18886. Bank of New Castle (New Castle, PA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
March 21, 1857
Location
New Castle, Pennsylvania (40.996, -80.346)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
917201d8

Response Measures

None

Description

Contemporary dispatches report the Bank of New Castle stopped payment on March 21, 1857; cashier Wagonseller allegedly absconded with large sums and the bank had almost no specie. Notices later advised collectors not to accept its notes, indicating permanent failure/closure. No article describes a depositor run prior to suspension — cause is bank-specific malfeasance and bad loans.

Events (1)

1. March 21, 1857 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Cashier (Wagonseller) alleged to have absconded with $50,000; reckless loans to corporations and large losses (e.g., $20,000 to Gramercy/Grammercy Bank). Credit impaired for weeks before stoppage. Essentially internal malfeasance and bad loans undermined solvency.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Bank of New Castle, the credit of which has for some weeks been impaired, has finally stopped payment, the amount of coin in the bank yesterday, to redeem notes amounting to over $100,000, being just four dollars. The Cashier, Mr. Wagonseller, it is said, has absconded with $50,000.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (17)

Article from Weekly Indiana State Sentinel, December 25, 1856

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Monetary. The following communication, upon the recent Bank excitement, has been handed to us by a friend, for publication. Of the justice and appropriateness of the points made, each reader must judge for himself. Rumors have been afloat for several days prejudicial to the Warren County Bank, Penn; Erie City Bank, Penn.; Bank of Newcastle, Penn.; Rhode Island Central Bank the Exchange Bank at Bangor, Maine; Hartford County and Hartford Banks; and on Monday the Banks of this city threw out the issues of those institutions. The result was a panic among the holders of those bills, and the Bank of the Capital relieved them of their alarm at five per cent. shave. We were unable to trace these rumors" to any reliable source, and our Eastern exchanges contained nothing which wouldjurelly the suspicions set afloat. Under these circumstances we thought it unwise, by a publication of mere rumors, to discredit the character of Banks whose paper was in circulation in this section to a considerable amount. It could have no good effect certainly, and the result of the publication of these rumors by other papers was, to give a sort of authority. to them which created unnecessary alarm. It induced the laboring man, the mechanic, the trader, and all parties to part with this currency at a shave and our Bankers laughed in their sleeves at the rich harvest it was bringing them. We have no sympathy for Banks, but we cannot see the propriety of newspapers discrediting their issues unjustly and unnecessarily, to the disadvantage of the public. Private speculation may be the motive, we can conceive of no other. We should like to see the Constitutional Currency, gold and silver, displace all the small bank notes in circulation, but this era we do not expect to witness until some general commercial revulsion bursts the paper bubble and forces it upon the country. The N. Y. Tribune of Saturday last, states that the Exchange Bank of Bangor, Maine, had been thrown out by the Suffolk Bank, of Boston and it was rumored that some parties at the West had purchased it. The Suffolk is the redeeming agent of all the' New England Banks and its being thrown out is unfavorable to the credit of the Exchange Bank, although no evidence of its failure. [For the Sentinel.] THE CRUSADE AGAINST THE BANKS.Some extremely wise financier has the following in the commercial column of the Journal this morning as a communication INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 22. EDITORS JOURNAL I notice in your monetary column that some interested party speaks of rumor being afoat in relation to Hartford County Bank and Hartford Bank. Any person with a thimble full of brains would not suspect the Harrford Banks; and to classify them with such concerns as the Rhode Island Central and Erie City, is ridiculous in the extreme. Has this community forgot the losses on the "Valley Bank" at Hagerstown, Maryland? A friend to good Banks is quite adroit in placing Rhode Island Central and Erie City in such good company. The ear-marks of the above are unmistakable. Its author is one of a few that are left of the wonderful genius's of a fast reced. ing generation. He has more than a "thimble full of brains," no doubt-an ceertainly more than a bucket full of impudence. But there is none wise as he,and he thinks no one other than himself has any right to have any opinion of money, Banks or business. He comes down on those'concerns', the Erie City and R. I. Central, with his fiat of doom. He has probably forgot a certain "concern nearer home, that, a few years ago, suspended specie payments, and drove its creditors to rely on its promises a year or two, or get nothing. There is "snobbism" in Banks, as well as other places, it seems.


Article from The Star of the North, March 25, 1857

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Bank Suspension. PITTSBURG, March 21.-The Bank of New Castle, the credit of which has for some weeks been impaired, has finally stopped payment, the amount of coin in the bank yesterday, to redeem notes amounting to over $100,000, being just four dollars. The Cashier, Mr. Wagonseller, it is said, has absconded with $50,000. The Directors, who are all men of respectability, have been sadly duped by the Cashier, who was a fast liver and deeply involved in eastern speculations. Large sums have been recklessly loaned to corporations, much of which will be lost. Among others, is an item of twenty thousand dollars to the Gramercy Bank of Indiana.


Article from The Athens Post, April 3, 1857

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SUSPENSION OF THE BANK OF NEWCASTLE, PA. -A dispatch from Pittsburg, 21st, says: The Bank of Newcastle, the credit of which has been impaired for some weeks, has finally stopped payment. The amount of coin in the bank yesterday to redeem notes amounting to $100,000 was just four dollars. The eashier, Mr. Wagonseller, it is said, has absconded with $50,000. The directors of the Bank are all men of respectability, and have been sadly duped by the cashier, who was a fast liver and deep ly engaged in Eastern speculations. Large sums belonging to the bank were recklessly loaned to corporations, most of which will be lost, among others $20,000 to the Grammercy Bank, of Indiana. Penetration and vigilance are qualifications which every bank director should have-as well as "respectability." A little observation of the "fast living" of the C lier, in this instance, would probably have discovered his delinquencies in time, at least, to save the credit of the institution.


Article from The Athens Post, April 3, 1857

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SUSPENSION OF THE BANK OF NEWCASTLE, PA. -A dispatch from Pittsburg, 21st, says: The Bank of Newcastle, the credit of which has been impaired for some weeks, has finally stopped payment, The amount of coin in the bank yesterday to redeem notes amounting to $100,000 was just four dollars. The cashier. Mr. Wagonseller, it is said, has absconded with $50,000. The directors of the Bank are all men of respectability, and have been sadly duped by the eashier, who was a fast liver and deep ly engaged in Eastern speculations. Large sum belonging to the bank were recklessly loaned to corporations, most of which will be lost, among others $20,000 to the Grammercy Bank, of Indiana. Penetration and vigilance are qualifications which every bank director should have-as well as "respectnbility." A little observation of the "fast living" of the cashier, in this instance, would probably have discovered his delinquencies in time, at least, to sive the credit of the institution


Article from Kenosha Tribune & Telegraph, April 23, 1857

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The Notes of the following Banks were thrown out. yesterday, in New York and Boston: Exeter Bank - New Hampshire. Tiverton Bank - - Rhode Island. Warren Co. Bank - - Pennsylvania. The following Banks have lately suspended. Commercial Bank : . New Jersey. Bank of New Castle, - Pennsylvania. Huntington Co- Bank - Indiana.


Article from Minnesota Weekly Times, May 9, 1857

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MONETARY QUOTATIONS. Prepared weekly by Bostwick, Pease s Co., Bankers, Third-st., St. Paul. ST. PAUL, May 7, 1857. During the last week business of all kinds has received a new impetus from the long expected arrival of the boats, bringing a large number of Eastern capitalists seeking investments, at the attractive" rates of interest which our busy, growing west presents to them. The rates for short paper still range from 3 to 5 7 cent. F month, while some long leans on first class real estate security have been made at 21/2 8 cent. Exchange is quite plenty. Currency is scarce, large amounts having been paid for freights. Gold is in great demand, and but little in the city. THE LATEST BANK FAILURES. Bank of Newcastle, Pa., falled March 21, 1857. Exeter Bank, N. H., suspended. Farmers' Bank. Wickford, R. I., suspended. Tiverton Bank, R. I., suspended. Bank of the Republic, R. I., suspended. Selling. Buying. 1 Act. pr. par. Exchange on New York 1/2 do do par. Chicago the Pound. do $5.10 to England & Ireland to IT ct. pr. Gold $1,20 $1,15 Land Warrants-40 1,05 80s 1,00 do 95 1,03 120s do 1,06 160s 1,00 do


Article from Minnesota Weekly Times, May 16, 1857

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MONETARY QUOTATIONS. Prepared weekly by Bostwick, Pease s Co., Bankers, Third-st., St. Paul. ST. PAUL, May 14, 1857. Notwithstanding the large number of Eastern visitors who have called upon us, bringing with them "only a small amount just ta try our Western rates." Money is in great demand3 to 5 78 cent. 7 month for short time-21/@3 F cent. F month for longer time. Eastern men seem to have no idea of the amount of money needed to carry on the heavy business of the city. Exchange is now more plenty than currency. Gold is scarce. THE LATEST BANK FAILURES. Bank of Newcastle, Pa., failed March 21, 1857. Exeter Bank, N. H., suspended,


Article from Minnesota Weekly Times, May 23, 1857

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MONETARY QUOTATIONS. Prepared weekly by Bostwick, Pease s Co., Bankers, Third-st., St. Paul. ST. PAUL, May 21, 1857. The demand for money at this season is unprecedented, the rates generally having fallen with the opening of navigation, this year however proving an exception, the demand being much greater than the supp'y, at the following rates: 3 to 5 P cent. B month on short time-2%@3 a cent. on 3 to 6 months, first class paper, on Real Extate, from 1 to 2 years 2½ * cent. Currency and Gold scarce. Exchange plentiful THE LATEST BANK FAILURES. Bank of Newcastle, Pa., failed March 21, 1857. Exeter Bank, N. H., suspended. Farmers' Bank. Wickford, R. I., suspended.


Article from The Middlebury Register, September 30, 1857

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say, was answered by the payment of a million and a half of specie, in the course of a few hours. In this course the banks have by strict constructions of the law, forfeited their charters. In consequence, a proclamation of the Governor convening the Legislation appeared yesterday. It is as follows: Whereas, serious financial revulsion has occurred, resulting in the suspension of specie payments by the banks of this and other States, the failure of many long established commercial houses leading to the destruction of confidence and general embarrassment, threatening to affect disasterously, the credit of the Commonwealth and the great industrial interests of the people and requiring prompt, strict and efficient action to relieve the suffering community.... Therefore, I convene the Legislature to meet on the 6th of October, to adopt such measures as the present exigency requires. PITTSBURGH, Sept. 28. The excitement is subsiding. The Mechanics Bk. suspended to day. Business is paralyzed. All of our banks, except the Pittsburgh have suspended. The Providence Journal of yesterday morning in speaking of the condition of the affairs in that city says: 'There never before were two such weeks as closed upon the business of Providence last saturday Money continues at unmitigated rates although the demand slackens under the impossibility of obtaining discounts There is hardly any cotton in the market, and the manufacturers are working down their stocks, with no disposition to renew them under present circumstances. It is impossible longer to raise money to pay the labor and a dreary winter is before us. Until the news from Philadelphia and Baltimore arrived, there was a hope that the survivors of this week would go on with an easier money market; but these suspensions cut off a third of the collections upon which our banks were relying to meet their own engagements, and to extend relief to their customers. Providence stands now a creditor city but our collections on New York will not much more than ballance the demands upon us from that city, and those farther South are cut off by the suspension It is impossible to tell what the result will be, but it is plain that things cannot remain so much longer ### UNCURRENT BANKS. The following Banks are reported as uncurrent in this vicinity, though not all of them have failed: Mane.Bank of Hallowell, Hallowell -Canton Bank So. China-Ellsworth Bank, Bangor-Mousom River Bank, Sanford -Sanford Bank, Sanford. New Hamshire-Exter Bk, Exter, Vermont. Danby Bank, Danby-So. Royalton Bank, So. Royaiton, Massachusetts Cochituate Bank, Boston. Rhode Island. Bk. of So. Coventry Wakefield-Mount Vernon Bk., Providence R. I. Central Bank, Fall River -Warwick Bank, Warwick-Bank of Republic. Connecticut. Easton Bank, Killingly-Merchants Ex. Bank, Bridgeport-Worcester Bk., Danbury-Colchester Bank. Colchester. Pennsylvania-Warren County Bk, -Bank of New Castle-Lancaster Bk. New York-Bank of Orleans, Albion -Champlain Bank, Ellensburgh-Exchange Bank, Buffalo Farmers Bank New Paltz--Hollister Bank Buffalo-Merchants and Mechanicks Bank, Oswego-Niagara River Bank Tonawanda-Oliver Lee & Co, Buffalo--Ontario Bk Utica Reciprosity Bk., Buffalo-Sackets Harbor Bank, State Bk, Sackets Harbor-Chemung County Bank Horseheads-Ontario County Bk. Phelps-Yates County Bk. Penn Yan-Eighth Avenue Bk-Knickerbocker Bank. A little fellow from four to five years old, having perforated the knees of his trowsers, was intensely delighted with a patch his grandmother had applied. He would sit and gaze upon it in a state of remarkable admiration, and in one of these moods suddenly exclaimed: Grandma must put one on t'other knee and one behind, like Edy Smith's " "Let's take a horn," is a phase of frequent utterance. The blast of that horn may be the signal for the porter to open the gate of death. ### FACTS ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS. Four of the first seven were from Virgnia.--Two of the same name from Massachusetts, and the seventh was from Tennesee. All but one were sixty six years old on leaving office, having served two terms and one of them, who had served but one term would have been sixty-six years of age at the end of another. Three of the seven died on the 4th of July, and two of them were on the Sab Committee of Three that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and these two died on the same day and year, and on the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, aud just half a century from the day of Declaration. The names of three of the seven ended in 'son," yet neither of these transmitted


Article from Democrat and Sentinel, October 7, 1857

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# NOTICE TO COLLECTORS! I WILL receive in payment of taxes, Bank Notes of the Banks of Pennsylvania which were in good standing at the time of the recent suspension of specie payment by the Banks of Philadelphia, &c., with the exception of the "Bank of Pennsylvania." Collectors will be careful not to receive any Notes of the "Bank of New Castle," "Erie City Bank," or "Warren County Bank." By order of the Commissioners, C. D. MURRAY. Treasurer. Treasurer's Office. Ebensburg Oct. 8, 1857.


Article from Democrat and Sentinel, October 14, 1857

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# NOTICE TO COLLECTORS! I WILL receive in payment of taxes, Bank Notes of the Banks of Pennsylvania which were in good standing at the time of the recent suspension of specie payment by the Banks of Philadelphia, &c., with the exception of the "Bank of Pennsylvania." Collectors will be careful not to receive any Notes of the "Bank of New Castle," "Erie City Bank," or "Warren County Bank." By order of the Commission-ers. C. D. MURRAY. Treasurer. Treasurer's Office, Ebensburg Oct. 8, 1857.


Article from Democrat and Sentinel, October 21, 1857

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# NOTICE TO COLLECTORS! I WILL receive in payment of taxes, Bank Notes of the Banks of Pennsylvania which were in good standing at the time of the recent suspension of specie payment by the Banks of Philadelphia, &c., with the exception of the "Bank of Pennsylvania." Collectors will be careful not to receive any Notes of the "Bank of New Castle," "Erie City Bank," or "Warren County Bank." By order of the Commissioners. C. D. MURRAY. Treasurer. Treasurer's Office, Ebensburg Oct. 8, 1857.


Article from Democrat and Sentinel, October 28, 1857

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# NOTICE TO COLLECTORS! I WILL receive in payment of taxes, Bank Notes of the Banks of Pennsylvania which were in good standing at the time of the recent suspension of specie payment by the Banks of Philadelphia, &c., with the exception of the "Bank of Pennsylvania." Collectors will be careful not to receive any Notes of the "Bank of New Castle," "Erie City Bank," or "Warren County Bank." By order of the Commission-ers. C. D. MURRAY. Treasurer. Treasurer's Office, Ebensburg Oct. 8, 1857.


Article from Democrat and Sentinel, November 4, 1857

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# NOTICE TO COLLECTORS! I WILL receive in payment of taxes, Bank Notes of the Banks of Pennsylvania which were in good standing at the time of the recent suspension of specie payment by the Banks of Philadelphia, &c., with the exception of the "Bank of Pennsylvania." Collectors will be careful not to receive any Notes of the "Bank of New Castle," "Erie City Bank," or "Warren County Bank." By order of the Commissioners. C. D. MURRAY. Treasurer. Treasurer's Office. Ebensburg Oct. 8, 1857.


Article from Democrat and Sentinel, December 2, 1857

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# NOTICE TO COLLECTORS! I WILL receive in payment of taxes, Bank Notes of the Banks of Pennsylvania which were in good standing at the time of the recent suspension of specie payment by the Banks of Philadelphia, &c., with the exception of the "Bank of Pennsylvania." Collectors will be careful not to receive any Notes of the "Bank of New Castle," "Erie City Bank." or "Warren County Bank." By order of the Commission-ers, C. D. MURRAY. Treasurer. Treasurer's Office, Ebensburg Oct. 8, 1857.


Article from Democrat and Sentinel, January 13, 1858

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# NOTICE TO COLLECTORS! I WILL receive in payment of taxes, Bank Notes of the Banks of Pennsylvania which were in good standing at the time of the recent suspension of specie payment by the Banks of Philadelphia, &c., with the exception of the "Bank of Pennsylvania." Collectors will be careful not to receive any Notes of the "Bank of New Castle," "Erie City Bank," or "Warren County Bank." By order of the Commissioners. C. D. MURRAY. Treasurer. Treasurer's Office, Ebensburg Oct. 8, 1857.


Article from Democrat and Sentinel, January 27, 1858

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# NOTICE TO COLLECTORS! I WILL receive in payment of taxes, Bank Notes of the Banks of Pennsylvania which were in good standing at the time of the recent suspension of specie payment by the Banks of Philadelphia, &c., with the exception of the "Bank of Pennsylvania." Collectors will be careful not to receive any Notes of the "Bank of New Castle," "Erie City Bank," or "Warren County Bank." By order of the Commissioners. C. D. MURRAY. Treasurer. Treasurer's Office. Ebensburg Oct. 8, 1867.