Stubblefield's Lessee v. Short
Stubblefield's Lessee v. Short
Opinion of the Court
On the trial of this ejectment in Smith County, March term, 1817, the plaintiff produced a grant dated the 28th of August, 1815, to himself, also this entry: “A. Stubblefield, 175 acres in Smith County, on the dry fork of Goose Creek, beginning in Willis Curling’s east boundary line, running east and south for complement, including an improvement made by Benjamin Ellis, 12th June, 1812.” The defendant was found to be in possession. The plaintiff’s survey, as made, included the improvement made by Benjamin Ellis, the place where the defendant lived.
The defendant read a grant from this State to him, of a prior date to that of the plaintiff’s grant; but his entry was of a later date than the plaintiff’s entry, though prior to the plaintiff’s survey.
The defendant read Curling’s entry, and one in the name of Howell Tatum, for 176 acres. Willis Curling’s entry called to adjoin Howell Tatum’s on the east, to run up the creek for complement, &e., so as to include the place where John Lamb lived. Beginning at Willis Curling’s entry, on the east- boundary of Howell Tatum’s, and running so as to include the place where John Lamb lived; and then begin the plaintiff’s entry on what would be the east boundary of Willis Curling’s survey, it could not include the improvement made by Benjamin Ellis, the place where the defendant lived. There is an old line in the neighborhood some distance east of the east boundary of Howell Tatum’s entry, which, at and before the date of the plaintiff’s entry, was generally called and considered by the neighborhood to be Howell Tatum’s * line, but turned out to be Fenner’s and Montflorence’s line of an
The error assigned is in the refusal of the Circuit Court judge to grant a new trial; second^, for his misdirection to the jury.
* Curling’s entry is in these words : “ Willis Curling, in Smith County, on the north side of Cumberland River, on the dry fork of Goose Creek, beginning on the east boundary line of a tract of 176 acres, now claimed by Howell Tatum, and to run up the creek on both sides for complement, so as to include where John Lamb now lives. 1801, April 23d.” Howell Tatum’s entry is in these words: “ Howell Tatum of originally the heirs of Thomas, Epers, in Smith County, to lie on both sides of the dry fork of thee east fork of Goose Creek, beginning on the north side of said fork south of Elias Fort’s southwest corner, and running in an oblong
Upon this statement, after hearing the cause argued by counsel, we now proceed to give judgment. And two of us think that the chief question is, where shall Stubblefield begin ? At Curling’s east boundary, found by a survey, beginning on the reputed east boundary of Tatum’s entry, or on that which is to be found by a survey beginning on the east boundary of Tatum, to be ascertained by an actual survey of Tatum’s entry? The construction of an entry is to be guided by common sense and the common acceptation of words. Our sole object must be to attain its true meaning. To do this, we must, if possible, make every word take effect. If there be several calls, and one place will fit all of them, and another place will fit some only, then it is reasonable to fix upon the former. If a place will fit several, but not all of the calls, it is reasonable to adhere to those which are the most permanent. Where no natural object is called for, and the objects are all artificial, then fix upon that place which is pointed out by the most visible and immutable objects. Here every call concentrates in *' the plaintiff’s survey ; it extends from the first-mentioned east boundary of Curling and includes the improvement of Ellis. Begin at the last east boundary before mentioned, and the improvement of Ellis will not be included. If some call must be rejected, it ought not to be the improvement, for that is a principal call. It is in most cases specially aimed at; and, when settled on before the conflicting entry commences, in general is better known than lines. If, however, the improvement were out of the way, a line dependent on a reputed line ought rather to be adhered to than one dependent on a line to be ascertained by a survey to be made at a future time ; for it may never be made, or, when made, may be advanced or withdrawn, and placed on any point between the extremities of an oblong and square. An union of calls leads to the lands claimed by the plaintiff. So does the most visible and palpable line, if the lines alone were to govern the decision. Curling’s entry is to include Lamb’s improvement. Therefore, when surveyed, it should begin at the real or reputed line, whichever of them will best lead to that result. So, likewise, in the case of Stub-
E.OANE, Judge, dissentients. In this case, the grant of the defendant was prior in date to that of the plaintiff, founded on an entry made before the plaintiff’s survey. The plaintiff had an entry prior to that of the defendant, and the questions whether the plaintiff’s entry is special for the land in dispute. The evidence given on the trial is set out in a bill of exceptions, and the error assigned is that the judge misdirected the jury. The plaintiff’s entry * calls to adjoin the eastern boundary line of W. Curling, and that to adjoin Howell Tatum’s east line. To determine the specialty of the plaintiff’s entry, the other entries on which it depends must be examined. Howell Tatum’s entry is for 176 acres of land in Smith County, on both sides of the dry fork of the east fork of Goose Creek, beginning on the north side of said fork south of Elias Fort’s southwest corner, and running an oblong up both sides of said fork, dated February 17th, 1807. April 23d, 1801, William Curling entered 320 acres of land in Smith County, on the north side of Cumberland River, on the dry fork of Goose Creek, beginning on the east boundary line of a tract of 176 acres now claimed by Howell Tatum, and to run up the creek on both sides for complement, so as to include where John Lamb now lives. June 12th, 1812, Armstreet Stubblefield entered 174 acres of land in Smith County, on the dry fork of Goose Creek, beginning on Willis Curling’s east boundary line, running east and south for complement, including an improvement by Benjamin Ellis. On an inspection of these entries, it would appear as if no difficulty could arise. The beginning of Tatum’s entry is well known, and, as it calls to run an oblong up the creek, his east boundary line called for in Curling’s entry is mathematically certain.
About this entry, or the mode of running it, there is no dispute. Curling calls to begin on the east boundary line of Tatum’s 176 acre tract. It appears by the evidence stated in the bill of exceptions that there is an old line, 105 poles east of Tatum’s line, which, in the neighborhood, was generally called Tatum’s, but which in fact was a line of a survey made for Fenner and Montflorence.
If there were no other description or call in the entry, it might
See Wilson v. Kilcannon, 4 Hay. 182; King’s Digest, 7885.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Armstreet Stubblefield's Lessee v. William Short
- Status
- Published