Meredith v. Frank
Meredith v. Frank
Opinion of the Court
This case was argued and submitted with the case of Baker v. Rice, reported ante, p. 463, on the assumption that each presented the same question, so that the affirmance of one would involve the reversal of the other and e con-verso. But in our judgment, there is a difference between the reservation of a way, and the grant of a way, by implication. The reservation of a way by the grantor in apparent derogation of his deed and its covenants, stands upon a much narrower ground than does the case of a grant. In the latter case, as held in Baker v. Rice, a way passes by implication where it had been attached to the part granted by the grantor, and is apparent and necessary to the reasonable enjoyment of the premises granted. It is not necessarily a way of strict necessity. But in the reservation of a way by implication, the case is different. Ordinarily a deed is taken most strongly against the grantor. He may insert in it such exceptions and reservations as he desires, and the grantee by accepting the deed is held to assent to them; and therefore, the grantor is not generally permitted to derogate from his grant, or disregard the covenants of his deed. But there seems to be a well recognized exception, and that is, where a g-rantor by the sale and conveyance of a part of his land, is thereby deprived of all access to any public highway from the part retained, and this is known to the grantee. In such case it is a fair inference that the grantor did not intend to. subject himself to the necessity of buying a way out, nor can it be inferred that the grantee with knowledge of the
It is then a question of intention, and the mode of determining’ it by reference to the necessity of the way, may be regarded as a rule of property, and, in this view, no more permits a grantor to derogate from his grant, than does any similar rule; for, under the rule, a way over the land granted is reserved to the grantor, under a legal construction given the deed in connection with the circumstances creating the necessity..
It is plain from the facts found, that the way in question was one of strict necessity to the land retained by Samuel Meredith on his conveyance to his son William, of the tract on the National road; and the plaintiffs below have succeeded to his rights. At the time of this conveyance, which was in 1872, he owned 300 acres, in the form of a parallelogram, with one of its short sides on the road. His home was at the opposite end. From his home to the highway was a well defined way
But it is said that Samuel Meredith had a way over his remaining lands to a highway. This, however, according to. the finding, was simply by “sufferance.” It constituted at most a license, and could have been revoked at any time. A way that defeats the implication of one ■ by necessity, must be a way of right and not a mere license, besides, this supposed way was abandoned in 1867, and has not since been used; so that whatever right the grantor may have had, has long since been lost by abandonment. It had not ripened into a way by prescription when abandoned. It is also claimed, that under the power given township trustees, on application, to establish township roads, a way could have been obtained; and therefore there is no ground, in any ease, on which a way by necessity can be claimed in this state. This does not as we think, alter the case. Whether a road can be obtained in that way, will depend upon the opinion of the trustees and of the viewers, whether it is necessary- and should be established. It cannot be had 'for the asking, and in no’ease without making compensation for the land taken. The necessity for a way cannot be removed by the fact, that one may be purchased from some third person, Collins v. Prentice, 15 Conn., 39. It is the fact that no way then exists, that can be had without purchase, by which the grantor can have access to his remaining lands, that. raises the implication of a right • reserved to an existing way over the land granted.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.