Martin v. Fry
Martin v. Fry
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered fay
rlt is a general rule,' that the personal estate is to be applied in the first place, to the payment of debts, and that the testator cannot, against his creditors, exempt the personal estate, although against his heir at law, or the devisee of his real estate, lie may substitute the real in the room of the personal fund, and charge his debts upon'that fund which is not primarily liable. Walker v. Johnson, 2 Atk. 624: But to exempt his personal estate, and charge his real, there must be express words or a manifest intention. Rostan et al. v. Rostan, 2. Yeates, 63, 64, and the authorities there cited.
It it contended, and has been so ruled, that this intention is manifested in this will, and this forms the question on this writ-of error. It is obvious, from an examination of the will, that the testator had no.idea, that his real estate, would be wanted for the payment of his debts, • He seems to have .been undei- the irnpres-, siori, that the two thirds of his personal es.táte would have been abundantly sufficient for that purpose, and had he been aware of the actual state of his affairs, it is probable he would have made a different provision. We are, however, called, on to throw the debts on the devisee of the real estate, although the land is not expressly charged with the payment of debts, but on the contrary, is ordered to be sold.and divided among certain of his children and grandchildren, who are particularly named. 'These devisees are as much the objects of the testator’s bounty, as the widow. Their rights are as much to be favoured, and perhaps more so, as she might, if dissa^ tisfied with the provision for 'her, have elected to have taken her dower at common law. The will directs the funeral expenses and debts to be paid as soon as conveniently may be after his decease; The testator then gives the widow certain enumerated articles, such as a coW, side saddle, and chest, &c¡, and the use of a house, with it appurtenances, during widowhood,.and. proceeds, “ I likewise give and bequeath to my said wife Mary,: the one third.'part of'my personal estate,” all which legacies, he declares to be in lieu of dower. He directs his exeeutors, as soon as conveniently can be done, to hold a vendue and sell all that part of his personal estate not heretofore or hereafter bequeathed to his wife or. children, to the best advantage, causing the same to be appraised before the sale.. This,.
When'the testator orders his executors to sell all that part of his personal estate not heretofore or hereafter bequeathed to his wife and children, he has reference to the specific bequests. There, is no necessity of including the devise of the one'tnird of-the personal estate to the will: the words, of the will are all satisfied by referring them to those bequests which- are actually to be specified. .
Judgment of t.he court of Common Pleas reversed, and judgment fpr the plaintiff for forty-three dollars and thirty-eight cents.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MARTIN and another, Executors of MARTIN, against FRY
- Status
- Published