Benedict v. Morse
Benedict v. Morse
Opinion of the Court
The premises of Avhich the plaintiffs seek possession were a part of the land conveyed by Caleb Burbank to Amasa Wood, John Jacobs and Abraham G. Randall, in trust to be sold for the benefit of his creditors, under a deed of assignment for that purpose. Prior to the sale to the plaintiffs, Jacobs, one of the trustees, died. Afterwards, the survivors made the conveyance to Merrick, who on the same day conveyed an undivided moiety to Benedict. The defendant contends that the poAver of the surviving trustees to sell ceased upon the death of Jacobs, and that, in consequence of it, the deed to Merrick was void.
The argument in support of this exception is, that the trustees took no estate which they were to hold ; that they had but a naked power to sell, not coupled with an interest; that they were the mere conduits through which the estate was to pass; the object being not to give them the land, but to enable them to sell it and receive and distribute the proceeds. And it is further argued, that if the power was not terminated by the death of Jacobs, yet, as the words “ survivors and survivor ” are not contained in the deed, the terms “ heirs and assigns,” as used in it, created a tenancy in common, and therefore the heirs of Jacobs must join in a conveyance, in order to pass the estate.
It is perfectly well settled, that a power to convey land, not coupled with an interest, terminates as well with the death of the party receiving it, as with that of the constituent ; and the reason given is, that it is a bare power, collateral to the land to be granted, and not coupled with it — a mere personal confidence, revocable at pleasure, and absolutely revoked by death. But where an estate or interest in the land is conveyed to the person, coupled with the power, he is not a mere stranger to the land, but the power and the interest are connected, and they do not die with the person ;
The question whether the conveyance was to the trustees as joint tenants or as tenants in common, it is not necessary here to decide, because, quácunque via data, the defendant cannot avail himself of the legal difference between the two estates. If the trustees were joint tenants, then the survivors passed the whole estate by their deed to Merrick; and if they were only tenants in common, their deed, though purporting to convey the whole estate, would be good as to two undivided third parts, and the purchasers would become tenants in common with the heirs of the third trustee, and entering into possession, their title would be good to the whole estate, so far as strangers to the title were concerned. And this title to possession of the whole could not be controverted by the present defendant, who occupied the premises under the two trustees, as their tenant, and who has set up no claim, after the sale, as derived from the heirs of Jacobs.
The remaining question is — admitting the plaintiffs’ title — whether the defendant was tenant at will of the estate occupied by him, and, as such, entitled to three months’ notice
But we are of opinion that, by the sale to Merrick, the estate at will was determined. Such an estate is uncertain and defeasible, and is destroyed by the alienation of either party. Co. Lit. 55 b. 57 a. Jackson v. Aldrich, 13 Johns. 109. Dinsdale v. Iles, 2 Lev. 88. And the tenant, in case of an alienation by the owner of the estate, becomes a m’ere tenant by sufferance; for the estate at will is terminated by its own legal limitation ; it not being the subject of alienation. But it is unnecessary to enlarge on the nature of these two estates, because we are of opinion that the case now presented is decided by those of Kinsley v. Ames, 2 Met. 29y and Hollis v. Pool, 3 Met. 350. In the first of these cases, the defendant had conveyed the estate in mortgage, with a power to sell. This power was exercised, and the plaintifl was the assignee of the purchaser, and gave the defendant notice to quit immediately after his purchase ; and within
Exceptions overruled.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William M. Benedict & another v. Benaiah Morse
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- 1 case
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- Published