Lately kept in Ann-Street near the Town-Dock, by Samuel Phillips Savage, is removed to the Houſe of the Honorable William Brattle, Eſq; next Door to the Britiſh Coffee-Houſe, King-Street: Where the Buſineſs of Inſurance is carried on as uſual.
Boſton, December 6, 1759.
With regard to policies, the term "under-writer" came from an old custom. There were in old times no joint-stock companies for insurance, but policies were filled out and left at an office kept by some person for the purpose, where any responsible man could sign his name to a particular policy and affix such sum as he was willing to risk, and thus become one of the "underwriters." We have seen, for instance, a policy for $20,000 with twelve or fifteen names of merchants, signed with various sums from $500 upwards.
A quaint notice of the death of Obadiah Brown, of Providence, from the "Boston Post-Boy":—
PROVIDENCE, June 21, 1762.
On Thurſday laſt died at his Seat in the Country, after two Days Illneſs, Obadiah Brown, Eſq; in the 50th Year of his Age. He was one of the moſt conſiderable Men in this Town: In the various Branches of Buſineſs which he carried on, his Activity was unequalled, his Judgment and Prudence oftener admired than imitated, his Honeſty and Integrity fit to be drawn into Example.—As a Magiſtrate, he was judicious, grave, and reſerved:—As a Friend, conſtant, open, facetious, and cheerful:—In the Relations of a Huſband, Father, and Maſter, the deep and real Sorrow of his Widow, the mournful Tears of his Children, and the unuſual Cries and Lamentations of his Servants, are invincible Proofs in his Favour. His Beneficence is witneſſed by the Sighs of the Poor and Thanks of the Tradeſmen: And his Death is univerſally lamented, becauſe his Life was univerſally uſeful.
Notice of Hon. Daniel Russell, from the "Boston Gazette":—