Langley v. Heald

Devise of land to testator’s son P. to have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever, but reserving the rents and profits to the use of testator’s daughter E. until P. shall arrive at the age of 21, bequeathing them to his daughter during said term. In ease P. should die and leave no lawful issue, then devising the land to E. if she shall then be living, and to her heirs and assigns forever; and if she should die and leave no lawful issue, then over. Held, that P. took an estate in fee with an executory devise over to E., and as P. attained the age of 21 and married and had issue, his estate became a fee-simple absolute.

ERROR to the Common Pleas of Chester county. This was an action of ejectment brought by Ishmael Heald by his guardian against Jonathan Langley, to recover 44 acres of land in Chester county. The following facts were agreed upon by the parties to be considered in the nature of a special verdict. Isaac Heald, being seised in his demesne as of fee of the above-mentioned tract of land, having first made his last will and testament, dated February 12th 1821, and duly proved December 10th 1822, died, leaving to survive him his son Passmore Heald, in said will named. The said will, which it is agreed shall be considered as forming part of this case, as if fully inserted here, contains the following item: “ Item. I give and devise to my son Passmore Heald all that part of my land or plantation beginning, &c. (describing it), to have and to hold the said tract of land, with the appurtenances, to my son Passmore Heald, his heirs and assigns forever; but nevertheless I reserve the rents and profits of said land to the use of my daughter Elizabeth until my said son Passmore shall arrive to the age of 21 years, which I will and bequeath to her my said daughter during said term. In case my son Passmore should die and leave no lawful issue, then I will and devise the aforesaid lot or plantation to my daughter Elizabeth (if she shall be then living) and to her heirs and assigns forever; and in case my said daughter Elizabeth should die and leave no lawful issue, in that case my will is that the said land shall be equally divided in fee-simple among my children that shall be then living.” A transcript of a judgment against Passmore Heald was entered, and fieri facias and venditioni exponas issued thereon from the Common Pleas of Chester county, under which the tract of land mentioned in said will was sold to the defendant, Jonathan Langley, and deed-poll therefor made to him by the sheriff, duly acknowledged, and dated February 3d 1834. Passmore Heald having survived Isaac Heald, his father, attained the age of 21 years and married a certain Luvena Lobb, and by her had issue, the plaintiff in this case; and on the 9th May 1843 Passmore died, leaving to survive him Luvena and the plaintiff, Ishmael Heald, his only child and heir-at-law. The court rendered judgment for the plaintiff below. Errors assigned: 1. The court erred in giving judgment for the plaintiff. 2. According to the statement of the case, the plaintiff had no estate or interest in the land claimed in the action, and the judgment of the court should have been rendered for the defendant. Passmore Heald took a fee-simple on arriving at 21, with an executory devise over to Elizabeth in case he died and left no issue, Elizabeth living. It was not an indefinite failure of issue, and therefore not an estate tail in Passmore. The word “ then” is also effective to show that the testator contemplated the failure of issue within the life of Pass-more. Wilmofs Opinions 308, quoted 16 Johns. 387; Eichelberger v. Barnitz, (9 Watts 450); Pells v. Brown, (Cro. Jac. 590) ; Porter v. Bradley, (4 T. R. 143) ; Roe v. Jeffery, (7 lb. 589); Doe v. Wet-ton, (2 Bos. dp P. 324); Hauer v. Shitz, (3 Yeates 205); M’Carthy v. Dawson, (1 Whart. 4); Nebinger v. Upp, (13 Serg. dp Rawle 65); Richardson v. Noyes, (2 Mass. 62); Doe v. Webber, (1 Barn, dp Aid. 713); Hockley v. Mawbey, (3 Bro. Ch. R. 82); Keating v. Reynolds, (1 Bay 80) ; Glover v. Monckton, (3 Bingh. 9) ; Wells v. Ritter, (3 Whart. 224) ; Wilkes v. Lion, (2 Cow. 333); Pinbury v. Elkin, (1 P. Wms. 563) ; Wilkinson v. South, (7 T. R. 557); Fosdick v. Cornell, (1 Johns. 440); Jackson v. Blanshan, (3 lb. 292) ; Moffat v. Strong, (10 lb. 12); Jackson v. Staats, (11 lb. 337); Anderson v. Jackson, (16 lb. 382). The intention is paramount. Here the testator could not intend an estate tail to go to one son only, that being contrary to our habits and laws; nor that Passmore should be able to bar the subsequent estates by a common recovery. This case cannot be distinguished substantially from Pells v. Brown, (Cro. Jac. 590); and if that is authority, it is decisive in our favour. contended that Passmore Heald took an estate tail with contingent remainder to Elizabeth, and after her over, and the plaintiff below held title as heir in tail. Haines v. Witmer, (2 Yeates 400); Willis v. Bucher, (2 Binn. 455); Clark v. Baker, (3 Serg. dp Rawle 470); Gause v. Wiley, (4 lb. 509); Irwin v. Dun-woody, (17 lb. 61); Caskey v. Brewer, (lb. 441); Heffner v. Knepper, (6 Watts 18); 1 Pow. Dev. 188; Sharp v. Thompson, (1 Wharf. 139); Dewitt v. Eldred, (4 Watts Sf Serg. 414).