Exhibit 31.0.8

                     PROMISSORY NOTE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

         This Promissory Note and Security Agreement is given effect February
16, 2001 ("Note") BY Thomas P. Bowie, an individual having an address at 237
Spring Run Lane, Downington, Pennsylvania, hereinafter referred to as
"Borrower", IN FAVOR OF, Penn-America Insurance Company, a Pennsylvania
corporation, with offices located at 420 S. York Road, Hatboro, Pennsylvania,
hereinafter referred to as "Lender". The word "Lender" means the original Lender
and anyone else who takes this Note by transfer.

1. Sole Purpose of the Loan. This credit evidenced hereby is given by the Lender
pursuant to Section 1502 of the Pennsylvania Corporation Law and the Unanimous
Consent of the Directors of the Lender, dated January 1, 2000. Any funds
provided under this Note may solely be used by Borrower to purchase $.001 par
value common stock of the Lender (the "Common Stock"), including brokerage
commissions and transaction costs. Such funds will be provided by Lender to
Borrower by way of Borrower's authorized broker, Fahnstock and Company, who will
relay Borrower's request for funds from Lender and who will then receive said
funds from Lender and apply them towards the purchase of $.001 par value PNG
common stock as directed by Borrower.

2. Borrower's Promise to Pay Principal and Interest. In return for the funds
loaned by Lender to Borrower for the acquisition of PNG common stock, Borrower
promises to pay $8,743.75 (the "Principal"), plus interest to the order of the
Lender. Interest, at an annual rate of (5.07%) percent will be charged on that
part of the Principal which has not been paid from the date of this Note until
all Principal has been paid in full, with interest to be accrued semi-annually.
See attached Addendum A, incorporated herein by reference, for specifics of the
transaction(s), which generated the principal due and owing herein.

3. Payments.

       (a)    Unless otherwise specifically set forth herein, Borrower will pay
              all principal, interest, costs and charges due and owing under
              this Note no later than February 16, 2006. All payments will be
              made to Lender at the address shown above or to such other address
              as Lender may notify Borrower of, in writing. Notwithstanding the
              foregoing, Borrower may instruct Lender to sell some or all of the
              Common Stock, which is the subject of this Promissory Note and
              Security Agreement. The proceeds from such sale will be used by
              Lender towards repayment of Borrower's loan and shall be applied
              by Lender to repay an amount equal to the cost basis for the




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              shares of Common Stock sold, including commissions, costs and
              interest incurred. Such repayment shall be entered onto Lender's
              books within five (5) business days of the receipt of settlement
              proceeds by Lender.

       (b)    Acceleration: Lender may not accelerate repayment by Borrower
              under this Note, unless Borrower's employment with Lender is
              terminated prior to February 16, 2006 due to fraud, embezzlement,
              conviction of a crime or grossly negligent conduct on the part of
              Borrower that results in injury or damage to Lender. In the event
              of such an occurrence(s), Lender shall accelerate the loan and
              require immediate payment from Borrower of all principal,
              interest, costs and charges due and owing under this Note.
              Repayment by Borrower under this Note will not accelerate, other
              than as a result of the above.

4. Early Payments. Borrower has the right to make payments at any time before
they are due. These early payments will mean that this Note will be paid in less
time.

5. Late Charge for Overdue Payments. If the Lender has not received any payment
within fifteen (15) days after its due date, Borrower will pay the Lender a late
charge of (4%) percent of the payment. This charge will be paid with the late
payment.

6. Default. If Borrower fails to make any payment required by this Note within
fifteen (15) days after its due date, or if Borrower fails to keep any other
promises that Borrower makes in this Note, or if those promises made in the
Security Agreement bearing even date herewith are not kept, Lender may declare
that Borrower is in default on this Note and the Security Agreement. Upon
default, Borrower must immediately pay the full amount of all unpaid principal,
interest, other amounts due on this Note and the Security Agreement and the
Lender's costs of collection and reasonable attorney fees.

7. Waivers. Borrower gives up its right to require that the Lender do the
following: (a) to demand payment (called "presentment"); (b) to notify Borrower
of nonpayment (called "notice of dishonor"); and (c) to obtain an official
certified statement showing nonpayment (called a "protest"). The Lender may
exercise any right under this Note or the Security Agreement or under any law,
even if Lender has delayed in exercising that right or has agreed in an earlier
instance not to exercise that right. Lender does not waive its right to declare
that Borrower is in default by making payments or incurring expenses on
Borrower's behalf.

8. Pledge of Collateral. In order to protect the Lender if the promises made in
this Note are not kept, and as security for the Borrower's repayment of its
obligations as set forth in this Note (the "Obligations"), the Borrower hereby
grants to the Lender a security interest in and a lien on the Common Stock (the
"Collateral") purchased in accordance with this Note and held by Lender in its
safe at Penn-America Insurance Company, under the control of the General
Counsel. The parties intend that this Note shall constitute a "security
agreement" within the meaning and for purposes of, and as defined in the
Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code, 13 PACSA Section 4101 et seq. (the
"Code").


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9. Escrow of Collateral.

         A. Simultaneously with the Borrower's execution of this Note, the
Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender any and all forms, instruments,
certificates and other documents required by Lender that are sufficient for
Lender to establish possession or control of the Common Stock to be purchased in
order to perfect the Lender's lien on such Common Stock, together with such
other reasonable terms and conditions to preserve the Collateral and to protect
the rights of Lender in the Collateral.

         B. Lender shall hold the Collateral and the Assignment thereof in
escrow in accordance with the following provisions:

       (1)    If Borrower is in Default, Lender shall liquidate the Collateral
              and shall first apply the proceeds therefrom against all fees and
              expenses incurred by Lender in connection with liquidating the
              Collateral, then second shall apply any remaining proceeds
              therefrom against all accrued and unpaid interest (including any
              late payment charges incurred pursuant to Section 5 hereof), then
              third against outstanding principal.

       (2)    When the Obligations have been paid in full or satisfied, the
              Lender shall release the remainder of the Collateral, in any, to
              the order of the Borrower.

10. Rights Retained by the Borrower.

         A. Until the Lender exercises its rights under this Agreement to the
Collateral, the Borrower shall retain any voting rights, rights to receive cash
dividends, liquidating stock dividends and dividends paid in stock, new
securities or other property which the Borrower is entitled to receive by virtue
of such dividend, and all other rights associated with the Collateral, except
those expressly limited in this Agreement.

         B. In addition, the Borrower shall, at all times until the Collateral
is sold and title thereto is actually transferred, have the absolute right to
redeem the Collateral upon payment to the Lender of the then outstanding balance
of the Obligations.

11. Borrower's Default. If the Borrower defaults in the payment of its
Obligations pursuant to this Note, upon the Lender's demand, the Borrower will
execute any other assignment or document necessary or advisable to liquidate or
assign the Collateral to the Lender, make payment pursuant to this Note, and to
carry out the purposes of this Agreement.

12. Lender's Rights. The rights, powers and remedies given to the Lender by this
Agreement are in addition to all rights, powers and remedies given to the Lender
by statute or rule of law, unless otherwise limited in this Agreement. A
forbearance or failure or a delay by the Lender in exercising any one or more of
its rights, powers or remedies is not a waiver of any such right, power or
remedy, and any exercise of a right, power or remedy does not preclude its


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further exercise. Until the Obligations of the Borrower are fully satisfied, the
rights, powers and remedies of the Lender continue to exist and may be exercised
by the Lender at any time not limited in this Agreement.

13. Change in Control. In the event of a "change in control" of Lender, as
defined in Addendum B and incorporated herein by reference, all obligations of
Borrower under this Note are immediately forgiven and satisfied, effective as of
the date of the change in control.

14. Further Assurances. The Borrower and the Lender hereby agree to execute and
deliver in the future any and all assignments, agreements, instruments and/or
documents as may reasonably be required and as may be necessary or expedient to
effect or facilitate the transfer of the Collateral in order to effect the
intents and purposes of this Agreement.

15. Miscellaneous.

         A. This Agreement applies to and shall inure to the benefit of the
Lender's successors and assigns and binds the Borrower's heirs and assigns.

         B. This Agreement may not be modified except by a written agreement
executed by both the Borrower and the Lender.

         C. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties as
to the subject matter set forth therein and supersedes any and all prior written
or oral understandings or agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof.

         D. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Borrower. Lender may
assign this Promissory Note and Security Agreement and shall provide written
notification thereof to Borrower.

         E. Any and all notices and other correspondence required or permitted
to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall either be (i) personally
delivered; (ii) transmitted by telefax and followed by sending same via United
States first class mail; or (iii) sent by United States certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested, with full postage prepaid, and addressed to the
parties at their respective addresses herein set forth (or to such other address
as the parties may from time to time designate by notice to the others given in
the foregoing manner. All notices shall be deemed effective when given.

         F. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania unless preempted by Federal law,
without regard to its principles of conflict of laws.

         G. In the event that any provision or part thereof set forth herein is
held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, or otherwise conflicts



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with applicable law, such provision or part hereof shall be deemed to be deleted
from this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed to give effect to the
remaining provisions hereof.

         H. Captions in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of
reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands
and seals the day and year first above written.




PENN-AMERICA INS. CO.


By:

BORROWER:





WITNESS:




STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA                                 )
                                                      )ss.
COUNTY OF                                             )

         BE IT REMEMBERED, that I hereby certify that on this ______ day of
_________ , 2002, before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared
Thomas P. Bowie, who I am satisfied is the person mentioned in the within
instrument, and he acknowledged that he signed, sealed and delivered the same as
his voluntary act and deed.




________________________________



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STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA                                 )
                                                                         )ss.
COUNTYOF                                              )


          BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this _____ day of__________, 2002, before
me, the subscriber, a Notary Public of the State of Pennsylvania, personally
appeared Joe Morris, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn upon her oath
according to law, did depose and say that he is the Chief Financial Officer of
Penn-America Insurance Company, the Lender in the within Pledge Agreement, and
that in his capacity aforesaid he executed the within Pledge Agreement on behalf
of the said corporation; he did duly acknowledge to me that he signed, sealed
and delivered the same as his voluntary act and deed and as such officer of the
said corporation; that the within instrument is the voluntary act and deed of
the said corporation, by virtue of authority granted by its Board of Directors;
that this person knows the proper seal of the corporation which was affixed to
his Pledge Agreement.


Notary Public of Pennsylvania
                                                                    NOTARIALSEAL


My Commission Expires ______________



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                                   Addendum A

This Addendum forms a part of the Note and Security Agreement by and between
Thomas P. Bowie ("Borrower") and Penn-America Insurance Company ("Lender"), as
amended and restated effective February 16, 2001.

         The common stock acquired by Borrower, which gives rise to the Note in
         the amount of $8,743.75 (which is the principal amount of the loan plus
         brokerage commissions and transaction costs) is the result of the
         acquisition by Borrower on February 16, 2001 of 1,000 shares of PNG
         common stock at a price of $8.70 per share. A copy of the confirmation
         notice is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.







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                                   Addendum B

         For purposes of the within Note, "change in control" shall be deemed to
         have occurred upon the earliest to occur of the following events:

       (i)    the date the shareholders of the Company (or the Board of
              Directors, if shareholder action is not required) approve a plan
              or other arrangement pursuant to which the Penn-America Insurance
              Company will be dissolved or liquidated, or

       (ii)   the date the shareholders of the Company (or the Board of
              Directors, if shareholder action is not required) approve a
              definitive agreement to sell or otherwise dispose of substantially
              all of the assets of the Company,

       (iii)  the date the shareholders of the Company (or the Board of
              Directors, if shareholder action is not required) and the
              shareholders of the other constituent corporation (or its board of
              directors, if shareholder action is not required) have approved a
              definitive agreement to merge or consolidate the Company with or
              into such other corporation, other than, in either case, a merger
              or consolidation of the Company in which holders of shares of the
              Company's Common Stock immediately prior to the merger or
              consolidation will have at least a majority of the ownership of
              common stock of the surviving corporation (and, if one class of
              common stock is not the only class of voting securities entitled
              to vote on the election of directors of the surviving corporation,
              a majority of the voting power of the surviving corporation's
              voting securities) immediately after the merger or consolidation,
              which common stock (and, if applicable, voting securities) is to
              be held in the same proportion as such holders' ownership of
              Common Stock of the Company immediately before the merger or
              consolidation, or

       (iv)   the date any entity, person or group, other than Penn-America
              Group, Inc., its subsidiaries Penn Independent Corporation or
              those individuals and trusts who comprise the shareholders of Penn
              Independent Corporation, shall have become the beneficial owner
              of, or shall have obtained voting control over, more than thirty
              percent (30%) of the outstanding Shares of the Company's Common
              Stock, or

       (v)    the first day when directors are elected such that a majority of
              the Board of Directors shall have been members of the Board of
              Directors for less than two (2) years, unless the nomination for
              election of each new director who was not a director at the
              beginning of such two (2) year period was approved by a vote of at
              least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were
              directors at the beginning of such period.






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