Summary

Some slave owners insured their slave property, just as they would their house or business. Lawyers, such as John H. McCue helped negotiate terms.

EXCERPT:

"We would be satisfied to take the risk on the lives of Dr. F. E Lucketes negroes provided they are proper subjects for Insurance. In order to Insure them you may select some Physician of standing in Dr L. neighborhood to examine them but he (Dr L) must pay the Examination fees, and we will allow him a credit of Fifty cents on each policy that being the fee we pay our Medical examiners. We will Insure the negroes to an amount equal to three fourths of their value provided it does not exceed Eight hundred Dollars the head."

Full-text web version of letter

Location of original letter

McCue Family Papers (MS 4406), Box 2, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia

"White people in Augusta rarely discussed slavery openly and for the most part only did so under provocation when they hoped to defend their institution."