Van Orden v. Van Orden

Per Curiam.

This case doés not come entirely within that of Beecker v. Beecker, (7 Johns. Rep. 99.) for here is no express Prom‘se to Pay admitted, or stated to have been proved. But the question is, whether here is not. a circumstance equivalent to 1 . such a promise. The defendants are the original devisees, and, in consideration of the devise, they were expressly charged with tae payment of the annuity to the plaintiff. They took possession 0f the land devised, and they have paid to the plaintiff the first 1 , and part of the second annuity. There is no excuse offered why J *31 they have discontinued the payment, and, perhaps, it is not going loo far, and is within the spirit of the former decision, to consider the acceptance and enjoyment of the estate devised, and the actual payment of part of the annuity, as, in this case, conclusive evidence of an express promise to pay, and so as to entitle the plaintiff to recover in this action. The court are inclined to go so far, but this decision will not apply to a suit against a devisee or terretenant who has not either expressly assumed to pay, or given such evidence of the promise.

In Deeks v. Strutt (5 Term Rep. 690.) there was no express promise to pay the legacy, though the executor had paid it for several years, and the court held that the suit would not lie. But the force and effect of such a payment, as evidence of an express promise, does not seem to have been considered by the court, and they went upon reasoning calculated equally to defeat the action whether there was or was not an express promise. But it being now settled that an express promise by the devisee will support the action at law, we are led to consider whether the payment of the annuity in part, be not equivalent to the express promise. It is a solemn act and admission, as strong as any promise, and sup. poses a promise expressly made and to have preceded the payment. After the annuity has been regularly paid for several years, as it was in the case of Deeks v. Strutt, it seems unreasonable to consider the party as not bound at law to continue to pay, unless you can prove that at some one time he had made an. express promise to pay, and then to hold him bound. His payment is the best evidence of such a promise, for it is one partly performed.

Another difficulty has presented itself in this case, and that is, whether the plaintiff, by the acceptance of the annuity already - paid, has barred herself of her claim of dower. As the annuity was expressly given in lieu of dower, the acceptance of the annuity would no doubt constitute an equitable bar; but unless she has also legally barred herself, it would be improper for a court of law to allow her to recover both her annuity and dower. We are inclined to think, however, that a judgment in her favour in this suit, and especially in connexion with the payment already accepted, would be a good plea in bar of her dower, as being conclusive evidence of an agreement and election to accept of the testamentary provision, in lieu of dower. In 3 Leon. 373. it seemed to be admitted that if the wife accepted of a jointure made after marriage, by entry upon the land, it would constitute a legal *32 bar of dower, and that her election would bind her at law. In Gosling v. Warburton (Cro. Eliz. 128.) a recovery in dower was held, at law, a bar to a suit for a testamentary provision made for her in lieu of dower. These cases are cited by Lord Redesdale, (2 Sch. & Lef. 450.) to show that courts of law, as well as courts of equity, will hold the wife to her election; and that whenever she has by her acts declared that election, and proceeded upon it, she shall be deemed to have put an end to the counter claim. He says (and we all know that he is deservedly considered as a most eminent authority) that there is no difference, in principle, in the decisions of the courts of law and equity on this subject, and that the difficulty of reaching the justice of the case has frequently thrown these questions into courts of equity.

Judgment for the plaintiff