National Village Bank, Bowdoinham, ME (Charter 944)

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The Village Bank of Bowdoinham Obsolete $1 proof
The Village Bank of Bowdoinham Obsolete $1 proof, Haxby ME-205. Central vignette of a train station with a waiting passenger train. At left is a sailing ship in a busy harbor. Baldwin Cousland & Co., Philadelphia. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

National Village Bank, Bowdoinham, ME (Chartered 1865 - Liquidated 1890)

Town History

Bowdoinham is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine. Bowdoinham was included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 3,047 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. The town is located on the west side of Merrymeeting Bay.

Fort Richmond was built upriver in 1719, protecting the area and encouraging British settlement. About 1720, the mouth of the Cathance River was first settled by Captain Gyles Watkins. But during Dummer's War, in the summer of 1723 all buildings in the region were burned and cattle killed by the Norridgewocks and their 250 Indian allies from New France. The Kennebec River region was abandoned. When Gov. William Dummer's Treaty of 1725 brought peace, it was resettled about 1730 by Abraham and Jonas Preble from York.

Litigation from two conflicting claims, however, slowed the town's development. On July 3, 1637, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the lord proprietor of Maine, had granted this part of New Somersetshire to Sir Richard Edgcumbe of Mount Edgcumbe House, situated at Cremyll in Cornwall, England. But the Kennebec Company conveyed it in 1752 to William Bowdoin of Boston, older brother of James Bowdoin. The contested ownership went to court, whereupon Bowdoin won because Edgcumbe's grant was found obsolete and indefinite. On September 18, 1762, the Massachusetts General Court incorporated it as Bowdoinham, named for William Bowdoin. It originally included Richmond, set off in 1823, and portions of Topsham and the Plantation of West Bowdoinham, set off in 1788 as Bowdoin.

Shipbuilding was an important early industry which faded over time, with the first vessel launched in 1768, and the last of any size in 1912. By 1886, the town had three sawmills, a gristmill, plaster mill, two clothing factories, a cheese factory and about a dozen ice companies. It also produced boots and shoes, tinware, carriages and harness. Once a site of wharves to ship lumber and other goods, Cathance Landing became the town's business center called Bowdoinham Village.

Bowdoinham had one National Bank chartered during the Bank Note Era, and it issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

  • Organized February 15, 1865
  • Chartered March 28, 1865
  • Succeeded Village Bank
  • Liquidated August 28, 1890

In 1852, the Village Bank was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature. An act was passed on February 15, 1856 to incorporate the Village Bank at Bowdoinham. Mr. Berry was elected president and Robert Butterfield, cashier. When the Berry firm failed in 1857, the president resigned and Nathaniel Purinton became president until 1882 when he resigned. Captain John Coombs of Bowdoin was elected president, holding the position until 1888 when Samuel W. Randall was elected, serving until February 14, 1890, when William K. Maxwell became president. Maxwell served about six months until the affairs of the bank were closed up.[1] 

The steam mill at the village of Bowdoinham was built in 1837 by a stock company who operated the mill until 1843. The property was a losing investment, so they suspended the business. Gen. Joseph Berry of Georgetown bought the property at this time and placed it on a good paying basis for many years both in sawing lumber and shipping by coasters. The mill had three up and down saws until about 1848 when a gang-saw was added. Wm. Berry, son of the General was the manager. They had a store north of the railroad and William Whitmore had charge of it for many years. Gen. Berry began ship building in 1851 and continued to build until 1856. His ship yard was next to Given's yard. Berry failed in 1857 and the mill was demolished and the machinery carried to Bath.[2]

In February 1856, Mr. Thompson from the Committee on Banks and Banking reported an act to incorporate the City Bank of Biddeford and also an act to incorporate the Village Bank, Bowdoinham, both read and assigned.[3] The act to incorporate the Village Bank, Bowdoinham came up on its passage to be engrossed. Mr. Butler doubted the expediency of chartering new banks, especially those of small capital. Mr. Thompson replied, explaining the action of the committee. The committee was satisfied that the business interests of Bowdoinham required a bank in that town. Accordingly they had reported a bill to that effect. The bill to incorporate the City Bank, Biddeford was then put on its passage to be engrossed.[4] On Tuesday, February 12, 1856, the bill to incorporate the Village Bank at Bowdoinham was read a third time. Mr. Morrow of Searsmont moved to lay the bill on the table. Mr. Lunt of Bowdoinham hoped the motion would not prevail and he made a very strong case. There was not only no bank at Bowdoinham, but none within ten miles. A large business was done at this town and no facilities afforded to aid it. They had a large and constantly increasing ship building interest and the mercantile branch of trade was also of importance. Mr. Swazey sustained the bill. It appeared that $250,000 per annum were expended at Bowdoinham for ship building. The trade of the town amounted to $300,000 annually. It was necessary that this steadily increasing and thriving town would have thorough facilities for the transaction of business. More than $350,000 had already been subscribed by men, some of whom were abundantly able individually to pay in the whole capital. Mr. Morrow then offered an additional section which was adopted and the bill was passed to be engrossed. The next day the Senate concurred in the amendment and the bill then passed to be engrossed.[5]

On March 28, 1865, the National Village Bank of Bowdoinham, capital $50,000, was authorized to commence business.[6] The report of condition as of Monday, July 3rd, showed total resources of $121,946.07 with capital stock paid in $50,000, circulation $16,000, individual deposits $24,076.53, Village Bank notes outstanding $25,728, and profit $2,197.85. Robert Butterfield was cashier.[7]

The Village National Bank was in a building by itself situated in the middle of the village, and the house of the cashier, Mr. Robert Butterfield, was about 100 rods distant from it. Around 2 o'clock Friday morning, June 22, 1866, robbers placed a pitch plaster against a pane of glass in the lower part of the cashier's house and cut around it with a diamond, removing the pane without noise. They then went to his chamber where he lay asleep with his eldest son, a boy of seven or eight years of age. The first indication of their presence was a blow to his head with the butt of a pistol which partially stunned him, and a demand for "the keys." Almost blind and staggered by the blow, he refused to point out where they were. Successive blows followed upon his head, face and chest, till the pillows were a mass of blood. Thinking they would kill him, he finally gave them the keys. They then produced a clothes line or bed cord and bound him tightly to the bed, taking off the bloody pillow case, which they used as a gag. His little boy was treated in the same manner, but not so tightly. The only other persons in the house were Mrs. B. and a sick infant in an adjoining chamber. Her child was taken from her, she was tied and gagged tightly, and then her baby laid beside her. They then went to the bank and opened the outer doors, but the inner safe defied their efforts. Two of the scoundrels then returned to the house, released Mr. B.'s hands and feet, and putting a pistol to his head, made him go to the bank. They ordered him to open the safe, telling him, if it was not opened within sixty seconds, they would shoot him through the head. Renewed threats and blows were needed to convinced him to unlock the safe. They then led him back to his bed, rebound him so tightly that the suffering from the cords was terrible, and left him. Soon, he heard a vehicle drive off. The whole family remained tied they estimated an hour and a half, gagged and speechless. At last the little son slipped one hand through the ropes, and at length picked the knots loose from the other. Then he untied his feet, and at last succeeded in releasing his father's mouth from the bloody pillow. His father then told him to go and get a knife and cut him free. Neighbors were aroused, men dispatched to every depot within twenty miles, and the tracks of the wheels traced towards Topsham. Two masks, a dark lantern, a Montreal newspaper bearing the date of June 15th, and a jimmy were found, which the villains had left behind them. The amount taken was about $60,000 in Government securities and $8,500 in bank bills. A reward of $5,000 was offered for the apprehension of the robbers.[8][9] The bank's losses in cash and bonds was about $10,000. About $65,000 in bonds belonged to individuals and consisted of Unites States, State of Maine, and Portland & Kennebec Railroad bonds.[10] 

On Friday, October 19, 1866, the supposed robbers were arrested in New York. They were David Bartlett, Edward Waston, alias Edward McGuire, alias "Fairy" McGuire, and Oren Simms, alias "Rory" Simms, all notorious burglars.[11]

On Tuesday, April 23, 1867, during the April 1867 term, Supreme Judicial Court, Judge Tapley, presiding, heard State vs. David Bartlett, Edward Maguire and Orrin (Orren) Simms, indicted for breaking and entering the National Village Bank at Bowdoinham and taking therefrom property as set forth in the indictment. "The prisoners were then arraigned and the indictment was read to them, which, as near as we could judge was about six yards in length." Prisoners plead not guilty.[12] The Bowdoinham bank robbers were convicted on Saturday, April 27th. Gen. Shepley's argument for the government was said to have been one of his best efforts. The prisoners were arraigned on another indictment charging them with feloniously entering and breaking into Butterfield's house and assaulting the cashier with dangerous weapons. Judge Tapley continued the case to the August term.[13]

The report of condition as of April 17, 1869, showed total resources of $113,656.81 with capital stock $50,000, surplus $1,963.30, circulation $44,338, and individual deposits $17,476.75. Robert Butterfield was cashier and directors attesting to the correctness were R.P. Carr, Horace A. Gray, and H.Q. Sampson.[14]

In January 1888, the National Village Bank re-elected the old board of directors, viz: John Coombs, P.W. Carr, S.W. Randall, S.W. Carr, and H.P. Kendall. H.P. Kendall was cashier.[15]

On Tuesday, January 14, 1890, stockholders elected the following directors (not the parties previously reported): Wm. K. Maxwell, Samuel W. Randall, Robert P. Carr, W.B. Kendall, and H.P. Kendall. Wm. K. Maxwell would be elected president.[16][17] On August 28, 1890, stockholders of the National Village bank of Bowdoinham voted to place the association in voluntary liquidation.[18]

Official Bank Title

1: The National Village Bank of Bowdoinham, ME

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $10 bank note
1882 Brown Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of H.P. Kendall, Cashier and John Coombs, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1882 Brown Back $5 bank note
1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of H.P. Kendall, Cashier and S.W. Randall, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $213,850 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1865 and 1890. This consisted of a total of 29,984 notes (29,984 large size and No small size notes).

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

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
Original Series 3x1-2 1 - 1000
Original Series 4x5 1 - 1600
Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 960
Series 1875 4x5 1 - 1745
Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 674
1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 520
1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 997

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1865 - 1890):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

  • No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

Sources

  • Bowdoinham, ME, 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
  1. ↑ Adams, Silas, "The History of the Town of Bowdoinham 1762-1912," Fairfield Publishing Co., Fairfield, ME, p. 254.
  2. ↑ Adams, Silas, "The History of the Town of Bowdoinham 1762-1912," Fairfield Publishing Co., Fairfield, ME, pp 31, 120.
  3. ↑ Portland Press Herald, Portland, ME, Sat., Feb. 9, 1856.
  4. ↑ Portland Press Herald, Portland, ME, Mon., Feb. 11, 1856.
  5. ↑ Eastern Times, Bath, ME, Thu., Feb. 21, 1856.
  6. ↑ The Portland Daily Press, Portland, ME, Mon., Apr. 3, 1865.
  7. ↑ The Times Record, Brunswick, ME, Wed., July 12, 1865.
  8. ↑ Sun-Journal, Lewiston, ME, Mon., June 25, 1866.
  9. ↑ The Portland Daily Press, Portland, ME, Mon., June 25, 1866.
  10. ↑ Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME, Fri., June 29, 1866.
  11. ↑ Sun-Journal, Lewiston, ME, Tue., Oct. 23, 1866.
  12. ↑ The Times Record, Brunswick, ME, Wed., Apr. 24, 1867.
  13. ↑ Portland Press Herald, Portland, ME, Mon., Apr. 29, 1867.
  14. ↑ The Times Record, Brunswick, ME, Wed., Apr. 28, 1869.
  15. ↑ The Times Record, Brunswick, ME, Mon., Jan. 23, 1888.
  16. ↑ Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME, Wed., Jan. 15, 1890.
  17. ↑ Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME, Wed. Jan. 29, 1890.
  18. ↑ The Portland Daily Press, Portland, ME, Fri., Aug. 29, 1890.
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