Whiting v. Whiting
Whiting v. Whiting
Opinion of the Court
This case comes before the court upon a report by the presiding judge of the facts disclosed upon the trial.
All the parties claim under the will of the late John Whiting of Great Barrington. It is conceded that the plaintiffs have a good title to the messuage described in the bill, subject only to the right of the defendant to the use and occupation of the dwelling-house standing thereon. It is admitted that her right, whatever it is, is to continue during her life or until she is married; but the parties disagree in relation to the question whether she has a right to the use and occupation of the whole, or of only a part, of the dwelling-house. She contends that she is entitled to have the sole and exclusive use and occupation of the whole of it; while the plaintiffs insist that by the devise in the will she acquired title only to an undivided part of it; and they pray for a decree of partition and an assignment to the parties in interest of their several and respective proportions of this part of the estate.
By his will the testator made various devises and bequests in favor of his wife and children, the particulars of which it is unnecessary now to consider, as they have no bearing upon the question in relation to which the parties to this suit are at issue. The devise to the defendant is in these terms: “ I give and bequeath to my daughter Isabella the right to reside in and use and occupy as heretofore accustomed my present dwelling-house as long as she remains unmarried.” A similar devise was made to another daughter, who has since been married, and whose
But if the right claimed by the plaintiffs could be established, this bill could not be maintained; for in that case the plaintiffs would have a plain, adequate and complete remedy at law. Rev. Sts. c. 103, § 1. And therefore this court would not be authorized to entertain proceedings in equity to set off and assign to the parties in severalty their respective portions of the estate. Bill dismissed, with costs.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.