15279. American Bank (New York, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Unsure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
May 11, 1837
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
e744371f

Response Measures

No run, Partial suspension

Other: Citywide suspension of specie payments during the Panic of 1837; later partial redemption of small notes reported.

Description

Articles describe heavy specie drains and crowds (a run) in May 1837 and report that New York banks, including the American Bank, suspended specie payments on/around May 11, 1837. A later (Jan 1838) brief note says the American Bank redeemed notes under ten dollars, but the sources do not clearly report a formal reopening or permanent closure of the bank in these excerpts. Classified as run -> suspension with unclear eventual status.

Events (3)

1. May 11, 1837 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Systemic panic and heavy specie withdrawals across New York banks (drain of $1,300,000 over two days) generating crowds and runs.
Measures
Banks suspended specie payments (joined in a specie suspension).
Newspaper Excerpt
A prodigious crowd gathered in Wall street and filled it full all the morning. It appears that during the last two days, Monday and Tuesday, the drain of gold and silver on the banks amounted to $1,300,000.
Source
newspapers
2. May 11, 1837 Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Joint suspension of specie payments by New York banks in response to heavy drains and panic conditions rather than an official government closure; described as banks 'succumb[ing]' to the gale and suspending specie payments en masse.
Newspaper Excerpt
Every bank in New York has suspended specie payments. The three banks, the National, the American, the Manhattan which did not join the specie suspension league on Tuesday night came into the harness yesterday morning.
Source
newspapers
3. January 30, 1838 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
The American Bank. on Saturday redeemed all its notes under ten dollars.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Herald, May 11, 1837

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Article Text

MONEY K Thursday, May 11. The revolution's now complete-we have at last found bottom. For several days the banks have been driving before the gale till at last they had to succumb altogether and run ashore at once. Every bank in New York has suspended specie payments The three banks, the National, the American, the Manhattan which did not join the specie suspension league on Tuesday night came into the harness yesterday morning. A prodigious crowd gathered in Wall street and filled it full all the morning. We begin a new course from this day forth. Prices, values, specie, paper, stocks, goods, all are more or less disturbed in their previous rates. It appears that during the last two days, Monday and Tuesday, the drain of gold and silver on the banks amounted to $1,300,000. They have at this time in their vaults about $7,400 only. The currency now is divided into two streams-the one of paper the other of gold. They will vary from each other, in spite of the efforts made to make them equivalent dollar for dollar. The Board of Brokers met at the usual hour. Stocks, under the new aspect of things, rose from 5 to 20 per cent. United States rose to 102, being nearly 7 per cent above the rates of Tuesday. A resolution was offered by a member to make the contracts prior to the suspension, payable in the bank currency previous to that suspension. One of the members, whose name we have, got upon his legs-" Gentlemen," said he, " this is making an illegal contract payable in a currency that is also illegal." We understand, that, by another vote, the Board decided that the paper currency of today will be taken in payment of contracts. Can these wise ones make paper money, not convertable into specie, equal to gold and silver? The whole board ought to be shut up, and closed up, and nailed up. They have been one of the main engines to precipitate the present crisis upon us by bloating up stocks and baseless fancies. Stocks, like beef and pork, ought to be sold openly and above board. What right have a few venerable Jews, or Christians, with the principles of the holy people, to club together, call themselves a Board, and put prices on any man's property The thing is usurpation all through. We must open the Board of Brokers, and we hope to teach them reason soon. These are times to begin at first principles. Among the banks, business went on as usual. Generally all the banks took each others notes in payment of debts. There was a rumor that the Mechanics and the Fulton notes were discredited by the National and the Manhattan, but on inquiry we did not discover its authenticity. At the markets and in the daily transactions of life the bank notes are taken as usual.There is however a great deal of discussion and uncertainty about their ultimate value. The losses of the Mechanics Bank by overdrafts and brokers paper are said to be $1,400,000. Again it is believed that the government deposites will have the priority in payments to be made. Specie is already at a premium and it must continue to rise. Paper will be valued according to the stability and integrity of the managers of each particular bank. o'clock there was a pointless meeting of Merchants in the Exchange. James G. King made a speech, begging all to sustain each other, and particularly requesting every man to take the notes of every bank in the city. We presume there are few who would refuse. Even the locofocos will take as many of them as they can lay their hands upon. The banks began business on the new plan-but all is al present in confusion and disorder. Having violated their charters by an act of suspension, they are entirely in the hands of the legislature. Several of the leading members of the state government are here perish commerce and perish credit" for oncejust to see the issue of their principles and doctrines. Unless the legislature, by a specialact, sanction the suspension, all the banks can be proceeded against by the process of an injunction in Chancery, and shut up in ten days. At the end of nine days they may resume specie payments for one day, and then start again fresh for another period. Yesterday, a merchant called on the collector to pay a bond of $4,000. "I am directed," said the merchant, " by law, to pay this government bond into a specie-paying bank. There is no such bank in New York-what am I to do?" " Why, really," said the amiable Mr. Swartwout, " you must ask Mr. Price." " Well, but," said the merchant, "I have a claim against you for a debenture bond for $2,000. I demand the specie." To this the collector demurred; but the merchant insisted on it, as the specie circular was still in force. All over the city there is great difficulty in making small change. No Ibne will change a 85 note to take a half dollar out of it. Why will not the Corporation issue a few useful 75 cent, 50 cent, and 81 old style shin plasters? We believe we ourself shall have to set up a shin-plaster bank Little Wall street, and help the cause a little. We have more specie than some of the banksis and a devilish sight more capital than others. More specie coming into the country-we wish it would come here. $200,000 in specie arrived at Philadelphia in the bark Valparaiso, from Valparaiso. There are involved in this suspension a great many curious points of law and equity, and unless their position and solvency are fully placed before the public, their notes will rapidly depreciate as compared with specie. The notes of every bank are worth more or less, and if the movement is legalized, they may continue to be so for a time to come. The following is the statement of all the banks in this State: :Aggregate Statement of all the Banks of the State of New York, on the 1st January, 1837. RESOURCES


Article from Richmond Enquirer, February 3, 1838

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Article Text

Correspondence of the N Intelligencer. New YORK, Jan. 30. The fire yesterday consumed between twenty and thirty houses, and has thrown upon the insurance offices a great loss. The firemen fought it like lions. The gale at one time threatened to sweep all to the East river.The Common Council voted $1,000 last night for the immediate relief of the sufferers. From the frontier we have nothing of great interest. General Wool, accompanied by Gov. Jennison, was at Burlington on the 26th inst. There seemed to be no occasion for calling out the militia. According to the Montreal Herald, there are a great many disturbances in Lower Canada among the French population: but the Herald is interested in making things appear as bad as possible. Sir George Arthur, the new Governor of Upper Ca. nada, was to sail in the London Packet of the 10th. Our city bank committee, which went on to Philadelphia, have come back again. That is all the news. The Boston banks reported to be in trouble are not yet in a settled state. Our Brokers have refused to purchase their notes until they hear further. The Ameri. can Bank. on Saturday redeemed all its notes under ten dollars. The Cohannet Bank was reported in Boston to be in trouble. The Legislature is looking into all the banks. The panic is doing the mischief. The Boston banks are not unsound, so say they who know. The weather here is bitterly cold. The ice is accumulating in the river. There IS good sleighing up river, but no snow here.