See my notes following *** -----Original Message----- From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask] Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 9:52 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [VA-ROOTS] Mutual Assurance Insurance policies qiestion While comparing early Mutual Assurance Society (MAS) insurance policies against those of Henrico Deed Books (HDB), I came across various date and owner discrepancies. I find title deeds to houses issued to an owner years before they have an insurance policy issued by MAS. ****It may be that the owner of record waited until the later years to buy insurance, as insurance on houses was yet something of a novelty. Then too, you may be seeing a policy that followed or preceded a policy of a different insurance company. There were but a few until late in 19th Century. Sometimes I find co-owners or owners on policies not seen on deeds! And you may well find the same today; upon the sale of, say, one half (or some other fraction) as an interest in any structure. Indeed, I have an insured business building belonging to my partner and me; that, though I am the sole owner of the real estate. Almost without exception we insure structures and not the land upon which those are located. Questions: 1) Was it normal in the early years (pre 1850) to have delayed policies issued and if so, why? *** As now, if an owner feels that the policy premiums exceed the replacement costs or probability of loss, the structure goes uninsured. 2) Were policies mandatory? **** Nope, however, again as now, a lessor may require some measure of insurance as a condition of the lease or rental contract. I say that because there is a house around the corner from me situated on E. Marshall Street (then ' I ' Street) built in 1814 that I have never seen a MAS policy on. *** Insurance is almost always at the election of an owner, lessor or mortgagor. 3) Was there other companies issuing policies in Richmond during this time frame and if so, who were they and are their records available to look at like MAS? **** Try these sites either as a browse subject or at VA Library Thanks for any info you can provide concerning these puzzles. Eric -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web.com - Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on MicrosoftR Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html