The indenture holds title over a property that no longer exists but the

history it holds shows the seeds of Delaware County’s banking industry.

Written in script, the document displays an official Delaware County seal

embossed in a circle, set in a 32-point star and is a part of Delaware

County Historical Society’s collection.

Dated March 20, 1815, the deed records the transaction of Elizabeth

Pedrick to the Bank of Delaware County of two lots at the corner of what

was Market and James streets for $1,800.

The property had previously belonged to John and Jane Bezer of Chester.

In his will dated March 26, 1751, John Bezer left it to his widow, Jane.

When she died, her next of kin were two sisters, Hannah Cummings and

Mary.

As both of them had also died, the property was placed in the hands of

Elizabeth Pedrick, Mary’s only daughter.

The bank itself had only been chartered since November 1814 by the state

of Pennsylvania before they bought this property on Market Square. It

remained here for quite some time until 1882.

At that time, a new building was built on Market Square for Delaware

County National Bank. While the new banking house was being built on the

site of the old one, the bank transacted business in the old kitchen annex of

the cashier’s home.

For 50 years, it was the only bank in Delaware County and was converted

to a national bank on March 30, 1864.

The bank eventually made its way to 408 Avenue of the States in the early

20th century, where it remained until the 1990’s.

It wasn’t until 1970 that Delaware County National Bank and the National

Bank of Chester County were consolidated under Southeast National Bank.

In 1983, Southeast National Bank was acquired by Fidelity, which then

became First Union and then Wells Fargo.

The Pedrick deed and many others are housed at the home of Delaware

County Historical Society, located at 408 Avenue of the States in Chester.

It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; 1 p.m.

to 6:30 p.m. Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Parking is free in lot

behind the building or across the street in the city’s municipal lot.

For more information or for ways to get involved, please call 610-359-0832.

The Pedrick deed, as written in script, is preserved at Delaware County Historical Society.

With this sale, the Pedrick house became the headquarters of Delaware County National Bank, located on the former Market Square in Chester.

The Delaware County seal is prominently displayed in the upper corner of the Pedrick deed.

The Pedrick deed records the transaction between Elizabeth Pedrick and Delaware County National Bank when she sold the house in 1815.