Creswell's Lessee v. Lawson
Creswell's Lessee v. Lawson
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
A variety of questions have been raised in this case.
1. Whether the devise in the will of John Creswell, the elder, to Alexander McKim, in trust for the use of Hannah Slater for life, and after her death, for the use and benefit of Rebecca, wife of John Roy, Lydia Ball Slater, and Ann Sharp Slater, children of Hannah Slater is void for uncertainty ?
2. If not void for uncertainty, whether the property devised, is designated with sufficient certainty, to ascertain the particular lots intended to he given; or whether a right of election was given, as out of a designated mass, from which the subject of the devise was to be taken ?
3. If a right of election was conferred, whether that right has been exerted, in a manner authorized by law, by a person having authority to make the election ?
4. Whether, if there has been such an election, it was made in due time ?
5. Whether the title to the property devised, vested in the devisee before election, so as that a suit instituted before, could be defeated by an election made at the time?
6. Whether the devise to McKim for the purposes of the trust, did or not operate to pass the whole of the property conveyed, to the testator, John Creswell, the elder, by the deed from William Slater to him, therein referred to; — And,
7. Whether the payment of the debt due from William Slater, which is annexed as a condition to the devise, is or not a condition precedent to the vesting of the title under the devise ?
The title of the testator, Jojm Creswell, the elder, to the premises in question, is not disputed; and the lessor of the plaintiff claims as devisee of John Creswell, the younger, who was the heir at law of the testator, John Creswell, the elder.
A great deal of legal research has been brought into the argument of this' cause, with thought, ingenuity, and professional skill, spread over an extensive range of legal learning. And the case at first view is not without some difficulty. If the whole of the property, conveyed by the deed of the 24th of May, 1810, from William Slater to John Creswell, the elder, passed under the devise in his will to McKim; or if not the whole, but only two lots or parcels of it passed with the right of election, and the “ piece or parcel of ground,” for which the suit was brought, has been selected in the due exercise of that right, as one of the two lots authorized to be chosen; or if two lots and no more passed, which are designated in the devise with sufficient precision to be ascertained, and the lot in controversy, is one of the two so designated ; in either case, the plaintiff can have no right to recover; unless the payment of the debt, if any, due from William Slater to the testator, is to be considered as a condition precedent to the vesting of the title under the devise, which has been so broken, as to leave the title of the heir at law, under whom the plaintiff claims in full force. Of the payment of
Assuming in this part of the case, that two lots, and no more, were intended to be devised, and that the description given in the will, is sufficiently exact and certain to pass the lots intended; still, it is not pretended, that the piece of ground for which the action was brought is one of those two lots, there being no designation of it as one of them; nor any thing to be found in the will, from which such an inference can be drawn, under any construction of it. And it is only on the ground, either, that the whole of the property covered by the deed from William Slater to Creswell, the elder, passed under the devise to McKim, in Creswell's will; or that it passed two lots or parcels of it, which are not designated, with the right to elect to take any two of the several parcels of ground mentioned in the deed; and that this particular piece of ground, has been selected, in the due exercise of that right, that the defence set up, can be sustained against the otherwise conceded title of the plaintiff.
One or the other of those grounds must be maintained, or the defendant must fail in his defence. And even then, if the payment of the sum found to be due to the testator, from William Slater, is to be considered as a condition precedent to the vesting of the estate under the devise; there being no evidence or pretence of such payment, or offer to pay it, at any time; nor of any excuse for not making it.
Inverting then, the order of the questions presented in the argument, the first inquiry will be, whether such payment was annexed to the devise as a condition precedent.
In support of the affirmative of this proposition, many authorities were cited; among which, were Cary vs. Bertie, &c. 2d Vernon 333, and Acherley vs. Vernon, Wills Rep. 153, that were chiefly relied upon; but which when examined, will be found not to bear so strongly upon this case, as has been supposed, but to be very distinguishable from it.
Whether a condition annexed to a devise is a condition
The two cases of Cary vs. Bertie, and Acherley vs. Vernon, will be briefly noticed, because they have been much relied upon. In the former, Cary vs. Bertie, &c. the devise was of the real estate of the testator to trustees in fee, upon trust, to pay what debts and legacies his personal estate should not be sufficient to satisfy, and then in trust for his niece, who was his heir at law, for life, &c. “in case she should within three years after his death be married to Francis Lord Guilford,” and “in case such marriage should not take effect within the said three years, then in trust,” &c. for another — and afterwards in a codicil, it was provided, “that if the marriage should take effect before years of consent, and should not afterwards be ratified, when she was of competent age,” she should have no benefit of the trust, other than she should have had, if the marriage had never been solemnized.” The marriage of the niece with Lord Guilford, was held to be a condition precedent, on the ground, that by the will, it was plainly the intention of the testator, that she should not have his estate, unless the marriage took effect; Lord Hale adding, that the codicil put it beyond doubt. Which is very strong, and almost in terms declares it to be a condition precedent, '“that she should have no benefit of the trust,” &c. which was almost equivalent to his
Those two cases (as all cases must be) were each decided 'upon their own peculiar circumstances, which were very strong. But neither of them is this case.
In Cary vs. Bertie, the interest was not to vest, and could ■not vest under the devise, on the death of the testator, and -was only to take effect on the happening of a specified contingency, within a limited time after his death — and in the meantime, the rents and profits were to be applied by the trustees, to the payment of debts and legacies, shewing the intention of the testator to have been, that his niece should take nothing, except on the happening of the contingency; and if it should not happen, then that the estate should continue in the trustees, for the other trusts created by the will; and that no benefit should ever accrue to her from the trust. And therefore her marrying Lord Guilford, was considered as a condition precedent, that being the contingency upon the happening of which, the trust was to inure to her benefit — • moreover it was a condition, that there were no means of obtaining a compliance with, otherwise than by making the benefit of the devise, to depend upon the prior performance of it.
In Acherley vs. Vernon, the first payment of the annuity, “was not to be made on the death of the testator, Mr. Vernon, nor until six months after; and it was expressly given, and to be accepted in lieu and satisfaction of all, that his sister might claim out of his real or personal estate, and in consideration of the contemplated release of such claim, without making which, she was not to have the annuity, but the estate was to stand discharged from it. And not that she should receive the annuity, and yet at the same time, be at liberty to dispute the devisee’s right to the estate; which it was the object of the condition to guard him against. The annuity was given, and to be accepted in lieu, or as an extinguishment of any claim, she might have upon the estate. To relieve it from such claim, and not to charge it with the
Now, this case is not marked by the same strong characteristics, as will be seen upon a fair analysis of it.
The provision annexed to the devise to McKim, in trust for the use of Mrs. Slater, for life, and afterwards for the use of her three children named, is in these words, “only upon condition that he, or they, pay to my executors, such sum as shall be found to be due my estate from William Slater, deceased” — with no contingent limitation over of the property devised, nor any further disposition or mention made of it in the will. Differing in that, from Cary vs. Bertie, where in the event of the niece not marrying Lord Guilford, within three years after the death of the testator, the estate was to go over to another; and in the meantime, nothing to descend to, or vest in the niece, (who was the heir at law,) who was to take nothing under the devise, except upon the contingency of her performing the condition imposed; upon which her right depended, and was to accrue. And unlike the case of Acherley vs. Vernon, wdiere the estate was devised to another, subject to the payment of an annuity, to the sister of the testator, in lieu of, and in consideration of her releasing any claim she might have upon it. The object of the testator being, that the devisee should hold and enjoy the estate, discharged in the manner prescribed, from such claim, subject to the payment of the annuity in consideration of such discharge,
• - As in Cary vs. Bertie, where there were no means of obtaining the performance of the condition, the marriage of . the niece with Lord Guilford, except the making the benefit of the devise to depend upon the marriage. And in Acherley vs. Vernon, where it is said, as one of the grounds of the decision, “that there was no remedy to obtain the release, but by stopping the payment of the annuity.” Here, the acceptance of the devise, would make the payment of the debt a charge upon the property, and give a full and complete remedy against the devisee for the recovery of the money. There is therefore no absence of remedy, from which it is to be inferred, that the testator intended it as a condition precedent; nor any necessity for so considering it, in order to gratify his apparent intention.
The devise to McKim is in fee, and upon no other trust expressed, than for the use of Mrs. Slater and her three children. And treating it as an absolute disposition of that portion of his estate, the testator proceeds to dispose of all the residue of his property, directly, and not in trust, “in order (as he says) to the settlement of his estate,” taking no notice whatever of that which is devised to McKim in trust.
His object was, to make an immediate provision for Mrs. Slater and her three children; requiring only, as a consideration for that provision, the payment by them, or the trustee, of whatever might be found to be due to him at the time of his death, from William Slater, her deceased husband, after
And the circumstance of his not having made an intermediate disposition of the rents and profits, or use of the property, as a means of procuring the payment of whatever might be due, before any interest should vest, goes far to shew that he did not intend such payment, as a condition precedent, but only as a consideration for the immediate bounty bestowed, secured ag a charge upon the property, to be paid when the amount of the debt should be ascertained. And the condition annexed to the devise must be so considered, and not as operating as a condition precedent.
A different construction would offer violence to the apparent intention of the testator, which should always be gratified, where the words of the will, will permit it to be done, without violating some known principle of law.
With respect to the right of election claimed by the defendant, it is not to be questioned, that it may be given by will, either expressly (which is not done in this case,) or by implication. By implication, as where a man having 100 acres of wood land in the county of B. devises “10 acres of his wood land in the county of B.; or having two lots in the city of B. devises one of his two lots in the city of B. without designating the 10 acres of wood land, or saying out of what part
Trying the case before us by this test, there does not seem to be much difficulty in reaching the conclusion, that the right of election was not intended to be given by this will. If the devise had been of “two of the lots,” and conveyed, See. the. word “two,” in that connection would have been descriptive not of the two, intended to be given, but of the quantity or number only, to be selected by the devisee; according to the apparent intention of the testator, out of a mass, or out qf the whole number of lots or pieces of ground conveyed by the deed from William Slater, which being referred to, is to be considered as incorporated into the will. And a plain case of election would have been presented. But that is not the language of the will.
The words of the first of the clauses of devise to McKim, are, “all two lots, pieces or parcels of ground with the premises thereon, situate, lying and being in and near the city of Baltimore, which were heretofore on or about the 24th day of May, 1810, conveyed to me by William Slater.”
Now what is there in these words, to show either, that the testator intended to pass the whole of the property covered by that deed, or to give to the devisee the right of election ?
If only two lots had been conveyed by Slater, no question could have arisen; but six distinct and separate pieces of ground were conveyed, and if the testator had intended to pass the whole, why was the word “two” introduced in the will, knowing there were six, as is shown by the reference to the deed, by which his title to the whole was acquired. The words all the lots conveyed, Sec. would have been sufficient, if all was intended; and there could have been no mistake in supposing there were but two. At least none is shown, or to be presumed. On the contrary, in the absence of all other evidence upon the subject, it is to be taken from the reference to the deed, the consideration of which is expressed to be $12,000, that the testator was acquainted with its contents
It must therefore he understood, that the word “two,” was used to denote the intention of the testator, to give but two-of the six pieces conveyed. It could have been used for no other purpose, and would not only have been unnecessary, if all were intended to be given, with a knowledge that there were six, but repugnant to that intention.
The word “all” it has been supposed, shews the intention of the testator to have been to pass the whole six pieces of ground mentioned in the deed referred to. To give to it that effect, would be to reject the word “two”' altogether, which cannot be done. It was unnecessary, but coupled with the word “two',” to which it relates, all two Ms,” it must be restrained by the word “two” and understood to mean, all the two lots, or the whole of the two lots, &c., the word uthe” being omitted; which, or the word those is necessary to the sense. And so read, (and it will bear no other sensible reading) it is apparent, that the testator intended to give two lots only, and not,the right of election; but to designate himself, the two lots which he meant should pass.
This construction is strengthened by the next immediately following clause, in these words, “I give and bequeath the foregoing lots or parcels of ground, described as aforesaid, unto Alexander McKim,” See.; treating and speaking of it as a description of the lots intended to be given, and thus plainly showing, that it was not the intention of the testator to give the right of election. And that description sufficiently designates the two lots intended.
It is an acknowledged principle, that the heir being favoured in law, there shall be no strained construction to work a disherison where the words are ambiguous or doubtful ; but it is also settled, that where the intent of the testator is apparent, no word shall be added or dropt, to defeat such intention; which must prevail, if it can be carried into effect without violating some settled principle of law.
Let us see upon further examination, whether by deciding
There are five clauses in the deed from William Slater, describing the property conveyed; each designating the particular portion it professes to describe.
That portion which is contained in the first of these clauses, is described by courses and distances, &c. as “all that piece or parcel of ground lying in Baltimore town, now city.” That contained in the second, as “all those two lots or parcels of ground situate in the south-east addition to Baltimore town, now city, distinguished on the plat thereof, by numbers 23 and 686.” That contained in the third clause, by courses and distances, &c. as “all that part of a tract or parcel of land, lying and being in Baltimore county, called Cole's Harbour or Todd's Range," &c. The fourth as “all that lot or parcel of ground lying in the county aforesaid, being part of a tract of land called Darbey Hall, and distinguished on the plat thereof by number 58” — and that portion which is contained in the fifth clause, as “all that piece and parcel of ground and premises, that is situate, lying and being in Baltimore county aforesaid, containing four acres or thereabouts; the same being part of a tract of land called Darbey Hall, &c. and distinguished on a plat of said land, by number 36,” See. And the devise in question* is of “all two lots, pieces or parcels of ground, with the premises thereon, situate, lying and being in and near the city of Baltimore, which were so conveyed, Sec. by William, Slater." This deed by which six pieces of real property, described in five separate clauses, were conveyed, is not only referred to, but its date, the place where, and the folio in which it is recorded, are particularly stated. It must therefore at the time, have been before the scrivener who wrote the will, or the testator himself if he wrote it, or fully recollected, and its contents known.
Looking to this deed, and to the devise made in reference to it, of which it is to be taken as a part, in relation to the
But it was manifestly his intention to pass two lots described in the deed; and that intention must be gratified, if they can with sufficient certainty be ascertained. If adopting the words of the deed, the devise had been of “ all those two lots or parcels of ground, situate in Baltimore city,” conveyed, &c., by Slater, omitting the other words of description in the deed, there could have been little doubt upon the question, and it could be considered as clearly relating to that portion of the property conveyed, which is described, in
Briefly to recapitulate; no right of election was given by the devise; two, and two only, of the six pieces of ground conveyed by Slater to the testator, passed under it, and they are the two lots described in that deed, as two lots or parcels of ground situate in the south-east addition to Baltimore town, now city, numbered 23, and 686. And the payment
The several questions discussed in relation to the exercise of a right of election, have not been examined; the decision that no right of election exists, making it unnecessary.
The judgment must he reversed.
JUDGMENT REVERSED.
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