Case of Walker's Estate

Testator devised to his wife certain real estate, and “ also, all his household goods and fur* niture, moneys, bonds, mortgages, outstanding debts due and owing to him, and all other his personal estate of what nature.or hind soever." He devised to trustees, for the use of his son, certain other real estate, and to the same trustees, for the separate use of his daughter, certain other real estate, declaring in his will that the husband of his daughter, should not, in any event, nor by reason of any cause, ways or means whatsoever, have any right, claim or interest in his estate, in right of his wife or otherwise, nor receive any benefit or advantage therefrom. These devises and bequests disposed of the whole of the estate the testator then possessed. After the execution of his will, he acquired other real estate, and died indebted to various persons, without having republished his will, or made any codicil disposing of the reql estate made after its execution. Held, that the bequest of the testator’s personal estate to his wife, was not specific, and that there was nothing in the will winch showed an ihtention to exemptit from the payment of his debts, and that consequently, it was to be applied to that purpose before the real estate acquired after the execution of the will, could be resorted to.

APPEAL. On an appeal by the executors of Samuel Walker, deceased, from the decree of the Orphan’s Court for the city and county of Philadelphia, it appeared that the said executors, Elizabeth Y. Walker, Joshua Canby and Thomas Betts, on the 17th of February, 1826, presented a petition to the Orphan’s Court, setting forth that they had made a final settlement of their administration account, which had been confirmed by the court, and exhibited a balance of three thousand and thirty-one dollars and forty-five cents, due from the estate, for the payment of which there were not sufficient assets, and praying the court to grant an order for the sale of the real estate of the decedent, for the payment of his debts. The court thereupon appointed an auditor “ to examine and report upon the necessity and propriety of the sale prayed for, as well with regard to the particular estates required to be sold, as the state of the personal estate of the deceased.” From the report of the auditor, which was made on the 2nd of May, 1826, it appeared, that Samuel Walker, on the 1st ofMarch, 1820, made his will, by which he devised and bequeathed to his wife Elizabeth F. Walker, a certain portion of his real estate, and also “ all his household goods and furniture, moneys, bonds, mortgages, outstanding debts due and owing to him, and all his other personal estate, of what nature or kind soever, to hold to her, his said wife Elizabeth Y. Walker, her heirs and assigns foerver.” He also devised to Thomas Betts and Joshua Canby, and the survivor of them, in fee, another portion of his real estate, of considerable magnitude, in trust, for the use of his son Samuel Jones Walker, the. rents and profits thereof to be received by the trustees, and paid into the hands of his wife Elizabeth Y Walker, as the guardian ofhis said son, to whose education, maintenance and support, they were to be applied during bis minority. After his said son had attained the age of twenty-one years, the said estate was to beheld by the trustees, in trust for the use of the said Samuel Jones Walker, and for such other use and uses as he, by any deed, or by his last will and testament, or any writing under his hand and seal, executed in the presence of two or more credible witnesses, should limit and appoint, and- for want of such limitation or appointment, then, after the decease of the said Samuel Jones Walker, in trust for the use of his child or children, who should be then living, and the issue of such as might be dead, in fee, as tenants in common ; and for want of such child or children, or their issue, then, in trust, after the decease of the said Samuel Jones Walker, for the sole and separate use and benefit of the testator’s daughter Ann D. Harper, during her life, so as not to be subject to the control of her husband, or liable for his debts; and after her decease, for the use of such child or children, and in such shares and proportions, as she. by any writing in the nature of a will or appointment, executed under her hand and seal, in the presence of two or more credible witnesses should direct and appoint, and for want of such direction and appointment, in trust for the use of all and every, the child or children of his said daughter, who should be then living, and the issue of such as might be dead, as tenants in common, in fee, and for want of such child or children, or their issue, then, after the decease ofhis daughter, in trust for the use of the right heirs of the testator forever. To the same trustees the testator devised another portion of his real estate, in trust, for the sole and separate use of his said daughter Ann D. Harper, upon the same trusts as those conditionally declared in her favour in reference to the estate devised to his son, and in the event of the death of his daughter, without leaving a child or children, or their issue, he gave the estate devised to his daughter, to his said son Samuel Jones Walker, in fee, and in case of the death of his said son without leaving a child or children, or their issue, to his own right heirs forever. The residue of his estate, the testator gave to his said son Samuel Jones Walker, in fee. In the last clause of his will, he declared, that he wished it to be understood as his will and intention, that the husband of his said daughter should not in “ any event nor by reason of any cause, ways, or means whatsoever, have any right, claim, or interest in his estate, in right of his wife or otherwise, nor receive any benefit or advantage therefrom.” After the execution of his will, Samuel Walker acquired other real estate, and died on the 1st December, 1824, without having republished his said will, or added any codicil disposing of the real estate acquired subsequently to its execution. He died indebted to various persons. On the 7th December, 1824, an appraisement was made of the household furniture, and moveables of the testator, which with money on hand and in bank, at his decease, amounted to two thousand-one hundred and forty-three dollars and seventy-six cents. Between the 10th December, 1824, and the 17th October, 1825, several sums amounting together to seven hundred and seven dollars and seventy-three cents, were received by the executrix, Elizabeth Y. Walker, making the whole amount of the personal estate received by her, of which any account was given, two thousand eight hundred and fifty-one dollars and forty-nine cents ; but no account was given by her of the amount received in bonds, mortgages and outstanding debts due to the testator; on the contrary,-she set up a claim in her administration account to retain the whole personal estate of the testator, founding such claim upon the bequest of the same to her in his will. On the 11th November, 1825, Thomas Betts and Joshua Canby settled an administration account in the Register’s office, stating that no assets of the deceased had come into their hands, and claiming the sum of one hundred and fifty-nine dollars and fifty cents for their services and disbursements, and on the 18th November, 1825, Elizabeth Y. Walker, settled her separate administration account in the Register’s office, claiming a balance of one thousand one hundred and forty-one dollars and sixty cents in her favour, and referring to a supplemental account, to be filed by her. The auditor deemed it unnecessary to inquire into the propriety and legality of the several payments, for which credit was claimed by the said Elizabeth Y. Walker, in her administration account, as a proper decision of the matters submitted to him, depended on the question, whether, under all the facts of the case, the personal estate of the testator, as between the parties interested, was to be applied to the payment of his debts, before the lands acquired by him after the date of his will, were resorted to, it being his opinion, that the estates devised, were exempt, inasmuch as every devise of lands, is necessarily a specific devise. Elizabeth Y. Walker claimed all the personal estate of the testator, insisting that it was exempted from the payment of his debts, because it was specifically bequeathed to her, and that the debts due by the testator were to be paid out of the real estate acquired by him, subsequently to the execution of his will, and which descended to his heirs at law. But the auditor was of opinion, that the bequest to her was not a specific legacy, but a general bequest, and there being no express direction or plain implication in the will, exempting the personal estate from the payment of the testator’s debts, as between his legatees, devisees and heirs at law, the personal estate was the proper fund for that purpose, and ought to be first applied to it. He therefore reported, “ that there was no necessity for or propriety in directing a sale of the real estate, prayed by the said executors of the said Samuel Walker, or any part thereof.” The following exceptions to the report of the auditor were filed in the Orphan’s Court, viz :— First. The auditor erred in the opinion, that the real estate of the testator, acquired subsequently to the date of the will, (and for the sale of which the above application was made) is exempt from responsibility for the testator’s debts until the personal estate shall have been first applied for that purpose. Second. The auditor erred in the opinion, that the bequest to Elizabeth Y. Walker, wife of the testator, of the whole of the testator’s personal estate, as set forth particularly in the will, is not a specific legacy but a general bequest, and that the personal estate is nevertheless liable and the proper fund to be applied for the purpose of paying the debts due from the testator. Third. The auditor erred in the opinion, that there was no plain implication, by the said testator in his will, exempting his personal estate from the payment of debts, such intention being plainly manifested by a liberal construction of the will in question. Fourth. The auditor erred in matters of law and fact in his said report. After argument, the Orphan’s Court confirmed the report of the auditor, and dismissed the petition for the sale of the real estate; whereupon an appeal was entered by Elizabeth Y. Walker to the Supreme Court. The case resolves itself into an inquiry whether the personal estate of the testator bequeathed to his widow, or the real estate which he acquired after the execution of his will, is to bear the burthen of his debts. The clause in the will which disposes of the personalty, imports a primary object, namely, a competent provision for the widow, which will recommend it to the consideration of the court. There is no introductory clause, such as is usually found in wills, directing the payment of debts. The bequest, therefore, has nothing about it of a residuary character. The only disposition made of the personalty, is in favour of the widow, to whom the whole is given. His intention clearly was to provide for her out of the personal estate, and it is a settled rule that effect must be given to a will, so as to make every legacy operate if possible; but that intention must be frustrated, and the rule of law violated, if the personalty is to be swept away for the payment of debts. To give a legacy a specific character, so far at least as to exempt it from the burthen of debts, it is not necessary that it should be of a particular article. The same effect may be produced by a general bequest of the personalty. Preston on Leg. 88. Ward on Leg. 18. A bequest of all the testator’s personal estate at W. is specific, and will pass all his personal estate at W., even what was not there when the will was made. Sayer v. Sayer, 2 Fern. 688. To apply the personalty in this instance to the discharge of the debts, would be in the highest degree hard and unjust. The heirs of the real estate acquired after the making of the will, are also the devisees of nearly the whole of the real estate of which the testator was seized when he executed that instrument; and they ask to have the debts paid wholly out of the personalty, so as to exonerate their estate from charge, while the widow, for whom the testator intended an ample provision, is left wholly destitute. This could not be done even in England, where the heir is so much favoured, and still less can it be done in Pennsylvania, where realty as well as personalty is assets for the payment of debts, and where both descriptions of property flow in the same channel of descent. There is therefore no reason for burthening the latter in exoneration of the former. Ruston v. Ruston, 2 Dali. 245. S. C. 2 Yeates, 54-70. If there is a plain implication of an intention to exempt the personal estate, it shall be exempted. Walker v. Jackson, 2 Atk. 624. In that case the controversy was between those who claimed the personal and those who claimed the real estate under the will, which distinguishes it, favourably for the appellant, from the present case, in which the effort is to charge the real estate not embraced by the will, which being left by the testator undevised, he evidently intended should bear the bur-then of his debts. To cast them upon the personal estate bequeathed to the widow, would be virtually to revoke the will. Even a residuary bequest has been held to be specific, and creditors who claimed to be paid out of the personalty, turned over to the realty. Adams v. Meyrick, 2 Atk. 626, note. If the debts be great, the bequest of the personal estate would come to nothing, which, it is said, the law deems the worst construction that can be given to a will. Wainmright v. Benlows, 2 Fern. 718. Where the intention of the testator is to make provision for his widow or children, it must, if possible, be carried into effect. Thus where the testator devised to his wife an estate encumbered by a mortgage, and the personal estate was insufficient to pay it ofí¡ Lord Hardioicke decreed that the estate of the wife should be exonerated out of the real estate which descended to the heir; reversing his former decree as to this point, after a year’s consideration. Galton v. Hancock, 2 Atk. 436. A legacy to a wife in lieu of dower does not abate with other legacies. Davenhill v. Fletcher,.Ambler, 244. In Bamjield v. Wyndham, Prec. in Ch. 101, land was devised to trustees to sell and pay debts, and to pay the overplus to the testator’s sisters. All the personal estate was bequeathed to his wife, but the amount of debts exceeded the value of the personalty, and the lord chancellor said he must mean that his widow should have it exempt from debts or he must mean nothing. And in Lejfert v. Carter, 1 Ves. 499, real estate devised-to a son was subjected to the payment of a daughter, who would have been unfor, if the personal estate had been applied to that object. That the testator intended that the real estate acquired after the execution of the will should be the fund for the payment of his debts, is to be inferred from his making no disposition of it, but leaving it to descend according to law. This fund is always resorted to where it is necessary, in order to give effect to the dispositions of the will. Hayes v. Jackson, 6 Mass. Rep. 151. Livingston v. Livingston, 3 Johns. Ch. R. .148.153. Livingston v. Newkirk, Id. 319. In Handy v. Roberts, Ambler, 128, Lord Hardwicke says, the rule is clear, that where there are debts by specialty and legacies, and no devise of the real estate, but it descends, if creditors exhaust the personalty, the legatees may stand in their place, and come upon the real estate, against the heir at law. In that case too, the legatee appears to have been a stranger. It is the constant rule, to put legatees in the place of creditors, when the latter exhaust the personal estate. The only description of legatees, who are not entitled to have the lands applied, are residuary legatees. Burton v. Pierpoint, 2 P. Wms. 61. Rider v. Wager, Id. 335. Tipping v. Tipping, 1 P. Wms. 729. Clifton v. Burt, Id. 678. Sigourney v. Jackson, 6 Mass. Rep. 149. The case of Commonwealth v. Shelby, 13 Serg. Rawle, 348, greatly resembles this. There the testator made certain specific bequests of personal property to his widow, and devised his real estate to his sons, giving pecuniary legacies to his daughters, and charging both his real and personal estate with the payment of debts and legacies. He also left real estate which did not pass under the will, and the rules laid down for the administration of the assets were, 1st, That the specific bequests to the widow were to remain untouched. 2nd, That the residue of the personal estate was then to be applied to the payment of the debts. 3d, That the lands descended were to be applied to that object, and lastly, the lands devised. The only difference between this case and the one under consideration, is, that in the''former the bequest to the widow was of certain portions of the personal estate, while in the latter, the whole was given to her. The only question therefore is, whether the bequest to Mrs. Walker is specific, and the authorities already cited show that it is. The primary fund for the payment of debts in Pennsylvania is personal estate. Real estate is only a contingent fund, and whoever endeavours to maintain an opposite position, must establish an exception to the general rule. The exception attempted to be proved in this case is, that the legacy to the wife is specific, and it is contended that where the personalty is specifically bequeathed, and there is descended real estate, the latter, in equity, must bear the burthen of debts. The basis of this argument is an assumption that the legacy to Mrs. Walker is specific, which is á mistake. There are two descriptions of specific legacies in the understanding of an equity lawyer. The first, where a particular thing in the possession of the testator at the time, and capable of being delivered in specie, is separated from the general mass of the personal estate. 1 Roper on Leg. 149. 155. 184. Preston on Leg. 69. 82. 83. 85. The second, a general bequest with this qualification, derived from the intention of the testator, that other property is made to bear the charge, which in ordinary circumstances would belong to the property bequeathed. The essence of bequests of this sort is, the intention, that the legatee shall take dear of all charge. This is the chancery sense of a specific bequest.. That the bequest to Mrs. Walker was specific in the first or common law sense of the term, cannot be contended for. It has no feature belonging to that class. It comprehended all the personally which the testator then had, or might have at the time of his death. There is no limitation of time, place or amount. Preston and Ward both show that there must be some restriction; an enumeration of particular articles at the commencement of the bequest comes to nothing, when followed by a sweeping clause giving every thing. There is no authority to show that any part of such a bequest is specific. The authorities all prove it to be general. Bowaman v. Reeve, Prec. in Ch. 577. Attorney General v. Parkin, Amb. 566. 1 Merriv. 198. 211. There is in fact scarcely any general bequest of personal property in which there is not some enumeration of particulars. Todd v. Todd, 1 Serg. Sf Raiole, 453, was a much stronger case than this, yet there the legacy was held not to be specific. It is clear then that this case does not come within the common law sense of a specific legacy. In relation, to the chancery sense of the term, there was in early times some conflict of authority, but the doctrine has now settled down. There is however no conflict of authority respecting the rule in its application to this case. It is said, that the legacy is specific, by reason of an inference from other parts of the will, that the testator intended, that this part of his estate should not be charged. There is nothing in the will to show an intention to exempt the personal estate from the debts, and put them uopn the lands. Such an intention is not to be made out by fanciful conjecture. It must appear either from express words, or arise from necessary implication ; it must be an intention not merely to charge the realty, but to discharge the personalty. 1 Madd. Ch. 588. 1 Roper on Legacies, 475. 484, and the cases there cited. In the will in question, there is no charge upon the land, and there is no case, in which, where there are no express words of exemption, an intention to exonerate the personalty has been inferred, without a charge upon the realty, or a trust to sell for the payment of debts. All the devises in the will of Samuel Walker, except that to the widow, are specific. They are to trustees, who have no power to sell or to mortgage, and there is not a syllable in the whole instrument indicating an intention, that Ihe widow was to enjoy her legacy discharged of debts. If it be said, he had no debts, then the subject was not in his mind at all, and he could riot have intended to charge the land with what did not exist; still less could he have intended to cast such a charge upon land, which did not then belong to him. If his mind was not directed to the subject, the whole argument is destroyed, for it is altogether a question of intention. The opposite argument goes the whole length of saying, that every general bequest of personalty is specific as regards every thing but the real estate specifically devised, and throws the debts on the estates which descended. If the descended estates are to be charged, it must be by operation of law, and not by force of the testator’s intention. If there was no intention on the subject, when the will was made, the acquisition of real estate afterwards, without republication of the will, cannot alter the state of things at the execution of the instrument. The acquisition of lands, on which the mind was never brought to bear, affords i no argument in favour of intention. Nor does the position of the bequest in the will, its being first named, afford the slightest inference, that he intended it should be first paid; nor is the circumstance, that the legacy is to the widow, sufficient to overrule the principles of law, which have made the personal estate the primary fund for the payment of debts. The absence of a clause directing that his debts shall be paid, furnishes no presumption, that he intended they should not be paid out of the natural and proper fund, the personal estate. In contemplation of law, such a clause is in 'every will, because in Pennsylvania, all property is liable for debts in the order prescribed by law.