Walker v. Gibson
Walker v. Gibson
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Both parties claim under Hugh Gibson who died seized of the land in controversy in 1870, having first made his last will wherein he devised the same as follows :
“ I give and bequeath to my son W. H. Gibson one hundred and fifty acres of land on which he now resides, during his natural life, and if Elizabeth, his wife, survives him, she is to be maintained out of the products of said land so long as she remains his widow; and it is my will that, at the decease of my son, Wm. H., that the above described land be the property of my grandson, Addison B. Gibson, subject to the maintenance of Elizabeth Gibson, as aforesaid.”
After William H. Gibson’s death, the interest of his son Addison in the land was sold and conveyed by the sheriff to John Y. Foster, who afterwards conveyed the same to the plaintiff. Defendants’ contention is that, under the devise above quoted, the right of possession is in said Elizabeth Gibson. The case thus hinges on the construction of said devise.
It may be conceded that, had there been an absolute gift of the “ products,” Elizabeth Gibson would have taken an estate in the land devised by Hugh Gibson. The gift was, however, not of the “ products ” as such, but of maintenance “ out of the products ” during her widowhood. The direction that she “ shall be maintained out of the products ” implies service by some one else than herself; and the explanation of this is furnished by the following clause. The land itself is devised to A. B. Gibson subject to her maintenance “ as aforesaid.” Her husband W.
It follows, therefore, that the learned court erred in entering judgment for defendants, on the question of law reserved, non obstante veredicto.
Judgment reversed, and judgment is now entered on the verdict in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants, subject to the charge aforesaid in favor of Elizabeth Gibson.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Daniel Walker v. Gibson
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Will—Charge on land—Estate—Widow—Ejectment. Testator directed as follows : “ I give and bequeath to my son, W. H. Gibson, one hundred and fifty acres of land on which he now resides, during his natural life, and if Elizabeth, his wife, survives him, she is to be maintained out of the products of said land so long as she remains his widow; and it is my will that at the decease of my son, W. H., that the above described land be the property of my grandson, Addison B. Gibson, subject to maintenance of Elizabeth Gibson, as aforesaid.” After the son’s death, the interest of the grandson in the land was sold by the sheriff. Held, that the grantee of the purchaser at the sheriff’s sale had the right to maintain ejectment for the land against the widow of testator’s son. As the gift to the widow was not an absolute gift of the “products,” but of maintenance “ out of the products,” she was entitled merely to a charge upon the land in her favor, and not to an interest in the land which would give her. the right of possession.