17021. Bank of Watertown (Watertown, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
June 26, 1847
Location
Watertown, New York (43.975, -75.911)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
1e9e9675

Response Measures

None

Description

Newspaper item (NY Herald, 1847-06-26) reports that the directors made arrangements with the State Comptroller allowing the Bank of Watertown to resume business and redeem its bills. No article explicitly describes a depositor run; a later piece (Wisconsin Tribune, 1848-01-21) simply lists the bank among reported failures during a broader bank panic (rumors/reports). Classification: suspension followed by reopening (suspension_reopening).

Events (3)

1. June 26, 1847 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
I understand that the directors of the bank of Watertown have made such arrangements with the Comptroller, as justify that officer in allowing the bank to resume its business. The bank will continue to redeem its bills, and they will also be redeemed at the Exchange Bank of Albany.
Source
newspapers
2. January 21, 1848 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
In the list of reported failures we discovered the names of several banks ... Bank of Watertown, Watertown. ... the excitement in relation to this state money is nearly passed over. ... the excitement was got up for the very object of making money at the expense of the public: the timid and the ignorant have been induced to part with their money ... All that they purchased last week was promptly redeemed at Albany, and that there is no cause whatever for alarm.
Source
newspapers
3. * Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Occurred in context of wider banking panic/excitement in New York; bank had previously suspended payments and later arranged with the Comptroller to resume operations.
Newspaper Excerpt
I understand that the directors of the bank of Watertown have made such arrangements with the Comptroller, as justify that officer in allowing the bank to resume its business.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The New York Herald, June 29, 1847

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ALBANY, June 26, 1847. The Enlargement of the Erie Canal- The Repeal of Parts of the Seventh Article of the Constitution-Albany Board of Trade-Bank of Watertown, &c. A number of the influential journals of this State have, within a short period, occupied a considerable portion of their columns in an examination and analysis of the seventh article of the amended constitution. This article, it is pretended, is devoted to the economical diebursement of the public revenues, and the liquidation of the public debt. In regard to the financial article of the constitution, of which I have spoken, I have to say that at the ensuing session of the Legislature, a proposition will be introduced for the repeal of 80 much of the article as restricts the immediate enlargement of the Eric Canal to the dimensions contemplated before the suspension of 1842. During the present year it has become perfectly evident that the capacity of the canal is too limited to bring forward freights with that celerity which the interests of dealers demand; complaints have, therefore, been more numerous than ever before. Thus I am induced to suppose that a proposition for the repeal of the restriction would be received with favor. The movements about to be made in the west to secure increased facilities for the transportation of the great staple to tide water, will also have a bearing upon this question. It will be urged in favor of the instant enlargement of the canal, that it has been lately ascertained that the public interests are measurably involved in this matter. and that it would be an error not to avail yourselves of the conspicuous advantages which the possession of the entire trade of the mighty west will give you over those foreign districts that are making gigantic efforts to divert considerable portions of this trade into other channels. Probably an immediate appropriation of every dollar of the public revenue to the enlargement, except necessary appropriations for the expenses of government, and for the payment of the interest of the State debt, would liquidate your liabilities, and place the State upon an independent basis much more speedily and safely than in the way proposed by the seventh article of the constitution. As for me, I have not learned to respect the expedients to which unsound intellects have always resorted, to preserve the honor, and ensure the prosperity of States and Kingdoms. The merchant princes and capitalists of Albany have recently organised a Board of Trade similar to that which meets at the Exchange, in Wall street, every day but Sunday. There was formerly a Board of Trade here. but the leading operators were but poorly disposed to. wards it, and it failed. This new board will evidently survive. and reports of the operations in flour, &c., at the capital, will hereafter be more interesting, because they will be more extensive. I understand that the directors of the bank of Watertown have made such arrangements with the Comptroller, as justify that officer in allowing the ban to resume its business. The bank will continne to redeem its bills, and they will also be redeemed at the Exchange Bank of Albany. James MeKown, Esq., the Recorder of this city, died this morning. He is said to have been distinguished for many of those virtues which render the human constitution estimable and divine; he was a member of the Board of Regents of the University, and was formerly a prominent member of the Legislature; he was aged 58 years. The Senate will assemble on Tuesday next; the cham ber is in excellent order, and I hope to see n full Senate present. Muse T....


Article from Wisconsin Tribune, January 21, 1848

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

THE BANK PANIC. For a few weeks our exchanges have been filled with articles upon the failures of a large number of Banks in the states of New York and Pennsylvania. The Territorial papers in particular, that are opposed to the Banking system, have mounted this hobby for the purpose of creating in the minds of the members of the Convention now in session, a hostility towards all banks, in hopes thereby to get incorporated into the Constitution an article precluding the possibility of a Bank charter in Wisconsin. In the list of reported failures we discovered the names of several banks in whose responsibility we had the utmost confidence, and therefore concluded to defer any remarks upon the subject until the facts could be ascertained, well knowing that there are persons base enough to cry down the reputation of Banks for no other purpose than to enrich themselves by buying up their bills at a great discount. The following are the names of the banks in New York which are reported to be broken or about to break: Agricultural Bank, Herkimer. Albany Exchange Bank, Albany. American Bank, Mayville, Bank of Albion, Albion. Bank of Attica, Buffalo. Bank of Corning, Corning. Bank of Dansville, Dansville. Bank of Watertown, Watertown. Spa. Central Ballston Spa Bank, Ballston Bank, Cherry Valley. Champlain Bank, Ellenburg. Commercial Bank, Rochester. Delaware Bank, Delhi. Exchange Bank of Genesee, Alexander. Farmers' Bank, Hudson. Farmers' & Drovers' Bank, Somers. Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank of Genesee. Bank of Waterville, Waterville. Bank of Lowville, Lowville. Bank of Silver Creek, Silver Creek. Bank of Syracuse, Syracuse. White Plains Bank, White Plains. Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, Rochester. Fort Plain Bank, Fort Plain. Genesee County Bank, Le Roy. Middletown Bank, Orange County. Northern Bank, Madrid. Pine Plains Bank, Pine Plains. Lowell Bank, Newburgh, Washington County Bank, Peeksville. With regard to the solvency of the banks of that state, the New York Express of the 4th inst. remarks, " The excitement in relation to this state money is nearly passed over. The respectable bankers in Wall street are buying all the bills of the state that are offered this morning, at 11 to 2 per cent, except the Atlas and James Banks, which are at a quarter discount. All that they purchased last week was promptly redeemed at Albany, and that there is no cause whatever for alarm. The result has shown that the excitement was got up for the very object of making money at the expense of the public: the timid and the ignorant have been induced to part with their money at from 3 to 5 per cent. discount, the pur. chasers of which have turned it into spe. cie in twelve hours, by sending it to Albany. Bill holders should bear in mind that the present system of banking is far preferable to any former plan. For every dollar put in circulation, there must be a dollar in state stock deposited with the Comptroller. If, therefore, the State of New York is solvent and good, the notes must be paid, and that too, without delay." Tribune the follow