Smith v. Starr

The opinion of the Court was delivered by Rogers, J.

This action is brought to recover damages, for the non-performance of an agreement to purchase a certain messuage and lot of ground, &c. The question is, whether the title to the messuage and lot of ground is vested in the plaintiff in fee. The facts of the case are contained in a case stated, in the nature of a special verdict. The doubt arises on the conveyance of William Rawle and Mrs. Clifford, to Margaret Wharton. The plaintiff’s counsel contend, 1st. That the conveyance may *65 be considered, as an execution of the power given by the will of Rebecca Shoemaker ; and 2d. That it may be viewed as a conveyance or release by two out of three devisees, to the third, and therefore valid.

It is unnecessary to rest the question on the first ground, as we are clearly of the opinion the title is good on the second. The testatrix empowers her executor to sell and convey her house and lot in Callowhill street, and also such ground-rents, not already devised, as may remain her property, at the time of her death. The moneys thence arising, together with her other personal property and estate, &c., she gives and bequeaths to her two daughters, Anna Clifford, and Margaret Wharton, and her son William Rawle, equally to be divided among them; but the share allotted to her daughter Anna, is to be held by her brother in trust for her separate use, and not to be liable to her husband’s contracts, or control, in any manner whatever. The testatrix gives her a power to dispose of the same, by any writing in the nature of a will, notwithstanding her state of marriage. And, if she should die, without having made such disposition thereof, then the said, personalty goes to her daughter Rebecca. By the will of Mrs. Shoemaker, therefore, her property is directed to be equally divided between Anna Clifford, Margaret Wharton; and William Rawle, with a power to sell. It is well settled, that when the proceeds of real estate are devised, the persons beneficially interested may elect to take the fund as real estate. The devisee may take it either as land or money. Leigh and Dalzel on Conversion, ch. 8, p. 119, 170, 179, 180; Burr v. Sim, ( 1 Wharton, 265 .) I entertain no doubt that the deed of two of the legatees to the third, may be taken as an election to take the fund as real estate. Nor. can the right of William Rawle to convey, or of Margaret Wharton to receive the conveyance, admit of doubt: and as to the right of Anna Clifford, we consider it as a question more of novelty in this state, than as presenting any real difficulty either in principle or authority. By the will of Mrs. Shoemaker, the one-third of the property is vested in William Rawle, to the separate *use of Anna Clifford, with a power of disposition by will, and in default of appointment, over. Independent of the fact, that at the time the devise took effect, Mrs. Clifford was a married woman, it is clear that such a devise would give her an absolute estate in fee. Jackson v. Robins, (16 Johns. Rep. 537,) is full to this point. Chancellor Kent, after a full review of the authorities, lays it down as an incontrovertible rule, that when an estate is given to a person generally, or indefinitely with a power of disposition, it carries a fee; and the only exception to the rule is, when the testator gives the first taker an estate for life only, by certain and express *66 words, and annexes to it, a power of disposal. * If this be so, and her deed with the joint devisees of the fund would have been good, then the question is, whether her being a feme covert, at the time of the death of the testatrix, although discovert, or sui juris, at the execution of the deed, will invalidate it. A restriction, inconsistent with a general power of disposal, is- as ineffectual and inoperative, in the case of a female, as that of a male. It is only on marriage, that her disability, which in truth is intended for her protection, commences. At law a wife can have no separate estate; but a court of equity permits such an estate, for the protection of the wife, against the legal rights of the husband. When, therefore, coverture ceases, and of course she is not subject to control, there can be no reasons why the conditions and restrictions should not cease also. Thus in Barton v. Briscoe, (4 Con. Ch. Rep. 283,) and in Benson v. Benson, and Knight v. Knight, (4 Con. Ch. Rep. 199, 200,) it is held, that on a settlement in trust, for the separate use of a married woman for life, the clause against anticipation, as it is called, becomes inoperative on the death of the husband, and no longer binding. Barton v. Briscoe is very like this case, for there it is held, that on a settlement in trust, for the separate use of a married woman, for life, but so as not to anticipate, with remainder, as she should appoint by will, and in default of appointment to A., on the death of her husband, the restraint on anticipation ceased, and that she was entitled, with the concurrence of A., to a transfer of the fund. And in Benson v. Benson, the testator directed-the interest of ¿610,000, to be for the separate use of his daughter, Jane Lane, the wife of T. Lane, for her life, free from the debts of her husband. † The husband died, and the widow married again; it was held that the separate use ceased, on the death of her husband.f The principle upon which the cases in equity proceeds is, that unless the female to whom the gift be made, be married at the time, the interest vests, and unless the coverture be continuing down to the moment when the alienation is attempted, a female of full age stands on precisely the same footing as a male, and equally with him, may exercise all the rights of ownership, notwithstanding a clause against anticipation and against marital interferences. The trust fund is at her free disposal, while she is sui juris; and a court of equity only gives effect to the restriction, upon her marriage, and while married, marital lights. 2 Kent’s Com. 165, note 8. It has been also held, that gifts to a feme sole, or to trustees in trust for *67 a feme sole, to her separate use, free from the control of any future husband, and not subject to his debts, or disposition, are, as to such restraints, illegal and void, unless they be settlements made in immediate contemplation of marriage. Woodmester v. Walker, (6 Con. Ch. Rep. 457); Evans v. Hughes, (7 Con. Ch. Rep. 572). And so far has this principle been pushed, that in Newton v. Reed, (4 Simon’s Rep. 141,) the vice-chancellor held, that though the annuity was given by will, in trust for a daughter for life, not subject to the debts or control of any future husband, nor alienable by her, and intended for her support, and she married, the restrictions were still void, and she and her husband might sell the annuity, and apply the proceeds to pay his debts, and for his use. Rut this doctrine would impose an unreasonable restriction upon the power of parents to provide for the future support of their daughters, and is not, as I conceive, the law, as applicable to this state.* †In this case, it was evidently the testatrix’s intention to guard against the control of the husband: but if the restriction had been expressly extended to any future husband, the case might have been altered; although I do not intend to express any opinion on the point-† In the intermediate time, however, between the first and second marriage, upon the principles above stated, she should have an undoubted right to convey her interest. Rut be this as it may, we are of the opinion, that upon the case stated, the plaintiff is entitled to judgment.

Judgment for the plaintiff.

Cited by Counsel, 4 Wharton, 449 ; 8 Watts, 506 ;. 4 Watts & Sergeant, 547; 9 Id. 134; 9 Barr, 379 ; 1 Jones, 363 ; 3 Harris, 342; 4 Id. 262; 6 Id. 269; 12 Id. 254; 3 Casey, 78 ; 2 P. F. Smith, 157; 4 Id. 247; 7 Id. 242, 510 ; 8 Id. 367.

Cited by the Court below, 7 Casey, 151.

Cited by the Court, 4 Wharton, 129 ; 3 Watts & Sergeant, 231; 4 Id. 197 ; 7 Barr, 290; 6 Harris, 108; 9 Id. 384 ; 2 Casey, 231; 1 Wright, 39 ; 10 Id. 490 ; 8 P. F. Smith, 442; 10 Id. 495 .

Soo 2 P. F. Smith, 223 ; 10 Id. 147.

See 8 Harris, 302; 9 Casey, 87; 14 Wright, 148 ; 7 P. F. Smith, 355.

See 9 Watts, 137 ; 1 Barr, 111; 4 Id. 93 ; 10 Id. 423.

6 P. F. Smith, 230,