Antebellum Life Insurance - Part III - 1859 Property Insurance Document

In this third part of sharing mid-1800s insurance documents in my collection (Parts I and II here and here), below you will find an 1859 property insurance policy issued by the Traders' and Mechanics' Insurance Company.

Hazard insurance in its many forms - property/fire and shipping/marine, for example - has a longer tradition in the United States than life insurance.

Interesting items in the document include the premiums, description of the property, limitations expressed in the company by-laws, and the interesting caveat: "If fluid is used for lights, lamps to be filled by day only."

The next post in a few days will include my column for the Civil War News on the interesting history of life insurance in the United States up to and including the Civil War.

Enjoy!

1859 Traders and Mechanics Policy - Collection of James M. Schmidt

1859 Traders and Mechanics Policy - Collection of James M. Schmidt

1859 Traders and Mechanics Policy - Collection of James M. Schmidt

1859 Traders and Mechanics Policy - Collection of James M. Schmidt