Introduction
This month we look at the economics that affected island African Americans and the small businesses and jobs that independent islanders created.
The Freedman’s Savings Bank (1865-1874)
On March 3, 1865 Congress chartered the Freedman’s Savings Bank. This “benevolent” banking institution would provide black soldiers with a safe place to deposit their Union Army back pay and bounty payments and to encourage “thrift and industry” in the African American community. In short it was a simple savings institution created primarily for former slaves and their descendants who previously lacked business experience.
The vast majority of the deposits were “poignantly small” ranging from $5 and $50 but these small deposits were “emblematic of the historic rise of the class of black property owners.” Soldiers deposited back pay and bounties. Schoolchildren were encouraged to make deposits and were routinely preached to about importance of work and saving. African American churches, private businesses, and benevolent societies also maintained accounts at the Freedman’s Bank. These institutions often took the lead in making deposits and were the driving force behind getting many individual depositors to open accounts.
A board of fifty trustees was authorized to manage the assets which were to be invested in stocks, bonds, Treasury notes or other securities of the United States. Between 1865 and 1871 the Freedman’s Bank opened 37 branches in 17 states and the District of Columbia. In less than a decade an estimated 70,000 depositors had opened and closed accounts with bank deposits totaling more than $57 million dollars.
A preliminary look at the accounts at the Savannah branch reveal details about many coastal island Georgia residents who opened accounts. Rev. Tunis Campbell, “Missionary and formally agent of Freedman’s Bureau” opened an account on July 24, 1866. Several St. Catherine Island residents followed his lead. Anthony Bell who worked for Thomas Spalding on Sapelo and Abrahm Bell opened accounts. Darien residents James Bailey, Samuel Hazard, and Edward Gerard age 14 who lived “on the Ridge 5 miles from Darien,” opened accounts. Rev. Andrew Nagle deposited the funds from St. Simons Island Baptist Church in July 1873. On May, 19,1873 Rev. Nagle also signed deposits for St. Simons Island residents Polly Shepard age 50 and Samuel Shepard age 30. On the same day Rev. Nagle signed up six depositors who worked for Mr. Corbin-Mr. Couper Agent at Altama, Glynn County – James B. Fraser, Morris Johnson, Jacob Berrian, Gabriel Palmer, Scott Denegal, and Sukie Maxwell. St. Simons Island residents Susan Abbott (at Frederica) and SSI resident James Proctor age 17 who “works for Mrs. Stephens” opened accounts. Lena Quarterman, cook, who worked for Brunswick City Treasurer John Johnson opened her account in August 1873.
Less than ten years later, in June 1874, the bank closed, leaving over 61,000 depositors with losses over $3 million. The financial panic of 1873, inexperienced branch workers, and, in some cases, officers using their financial cunning to use bank assets for personal use led ultimately to liabilities outpacing assets. Over the years, some depositors were able to get a small percentage of their deposits but confidence and trust in the central bank system was never recovered.
Sources: More information about deposits can be found at www.ancestry.com, under African American Collections, and Freedman’s Savings Records.
Savannah Morning News, July 3, 1874 reporters “The Bubble Burst: Suspension of the Freedman’s Savings Bank and Trust Company;” “How the Negroes Have been Swindled;’ “Collapse of a Big Swindle – $35,000 said to be Swamped in Savannah”
“The Freedman’s Savings Bank: Good Intentions Were Not Enough: A Noble Experiment Goes Awry.” www.occ.treas.gov (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency)
“The Freedman’s Savings & Trust, Co. and Africa American Genealogical Record” by Regina Washington, Federal records & African American History www.archives.gov “New Data traces rise, fall of the Freedman Bank”, by Merritt Melancon (UGA Prof of Finance) Feb. 25, 2021. https://news.uga.edu
