Hurst v. Brayton.
Hurst v. Brayton.
Opinion of the Court
This is a bill in equity brought to enjoin the respondents from obstructing an alleged right of way across the respondents’ land.
The case is before this court on respondents’ appeal from a decree of the Superior Court granting relief after hearing on bill, replication, issues framed and proof. The respondents allege as reasons of appeal that said decree is against the law and against the evidence and the weight thereof and is erroneous.
It is admitted that the dominant and servient estate were both owned by David Manchester, who in 1817 conveyed the servient estate to George Durfee, the respondents’ ancestor in title, reserving for the benefit of the land retained, and now owned by the complainant, a right of way across the land conveyed. The deed from Manchester to Durfee contained language as follows: “Excepting and reserving to myself, my heirs and assigns, the pass-way one rod wide on the south side of the premises from the road to the east end thereof, whereon I & my heirs & assigns shall & will have a right to pass and re-pass at all times, with shutting gates & bars when erected on the said way by the said George Durfee.” There is no evidence that a right of way was laid out or used, at any time, along the line described in the clause of reservation.
The complainant contends that by consent of the owners of the two estates the way in question was substituted for the original way. Mr. Justice Barrows, in his rescript, said: “The evident reason for the use of the substituted way instead of the original was the nature of respondents’ land. There are two swampy patches extending north and south, and the substituted way was evidently an attempt to avoid going through these bogs. The evidence was that it would be a matter of great difficulty and expense to attempt to create a road along the original right of way.” The respondents, while admitting that the complainant has a right of way across the respondents’ land, apparently contend that the complainant if he wishes to enjoy his right *380 must now construct at great expense to himself a way along the line described in the reservation clause in the deed from Manchester to Durfee.'
Mr. Justice Barrows, in his rescript, further said: “We find that for at least 70 .years this way has been used by complainant and those who preceded him in title with the knowledge of and without objection from respondents or their predecessors.. The road has been filled in at times and ■ in two places small' culverts have been erected for its better use; . . . that the substituted right of way is the only one which has ever been used to reach complainant’s premises.”
*381
We understand that the complainant does not object to opening and closing such gates and bars as are now located across the way in question.
The respondents’ appeal is dismissed, the decree of the Superior Court is affirmed and the cause is remanded to the Superior Court for further proceedings.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Thomas E. Hurst vs. Mary Anna Brayton Et Al.
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published