863) until his death in 1863.

On October 25, 1865 the bank became the National Bank of Chester County of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

At a meeting of the directors of the National Bank of Chester County this morning, Hon. Washington Townsend was elected president to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Walter Hibbard. Mr. Townsend, in years past, was cashier of the bank over which he was now called upon to lead.

In January 1898, the board of directors organized by electing William P. Marshall, president; J. Preston Thomas, vice president; William F. Dowdall, secretary; and R.S. Waddell, attorney.

In 1970, the Delaware County National Bank (Charter 355) and the National Bank of Chester County (Charter 552) merged to become the Southeast National Bank of Pennsylvania in Chester.

Official Bank Title(s)

Series of 1875 $20 bank note with pen signatures of Wm. W. Jefferis, Cashier and Walter Hibbard, President.
Series of 1875 $20 bank note with pen signatures of Wm. W. Jefferis, Cashier and Walter Hibbard, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com

1: The National Bank of Chester County, West Chester, PA

2: National Bank of Chester County and Trust Company (2/1/1930), West Chester, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of I. Cary Carver, Cashier and Wm. P. Marshall, President.
1882 Brown Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of I. Cary Carver, Cashier and Wm. P. Marshall, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
I. Cary Carver, Cashier and J. Preston Thomas, President.
1902 Red Seal $5 bank note with printed signatures of I. Cary Carver, Cashier and J. Preston Thomas, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $10 bank note with printed signatures of George Heed, Cashier and T.W. Marshall, President.
1902 Plain Back $10 bank note with printed signatures of George Heed, Cashier and T.W. Marshall, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of J.F. Hill, Cashier and Sam Marshall, President.
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of J.F. Hill, Cashier and Sam Marshall, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note with the bank's first title and printed signatures of J.F. Hill, Cashier and Wilmer W. Hoopes, President.
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note with the bank's first title and printed signatures of J.F. Hill, Cashier and Wilmer W. Hoopes, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $20 bank note with SN 1 and printed signatures of J.F. Hill, Cashier and Wilmer W. Hoopes, President.
1929 Type 1 $20 bank note with SN 1 and printed signatures of J.F. Hill, Cashier and Wilmer W. Hoopes, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $6,048,130 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1864 and 1970. This consisted of a total of 607,744 notes (527,426 large size and 80,318 small size notes).

This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
1: Original Series 4x5 1 - 3000
1: Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 4200
1: Original Series 50-100 1 - 1250
1: Series 1875 4x5 1 - 2000
1: Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 1400
1: Series 1875 50-100 1 - 911
1: 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 11768
1: 1882 Brown Back 50-100 1 - 2656
1: 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 9500
1: 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 4200
1: 1902 Red Seal 50-100 1 - 450
1: 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 17750
1: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 11600
1: 1902 Date Back 50-100 1 - 800
1: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 17751 - 58820
1: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 11601 - 33111
1: 1902 Plain Back 3x50-100 1 - 824
1: 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 2266
1: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1146
1: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 384
1: 1929 Type 1 6x50 1 - 44
1: 1929 Type 1 6x100 1 - 14
2: 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 4126
2: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1876
2: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 628
2: 1929 Type 1 6x50 1 - 162
2: 1929 Type 1 6x100 1 - 62
2: 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 9088
2: 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 5527
2: 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 1455

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1864 - 1970):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

  • There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.

Wiki Links

Sources

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