Den ex dem. Blackwell v. Blackwell
Den ex dem. Blackwell v. Blackwell
Opinion of the Court
Francis Blackwell, the testator, under whose will the controversy arises, had two sets of children, viz: ten by a former wife, and five, namely, Daniel, Jonathan, Nathaniel, Iraney and Actia, by a second wife. After giving some trifling and unimportant legacies to his first set of children, he says, “ Item, I give and bequeath to my son Daniel, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, to he paid to him at the age of twenty-one years. It is my will, that the plantation whereon I now live, to be equally divided between my two sons, Jonathan and Nathaniel, to them, their heirs and assigns* forever.” The testator then directs that they shall have possession on a certain day, named in the will, that his executors pay to his daughters Iraney and Aetia, a legacy of fifty pounds each, that his wife have the use of his plantation, until his sons Jonathan and Nathaniel come into possession, with the use of all the
After the death of the testator, Jonathan and Nathaniel entered upon their respective moieties of the plantation devised to them. Jonathan has since died without issue, having in his lifetime sold and conveyed his moiety to his brother Nathaniel, and by his last will and testament, devised to him all his lands. Tin lessor of the plaintiff claims title to one moiety of the lands devised to Jonathan; he, the lessor of the plaintiff, and his brother the defendant, being the male survivors of Jonathan, and whether he is so entitled is the question.
This then is a question of intent; and it seems to me that no intelligent mind can read this will, without being struck with the manifest intention of the testator, to give his lands in fee simple to his sons Jonathan and Nathaniel, and at the same time, to restrict them at least during their respective lives, from making any alienation, except to each other. Whether that restriction was void or not, is not now the question, and is perfectly immaterial, upon the supposition that the testator intended to give them a fee simple. If the restriction, was void, then Jonathan had the power of alienation, and he has exercised it, by making a conveyance of the premises. If it was not repugnant and void, being but a qualified restriction, Co. Litt. 223, Section 361. Doe v. Pearson, 6 East, 173, he has complied with it, by conveying to his brother Nathaniel. The question then, recurs, in what sense did the testator use word “bequeathments”? It is clear, the testator has used language without regard to its legal and technical meaning. For in the disposition of his land, he does not use either of the terms, give, bequeath, or devise, but simply says, “it is my will, that, &c.” It is true, he says, that in default of issue, “such bequeathments shall descend, &c.” but nothing can be gained to the argument from the use of the word descend in this clause: because we find the testator previously employing the same word, exclusively in reference to personal property. The gift of the plantation to Jonathan and Nathaniel, is in very terms, a gift in fee simple; it is “ to them, their heirs and assigns forever.” If this estate is to be cut down to a fee tail,
Again: there seems to have been a clear and settled intention in the mind of the testator, that his son Daniel, should have no part of his lands; not even by purchase from his brothers; yet the plaintiffs construction of the will, would make him intend, that Daniel should take the whole in default of issue of Jonathan and Nathaniel. And this latter intention is argued, by extending the word, “bequeathments ” to the devise in question.
If we can give effect to every part of the will, by understanding the language of the testator, in its ordinary and appropriate sense, we ought to do so. Now, the testator had given pecuniary legacies to Daniel and his sisters; and specific legacies to each of his sons. If therefore, we limit the word “ bequeathments ” to its appropriate sense, we give effect to this part of
It is true, if we understand the word “ bequeathments ” as comprehending all the dispositions he had made, as well of land, as of personal estate, there would be no difficulty in giving full and complete effect to the testator’s intention, considering the limitation over, as on a definite, and not indefinite failure of issue. It would then be as if the testator had said, “ If either of my daughters shall die, without lawful issue, then the bequests I have made to her, shall go to her surviving sister ; and if either of my sons should die, without lawful issue, then what I have given to him, shall go to his surviving brothers.
But if we adopt this latter construction, we must not only over look the testator’s particular intention, that Daniel should have no part of his plantation, but some other important considerations.
In the first place, we nrast obliterate the words “ to them, their heirs and assigns,” for they have no meaning in this will, if the testator, meant to give them an estate tail, or to create an executory devise.
In the next place, the testator charges, not upon the land, but upon Jonathan and Nathaniel, the support of their mother during her widowhood. This charge will not follow the land, and if the plaintiff recovers, the whole burthen of her “ decent and. comfortable ” support, still rests upon the defendant. Doe v. Snelling, 5 East, 87.
Ford, J. concurred.
* Byerson, J. concurred.
Judgment for defendant.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- DEN ON THE DEMISE OF DANIEL BLACKWELL v. NATHANIEL BLACKWELL
- Status
- Published