National State Bank/First National State Bank/First Camden NB & TC, Camden, NJ (Charter 1209)

Building at Second and Market Street as it looked in the 1890s when it was the National State Bank of Camden, New Jersey.

The First Camden National Bank and Trust Company main office opened in 1928 on the corner of Cooper and Broadway, Camden, New Jersey. Courtesy of Google Maps ca2023

National State Bank/First National State Bank/First Camden NB & TC, Camden, NJ (Chartered 1865 - Open past 1935)

Town History

Chartered in 1812 the State Bank at Camden near Philadelphia, Haxby NJ-65, continued in business for over half a century and went on to become the National State Bank of Camden in 1865. This proof $3 is an un-adopted design, unlisted in both Haxby and Wait. The main vignette depicts an allegorical woman seated with two putti surrounded by agricultural tools and a forge. It is flanked by an end panel containing THREE at left and a portrait of Washington at right. At bottom, Counterfeit $3, at bottom, dated January 2, 1862, payable to B. Rush or bearer with engraved signatures of Tho. Ackley, Cashier and John Gill, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

Camden is located in Camden County and is located directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. In 1773, Jacob Cooper developed some of the land he had inherited through his family into a "townsite," naming it Camden after Charles Pratt, the Earl of Camden. What is now Camden was a collection of rural settlements--Kingsville, Cooper's Point, Fettersville, Kaighnville, and Kaighnton when the State Bank of Camden was established in 1812. Camden's importance was only as the place where the ferries to Philadelphia docked. Many roads converged upon it carrying travelers to the ferries which went several times a day to Philadelphia through the channel between Smith and Windward Islands in the Delaware River.

The Camden waterfront holds three tourist attractions: the USS New Jersey, the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, and the Adventure Aquarium.

Camden had five National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all five of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

1906 advertisement for the Philadelphia Branch of the National State Bank of Camden, New Jersey. The branch was located at 223 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1927 advertisement for First Camden National Bank and Trust Company showing a map of two Camden branches and main office under construction, and two Philadelphia branches of the bank.

Organized May 9, 1865
Chartered June 2, 1865
Conversion/Succeeded State Bank
2: Assumed 431 by consolidation June 30, 1922 and its circulation with title change (First National Bank, Camden, NJ)
3: Assumed 3372 by consolidation June 30 1927 with title change (Camden National Bank, Camden, NJ)
3: Absorbed 13530 February 14, 1934 (First National Bank, Haddon Heights, NJ)
Bank was Open past 1935

The State Bank at Camden converted to a national bank, The National State Bank of Camden, New Jersey, on June 2, 1865. The state bank also operated a branch in Philadelphia which was grandfathered-in and operated at 223 Market Street. The story of how the National State Bank was able to operate an out-of-state branch is found in "Camden, NJ, National Bank had a Branch in Philadelphia, PA," Paper Money, Vol. 325, pp 37-41.

In 1815, the only banks south of Trenton were the Farmers Bank in Mount Holly and the State Bank of Camden.

The subscription books for the State Bank at Camden were opened at the Inn of Mr. Richard Thorn, opposite the ferry house on the Delaware River from March 25-27, 1812. The commissioners were Joseph Cooper, Joseph Rogers, and Joseph Sloan. The bank opened June 16, 1812, in the old brick house of Peter Farrow transformed into the State Bank at Camden. The weekly discount days were Tuesday and Friday. Citizens of Philadelphia could send notes to the banking house or leave them before 2 o'clock each discount day at No. 34 Church Alley in the box provided. Applicants would receive answers in writing at their places of business on the morning following each discount day. Richard M. Cooper was cashier, the judge and justice of Gloucester County courts (1803-23), a member of the New Jersey State General Assembly (1807-18), and president of the State Bank at Camden (1813-42). In 1829, he was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses serving until 1833. William Rossell was the first president.

In November 1812, the following bank appointments were announced:  James Sloan, Esq., formerly member of Congress, president of the Camden Bank; Elias Vanartsdalen, president of the Newark Bank; Thaddeus Wills, president of the Elizabeth Town Bank; John Bray president of the New-Brunswick Bank; Abner Reeder, president of the Trenton Bank; and Daniel Phoenix, president of the Morristown Bank.

On September 19, 1813, an election was held for 21 directors for the ensuing year. Those elected were as follows: Richard M. Cooper, Clement Acton, James B. Caldwell, Henry Chew, Joseph Falkenberg, H.F. Hollingshead, Joseph Humphreys, James Matlack, Thomas Newbold, William Potter, Joseph Rogers, Samuel Whitall, Thomas Wright, James Wood, all of New Jersey; William Brown, William Flintham, Benj. B. Howell, Joshua Longstreth, Benjamin Masden, William Milnor, and Samuel Spackman, all of Philadelphia. On November 10th, Richard M. Cooper, Esq., was unanimously chosen president, and William Hillegas, cashier.

In January 1816, Pennsylvania's Treasury office published the yearly list of all the lawful banks or associations as required by "An act regulating Banks," passed on March 21, 1814. It was noted that the State Bank at Camden, New Jersey, had a banking house in the city of Philadelphia where deposits were received and bank notes issued that was established prior to the passing of the law regulating banks.

On April 17, 1863, at a meeting of the directors, Jesse Townsend was unanimously elected cashier in place of Thomas Ackley, deceased. John Gill was president.

A new and dangerous counterfeit three dollar note on the State Bank of Camden, New Jersey--The signatures "Thos  Ackley," Cash., and "John Gill," Presdt. and figures 62 in the date are engraved whereas in the genuine they are filled in with a pen.  The genuine ones are also tinted which is omitted in the counterfeits.  They are poorly engraved. Petersons' Detector, January 1865

In January 1868, the following were elected directors for the ensuing year: John Gill, Samuel R. Lippincott, J.W. Cooper, Israel W. Huelings, Ephraim Tomlinson, Thomas W. Davis, John D. Tustin, Joshua Lippincott, Joseph Trimble, John H. Stokes, Edward Bettle, William C. Lafferty, and Charles Haines.

In July 1871, the officers were John Gill, president; Jesse Townsend, cashier; James R. Caldwell, notary public. The directors were John Gill, Joseph W. Cooper, Samuel R. Lippincott, Israel W. Huellings, Thomas W. Davis, Ephraim Tomlinson, Joshua Lippincott, John H. Stokes, Joseph Trimble, Edward Bettle, William E. Lafferty, Joel P. Kirkbridge, and Charles Haines. The capital stock was $260,000.

On Tuesday, January 9, 1877, the following gentlemen were elected directors: John Gill, Israel W. Heulings, Samuel R. Lippincott, Ephraim Tomlinson, Thomas W. Davis, Edward Bettle, Joel P. Kirkbride, Joshua W. Lippincott, Benjamin F. Archer, John S. Bispham, Emmor Roberts, William Watson, and Alden C. Scovel. President Gill who was about eighty years of age presided. The following officers were elected: Hon. John Gill, president; Israel W. Heulings, vice president; Isaac C. Martindale, cashier.

On Tuesday, January 8, 1889, the stockholders elected the following directors: Hewling Lippincott, I.W. Hewlings, T.W. Davis, Joshua Lippincott, B.F. Archer, J.S. Bispham, Emmor Roberts, William Watson, Edward Dudley, John Gill, John T. Bottomley, Calvin S. Crowell, and G. Genge Browning.

In 1906, The officers were Heulings Lippincott, president; Emmor Roberts, vice president; W.F. Rose, cashier. The directors were Heulings Lippincott, Emmor Roberts, Richard H. Reeve, Edward Roberts, Edward Dudley, G. Genge Browning, Israel Roberts, Samuel E. Stokes, Ezra Lippincott, Walter Wood, J.B. Van Stiver, John H. Perkins, and Wilbur F. Rose. The Philadelphia office was at 223 Market Street and the agent there was H.B. Lippincott. The bank had capital of $260,000 and surplus of $260,000.

In January 1918, the year began with the following officers: Heulings Lippincott, president; F. Morse Archer, vice president; A.D. Ambruster, cashier; and Stanley Kimble, assistant cashier. As of November 1917, the bank had total assets of $9,517,934.45 with capital $500,000, surplus and undivided profits $731,230.20, circulation $395,500 and deposits $7,891,204.25. On January 22d, Heullings Lippincott retired from the presidency and F. Morse Archer was elected in his place. Mr. Archer's great-great-grandfather was president of the bank in 1812-1813. Mr. Lippincott was made chairman of the board of directors. Henry H. Lippincott and A.D. Ambruster were elected vice presidents and Stanley C. Kimble, cashier.

A shareholders meeting was called for Friday, June 23, 1922 at the banking house at the northwest corner of Second and Market Streets, Camden for the purpose of ratifying and confirming an agreement entered into between the directors of the State Bank of Camden and the Frist National Bank of Camden providing for the consolidation into one national bank under the charter of the National State Bank and under the name of The First National State Bank of Camden. On July 5th, the comptroller of the currency approved the consolidation under the corporate title "The First National State Bank of Camden," with a capital stock of $850,000. The officers were David Baird, chairman of the board; F. Morse Archer, president; Charles Lafferty, vice president and cashier; A.D. Ambruster, vice president & trust officer; Theodore Thompson, assistant cashier; and S.C. Kimble, assistant cashier. The bank operated offices at Second and Market Street, Camden, and 223 Market Street, Philadelphia.

In January 1927, F. Morse Archer, president of the First National State Bank, announced plans for a new home for the bank. The site was purchased at a price reported to be $350,000. The building site was at the southwest corner of Broadway and Cooper Street, formerly the Fry property on the corner and the adjoining property known as 606 Cooper Street. This would give the bank a plot of 180 feet. Construction of the new bank building was planned for the spring. A shareholders meeting was called for Thursday, June 16, 1927 for the purpose of ratifying and confirming an agreement entered into between the directors of the First National State Bank of Camden and the directors of the Camden National Bank of Camden for the consolidation into one national bank under the charter of the First National State Bank of Camden and under the name of Frist Camden National Bank and Trust Company.

On June 16, 1927, the merger was approved. The combined institutions had capital, surplus and undivided profits of $3,445,000 and deposits of $29,000,000, making it the largest bank in South Jersey. Plans for the new building of the First Camden National Bank and Trust Company were underway. The building of the Camden National at Broadway and Sycamore Street would be maintained as the Downtown branch. The Camden National Bank was established in 1885. The present office of the First National State Bank at Second and Market would be continued until the completion of the new building and both Philadelphia Branches would be continued at 223 Market Street and Second and Walnut Streets. Officers of the consolidated bank would be Francis C. Howell, chairman of the board; F. Morse Archer, president; Burleigh B. Draper, Isaac Ferris and Elias Davis, vice presidents; A.D. Ambruster, vice president & trust officer; S.C. Kimble, cashier; Theo Thompson, W.S. Ayres, E.D. Stafford, Orlando M. Bowen, and W.K. Cook, assistant cashiers. The directors were John J. Albertson, A.D. Ambruster, F. Morse Archer, David Baird, Jr., Ralph D. Baker, Kilam E. Bennett, Rudolph W. Birdsell, William T. Boyle, Charles T. Brown, S.C. Childs, Donald Danenhower, John W. Donges, Burleigh B. Draper, Isaac Ferris, Le Roy A. Goodwin, Joseph W. Graham, William G. Groesbeck, Eugene F. Haines, Francis C. Howell, Wm. Leonard Hurley, Henry H. Lippincott, Ferdinand A. Loeb, Albert C. Middleton, M.F. Middleton, Jr., William T. Read, Edward Roberts, Wm. W. Robinson, Charles W. Russ, William D. Sherrerd, Edward E. Shumaker, Frank C. Somers, Frank L. Starr, J.B. Van Sciver, Jr., Lawrence M. Verga, Oliver G. Willits, and Charles A. Wolverton.

The new bank opened Monday, April 1, 1929. Designed by Simon & Simon, Architects, the bank was in the Italian Renaissance style with a main floor, three mezzanine floors and the basement for banking purposes and a fifth and top floor for rented office space. Materials used were Mt. Airy granite, Green River limestone, Graynox Tennessee grey marble, Belgian black marble, and Tennessee Tavernell marble. The main banking room had an Italian Renaissance ceiling, 42-feet high. D'Ascenzo Studies of Philadelphia painted the mural decorations. J.B. Van Sciver Co. of Camden designed and manufactured in their shops the massive pieces, desks, tables and chairs of select walnut in an imposing Italian design. The original of one of the massive tables in the executive section was found in Italy by J.B. Van Sciver, Sr. Furniture in the Ladies' Room, comprised of writing tables and upholstered pieces, was constructed of applewood.

On Thursday, January 18, 1934, Burleigh B. Draper, vice president of the First National Bank of Haddon Heights announced the plan to merge with the First Camden National Bank and Trust Company. The plan, subject to approval by stockholders, was to operate the Haddon Heights bank as a branch. When the First National Bank was organized early in 1931 by Haddon Heights residents together with a group of directors of the First Camden National, New Jersey law did not permit branch banking within a county. That statute changed so that both state and national banks could do county-wide branch banking. The officers of the First National were F. Morse Archer, president; Burleigh B. Draper, vice president; and E.H. Effing, cashier.

Logo for the South Jersey National Bank ca1970s. The fine print states bankers since 1812, Member FDIC.

On Tuesday, January 28, 1969, plans were revealed for the merger of the Millville National Bank and First Camden National Bank forming the largest bank in South Jersey with assets exceeding $300 million. The new bank would be known as the South Jersey National Bank, the first cross-county banking expansion under the state's new banking laws signed January 17th by Gov. Richard J. Hughes, becoming effective six months after passage. In June, First Camden National received approval from the comptroller of the currency to change its name to South Jersey National Bank effective September 15, 1969. The merger with the Millville National was approved by William Camp, comptroller of the currency in November 1969.

Heritage Bancorporation in January 1972 had as member banks South Jersey National Bank, Camden, and First National Iron Bank of New Jersey, Morristown.

On December 17, 1984, the Heritage Bancorporation and Midlantic Banks Inc. announced they had reached a definitive agreement under which Midlantic would acquire Heritage for $47 a share in a deal worth more than $200 million. Three days earlier, Mellon Bank Corporation revealed that a previous agreement to acquire Heritage had been terminated at Heritage's request. Mellon's offer was valued at $171 million. The Midlantic bid was one of three offers made by New Jersey banks. The other bidders were United Jersey Banks and the First National State Corporation. Heritage, based in Jamesburg, New Jersey, had $2 billion in assets, with 92 branches statewide and one office in Philadelphia. The extensive branch network made Heritage an attractive merger partner. In April 1985, Midlantic Banks Inc. of Edison announced the Federal Reserve Board approved its planned takeover of Heritage Bancorporation of Jamesburg. The acquisition of New Jersey's fifth largest bank would increase Midlantic's assets from 7.2 billion to 9.5 billion and its banking offices from 188 to 291.

Official Bank Titles

1: The National State Bank of Camden, NJ

2: The First National State Bank of Camden, NJ (6/30/1922)

3: First Camden National Bank and Trust Company Camden, NJ (6/30/1927)

Bank Note Types Issued

1902 Red Seal $5 bank note with pen signatures of W.F. Rose, Cashier and Emmor Roberts, Vice President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1902 Date Back $100 bank note with printed signatures of A.D. Armbruster, Cashier and Heulings Lippincott, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of Charles Lafferty, Cashier and F. Morse Archer, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1929 Type 1 $5 bank note with printed signatures of S.C. Kimble, Cashier and F. Morse Archer, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $12,955,160 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1865 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 1,873,588 notes (1,054,620 large size and 818,968 small size notes).

Old Downtown Branch of the First Camden National Bank and Trust Company, located at Sycamore and Broadway, Camden, New Jersey. This was formerly the Camden National Bank before the 1927 merger. Courtesy of Google Maps, ca2023

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

Series/Type	Sheet/Denoms	Serial#s	Sheet Comments
1: Original Series	4x5	1 - 3500
1: Original Series	3x10-20	1 - 3400
1: Original Series	50-100	1 - 1000
1: Series 1875	3x10-20	1 - 5500
1: Series 1875	50-100	1 - 837
1: 1882 Brown Back	3x10-20	1 - 5944
1: 1882 Brown Back	50-100	1 - 987
1: 1902 Red Seal	3x10-20	1 - 2430
1: 1902 Red Seal	50-100	1 - 390
1: 1902 Date Back	4x5	1 - 22000
1: 1902 Date Back	3x10-20	1 - 19900
1: 1902 Date Back	50-100	1 - 600
1: 1902 Date Back	3x50-100	1 - 800
1: 1902 Plain Back	4x5	22001 - 62500
1: 1902 Plain Back	3x10-20	19901 - 41900
2: 1902 Plain Back	4x5	1 - 44066
2: 1902 Plain Back	4x10	1 - 17361
2: 1902 Plain Back	3x10-20	1 - 14268
2: 1902 Plain Back	3x50-100	1 - 1386
3: 1902 Plain Back	4x5	1 - 58693
3: 1929 Type 1	6x5	1 - 102552
3: 1929 Type 2	5	1 - 203656

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1865 - 1935):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

Emmor Roberts (VP 1903...1908)

Bank Note History Links

N State B/FN State B/First CamdenNB, Camden, NJ History (NB Lookup)
Huntoon, Peter & Gladfelter, David, "Camden, NJ, National Bank had a Branch in Philadelphia, PA," Paper Money, Jan/Feb 2020, Vol. 325, pp 37-41. [SPMC Membership required to access]
New Jersey Bank Note History (BNH Wiki)

Sources

Camden, NJ, 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
Aurora General Advertiser, Philadelphia, PA, Thu., Mar. 26, 1812.
Aurora General Advertiser, Philadelphia, PA, Tue., June 16, 1812.
The Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, PA, Wed., Nov. 25, 1812.
The Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia, PA, Wed., Nov. 17, 1813.
Lancaster Intelligencer, Lancaster, PA, Fri., Jan. 26, 1816.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Mon., Apr. 20, 1863.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Tue., Jan. 17, 1865.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Tue., Jan., 21, 1868.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Wed., Jan. 10, 1877.
Camden Daily Telegram, Camden, NJ, Tue., Jan. 8, 1889.
The Morning Post, Camden, NJ, Thu., Nov. 1, 1906.
The Morning Post, Camden, NJ, Thu., Jan. 3, 1918.
The Mount Holly News, Mount Holly, NJ, Tue., Jan. 22, 1918.
The Morning Post, Camden, NJ, Thu., Jan. 24, 1918.
Courier-Post, Camden, NJ, Wed., May 24, 1922.
The Courier-News, Bridgewater, NJ, Wed., July 5, 1922.
The Morning Post, Camden, NJ, Fri., July 14, 1922.
Courier-Post, Camden, NJ, Tue., Jan. 18, 1927.
Courier-Post, Camden, NJ, Sat., June 4, 1927.
Courier-Post, Camden, NJ, Sat., Mar. 30, 1929.
The Morning Post, Camden, NJ, Fri., June 17, 1927.
The Morning Post, Camden, NJ, Fri., Jan. 19, 1934.
The Daily Journal, Vineland, NJ, Tue., Jan. 28, 1969.
The Millville Daily, Millville, NJ, Tue., June 24, 1969.
Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City, NJ, Fri., Nov. 7, 1969.
The New York Times, New York, NY, Tue., Dec. 18, 1984.
Courier-Post, Camden, NJ, Tue., Apr. 2, 1985.