Name/Title
Glens Falls Insurance Company Fire Policy issued to William Bull and Phoebe Bull - 1898Entry/Object ID
002394Tags
William Bull, Phoebe BullScope and Content
This is a Glens Falls Insurance Company fire insurance policy (No. 2784) issued to William K. and Phoebe Bull in May 1898. It provides a fascinating look at late-19th-century agricultural life and risk management in Orange County, New York.
Policy Overview
Company: Glens Falls Insurance Co. (Glens Falls, N.Y.)
Effective Dates: May 7, 1898 – May 7, 1901 (3-year term)
Agent: Henry Seacord, Washingtonville, N.Y.
Property Location: The farm of William Bull in Wallkill, Orange County, N.Y.
Total Initial Coverage: $3,665.00
Premium Paid: $31.56
Coverage Breakdown
The policy specifically itemizes farm assets, reflecting the diverse nature of a turn-of-the-century homestead. Notable covered items include:
Item Category Coverage Amount
Main Dwelling (Two-story tin-roofed brick building) $1,000.00
Household Furniture (Including books, silver plate, and sewing machine) $250.00
Barn No. 1 (Including sheds and additions) $700.00
Barn No. 2 (Including wagon house and stable) $250.00
Livestock (Horses, cows, oxen, and young cattle) $1,590.00
Farm Produce/Feed (In barns and stacks) $200.00
Farming Tools & Utensils (Mowers and reapers) $50.00
Ice House $75.00
Key Features & Addendums
Standard Clauses: The policy includes a "Standard Lightning Clause," extending coverage to fire damage caused by lightning, and specific rules regarding the use of "Kerosene Oil Stoves" and steam power for threshing grain.
Handwritten Addendum (1898): A supplemental page dated December 26, 1898, shows an increase in coverage for an additional premium of $8.43. This increased the insurance on Barn No. 1 to $1,300 and expanded coverage for cows and "young stock."
Revenue Stamps: The addendum features four U.S. Internal Revenue documentary stamps (one-cent and two-cent denominations), which were required under the War Revenue Act of 1898 to fund the Spanish-American War.
Signatories: Signed by J.L. Cunningham (President) and R.A. Little (Secretary), with the local agent Henry Seacord.
Condition
The documents show typical signs of age, including original fold lines, minor tearing at the top edges, and some moisture staining. However, the handwritten ink (spencerian script) remains very legible.
