Watson v. Watson
Watson v. Watson
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
In 1858 Westmoreland sold to Brownlow a tract of land of 155 acres in Giles County, for $3,100, and took his note therefor, executing to Brownlow a bond for title. Afterwards, in 1858, Brownlow sold the land to James Watson, taking his note for $1,100 in part consideration therefor, and transferring West-moreland’s bond for title to Watson. On the 13th
On the 7th of January, 1861, Brownlow, having paid the full consideration of the land to "Westmore-land, agreed, to avoid the expense of two deeds, that Westmoreland might make a deed directly to Watson, which was. accordingly done. The deed acknowledges the payment of $3,100, but by whom paid it does not state, reciting that it is the same tract sold by Westmoreland to Brownlow, his title bond being transferred to Watson. , The conveyance was absolute, no reservation of any lien in favor of King or Brownlow, and was registered on the same day.
In February, 1862, Watson died, seized and possessed of the tract of land, and in 1865, soon after the Courts were opened, upon the close of the war, the administrator of Watson suggested the insolvency of the estate in the County Court, and in 1867 filed his bill to settle the estate in the Chancery Court, under the insolvent laws, making Brownlow a party as a creditor.
Brownlow having paid $398, the balance on the ■ $1,100 note to King, claimed that he was entitled to be substituted to King’s vendor’s lien for the amount of $398, paid by him as endorser. The Chancellor held, upon the facts stated, that Brownlow was entitled to no lien, and from that decree Brownlow has appealed.
Brownlow obtained an equitable title to the land by virtue of his .bond for title from Westmoreland.
Down to the suggestion of the insolvency King had an equity which he had the right to ripen into a fixed lien by filing his bill to enforce satisfaction of his $1,100 note out of the land. Having failed to avail himself of this right until the insolvency
The Chancellor’s decree is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Henry Watson, Adm'r, etc. v. Martha A. Watson
- Status
- Published