Description:

1760 Insurance Policy for "Men of War, Fires, Enemies, Pirates, Rovers, Theives" Voyage of Brig Ellenor from Philadelphia to St. Christopher's

This insurance policy insured the Brig Ellenor for a voyage from Philadelphia to St. Christophers (modern St. Kitts). The policy was for £500 and Quaker merchant John Lownes purchased it on the account of his deceased father-in-law Caleb Cowpland. The rate for the insurance was 18 percent, so it cost £90 plus an additional 5 shillings for the policy. The underwriters of the policy (for £100 each) were fellow merchants Reese Meredith, John Mifflin, John Wilcocks, Abraham Judah, and John Mease, three of whom signed the non-importation agreement in 1765 in response to the Stamp Act. Several of them were Quaker merchants as well, and Judah was a Jewish merchant, who had recently relocated from Wilmington, Delaware.

[SHIPPING.] Partially Printed Document Signed, Insurance Policy for Voyage of Brigatine Ellenor, September 2, 1760, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1 p., 13.25" x 16.5". Substantial tape cellophane repairs to verso that have discolored recto; one portion detached on left side; two lines of text affected by central fold; some loss

Excerpts
"Whereas I John Lownes (for Acct of Caleb Cowpland) of the City of Philadelphia, Merchant have made Assurance, and cause to be assured, (lost or not lost) at and from Philadelphia to St Christophers upon the Body, Tackle, Apparel, and other the Furniture of the good Brigantine called the Ellenor...whereof is Master under God, for this present Voyage William Simpson...."

"The said Ship, Tackle, &c. for so much as it concerns the Assured by Agreement made between the Assured and Assurers in this POLICY, are and shall be valued at One Thousand pounds.... Touching the Adventures and Perils, which we the Assurers are contented to bear, and do take upon us in this Voyage, they are, of the Seas, Men of War, Fires, Enemies, Pirates, Rovers, Theives, Jettisons, Letters of Mart and Counter Mart, Surprisals, Taking at Sea, Arrests, Restraints and Detainments, of all Kings, Princes, or People of What Nation, Condition or Quality soever, Barratry of the Master and Mariners, and all other Perils, Losses and Misfortunes, that have or shall come to the Hurt, Detriment or Damage of the said Ship or any Part thereof."

Caleb Cowpland (1690-1757) was born in Yorkshire, England, and as a Quaker, he migrated to Pennsylvania in 1714. In 1717, he married Mary Tidmarsh (d. 1719), and they had one son. After his first wife's death, Cowpland married the widow Sarah Jones Edge in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1721, and they had at least five children. From 1750 until his death, Cowpland was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Provincial Court.

John Lownes (1723-1807) was born in Pennsylvania and was a Quaker merchant in Philadelphia. He married Agnes Cowpland/Copeland (1727-1775), the daughter of Caleb Cowpland, in 1753, and they had at least seven children.

Reese Meredith (1708-1778) was a prominent Quaker merchant in Philadelphia. He was the father of Samuel Meredith (1741-1817), who was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress (1786-1788) and Treasurer of the United States (1789-1801).

John Mifflin (1720-1798) was a Quaker merchant in Philadelphia, who owned a store with his son or brother Jonathan Mifflin. He became extremely wealthy through partnerships with his relatives and with other Quaker families in operating in the import and export trade to the West Indies and Great Britain. He signed the non-importation resolution of 1765 in response to the Stamp Act.

John Wilcocks (d. 1763) was a merchant in Philadelphia and signed the non-importation resolution of 1765 in response to the Stamp Act. He served as one of the executors of Abraham Judah's estate.

Abraham Judah (ca. 1725-1762) was a merchant and one of the first Jewish settlers in Wilmington, Delaware, where he lived for approximately a decade. In December 1757, he announced that he would sell his inventory and a small sloop there. In 1758, he moved to Philadelphia, where he died four years later. In 1760, he enrolled his son David Judah in the College of Philadelphia.

John Mease (d. 1767) was born in Ireland and became a wealthy merchant in Philadelphia. He contributed land for the construction of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. Mease signed the non-importation resolution of 1765 in response to the Stamp Act. His nephew Matthew Mease (d. 1787) served in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War as a purser aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, under the command of John Paul Jones, and was wounded in its historic battle against the HMS Serapis.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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November 2, 2022 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000