Beekman v. Hudson

| N.Y. Sup. Ct. | Jul 15, 1838

By the Court, Nelson, Ch. J.

If the widow of the testator took an interest in the farm during her widowhood, 'the plaintiff cannot recover, as her former husband was in such case not seised of an estate of inheritance, conferring the right to the immediate freehold. Perkins, § 340. Park on Dow. ch. 4, p. 47.

It is quite clear upon the words of the will above referred to, that the testator intended to give to the widow the exclusive possession and control of the farm, to enable her to receive the rents and profits of the same for a specified purpose, namely, the maintenance of herself and family. The provision thus made for the children during widowhood, as well as the duty imposed thereby upon the widow, seems necessarily to exclude all idea of an immediate estate in the premises going to the children. Upon any other view this clause of the will cannot possibly be carried into effect; for if the widow of Moses is entitled to dower in his share, on the ground that an immediate estate in possession was devised which confers upon her the right to claim an assignment of dower, the two daughters are equally entitled to the possession and enjoyment of their portions. Thus the widow of the testator would be deprived not only of the care of the farm, but of the means of supporting herself and family.

The children must all have been young at the date of the will, which was shortly previous to the death of the testator, and necessarily dependent upon their mother, and it was obviously his design to place the property exclusively under her control, with a view to enable her to bring them up ; the means are therefore confided to her care, and the duty expressly enjoined. Nothing can be clearer, in my judgment, than the devise to her of the direction and management of the farm, together with the rents and profits during her widowhood. This is the plain intent and legal effect of the words ; any thing short of it would defeat the whole plan of the testator. How could she otherwise maintain herself and children during widowhood 1

In Parker v. Plummer, Cro. Eliz. 190, the words of the will were, “ saving that I will that my wife shall have half the issues and profits of the land during her life, bearing and allowing half the charges thereof,” &c. The question was whether the wife had any interest in the premises, or was only to have an account of rents, &c. It was determined that she had an interest, for to have the issues and projits and the land were all one. So in Kerry v. Derrick, Cro. Jac. 104, the words were, “ as concerning the disposition of all my lands and tenements, I bequeath the rents of W. to my wife for life,” See. It was held that the land passed ; that the words were apt enough to convey it according to the usual mode of speaking, naming the land by the rents. And in Stewart v. Garnett, 3 Sim. 398, Vice Chancellor Shadwell held that the “ moiety of the rents, issues and profits of my estate,” conveyed the fee, declaring that a devise of these was the same as a devise of the estate itself. See also Rob. on Wills, 401, 402, 529 ; 1 Salk. 228; Ram on Wills, 45 ; 1 Johns. Ch. R. 499 ; 1 Ves. 170, 533 ; 4 Kent’s Comm. 536.

Judgment for the defendant.