15 Conn. 274 | Conn. | 1842
The questions presented for our advice will be considered in the order in which they have been reserved.
1. Do the lands purchased by the testator subsequent to the execution of his will, or any of them, pass by the will, or do they descend to his heirs at law ?
It has long been the settled construction of the English statute of wills, that a devise of lands operates only on those lands which the testator owned at the time of executing and publishing his will, and that no after-purchased lands will pass under such devise, unless subsequent to the purchase, the de-visor re-publishes his will ;⅛-(2 Blk. Com. 378. 6 Cruise’s Dig. 38.) although the devise is expressly of ail lands which the devisor should have, at the time of his decease. Bunter v. Coke, 1 Salk. 237. This construction has not arisen from the particular phraseology of that statute, which says, that “ any person having lands &c. may devise,” as is suggested, by the counsel for one of the devisees in this case, but from the character of the instrument; it being considered to be
The claim which has been made, that our statute of 1831 is merely declaratory of the then existing law, and therefore requires a broader construction than it had before received, is not well founded. That statute provides, that “ any person, having power to dispose of real estate, by will or testament, may, by such will, devise real estate not owned by him at the time of making the same, but acquired after-wards.” Stat. ed. 1838. p. 245. It is obvious, that it was the object of this statute to remedy, a defect in the existing law, and to extend the power of devising further than previously allowed. 4 Kent’s Com. 499.
It is, however, insisted, that, although the will now in question was executed several years prior to the passing of the act of 1831, that act operates upon it, so as to give validity to the provisions it contains in respect to the after-acquired estate of the testator. The general rule is, that statutes shall not be construed retrospectively, unless by their express terms or otherwise, such appears to be the manifest intent of the legislature. Goshen v. Stonington, 4 Conn. Rep. 210. Perkins v. Perkins, 7 Conn. Rep. 558. Jackson d. Sherwood v. Phelps, 3 Caines 62. 69. Here there is nothing from which we have a right to infer, that it was intended to affect any wills which had been executed prior to the passing of the
2. On the question, as to what interest the widow of the •testator takes in the stock on the farm lying in Bozrah, and Franklin, we are of opinion that she is entitled to an absolute interest, and not an estate for life only. The testator gives to her, not the one third of the use of the farm and the stock> during her natural life ; nor the one third of the use of the farm, during her natural life, and of the stock ; but one third part of the use of the farm, during her natural life, and, if sold, one third part of the interest of the money which it should sell for, “ together with the stock of said farm.” This would seem to indicate that the property itself, and not a qualified or temporary interest in it, was intended to be given ; and, considering the precarious and temporary nature of the property ; that the reversionary interest in it would be of but little value ; and that it would probably promote the ac-*’ commodation of the occupant to be able to dispose of it at pleasure, that intention is believed to be rendered quite obvious. Limitations of the mere use of personal property with reversions and remainders over, although allowed, are certainly not to be favoured : it is with reluctance that they have been sanctioned by our courts, arfd they will lean against the creation of them, either by deed or will, unless by expressions that are clear and definite. There is certainly no such plain manifestation of an intention to create an estate in this case.
3. Is the corporation incorporated by the name of “ The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,” entitled, under the will in question, to a share of the estate of the testator; and if so, to what share l
The devise is of “ one fourth part of all [his] estate not •disposed of to [his] wife, to The Missionary Society of Foreign Missions.”
There is no ground for the claim which has been made, that this devise is void on its face for uncertainty as to the devisee intended. Whatever doubt there may be, in this case, as to the person intended, such doubt does not arise from any expressions in the instrument, which are of themselves so equivocal, obscure, uncertain, contradictory or un
, It is however insisted, that in this case, the evidence proves, that there is no such corporation or society in existence as The Missionary Society of Foreign Missions; and therefore, that the devise is inoperative. If indeed there were no society in existence either of this name or description, the devise would be void, for the want of any person to take under it. If, however, there is a corporation of either that name or description, and only one, we think there cannot be a doubt that it would take under this devise. Under the circumstances of this case, the devise must be deemed to be made to that society, by description, and not by name. The evidence shews, that there is no society bearing the name of “ The Missionary Society for Foreign Missionsbut that there are several, whose objects and character are correctly described by those words, considered as words of description;— and there is nothing in the will to shew, that the testator intended to designate any particular society by name. A devise is never to be construed absolutely void for uncertainty, but from necessity : if it be possible to reduce it to a certainty,
It appearing, from the testimony in the case, that there are several societies pursuing the same object as that of the society mentioned in this devise, and which were in existence when this will was executed, it becomes necessary to ascertain which of them was intended by the testator. That pa-rol testimony is admissible for this purpose, does not admit of doubt. It is the case of a latent ambiguity, raised by the parol evidence, which discloses the fact that there are several
Looking at the facts found in this case, which may reasonably be presumed to have influenced the testator in the devise in question, especially in connexion with the light which is reflected on the subject, by the other parts of the will, there can be no serious doubt that The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, was the corporation which he intended as the object of his bounty. With regard to the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U. S. A. and the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, the two last were never incorporated, nor was the first until after the execution of the will. They were, therefore, incapable of taking the benefit of a devise under it. Greene v. Dennis, 6 Conn. Rep. 292. That circumstance, of itself, is sufficient, in this case, to set aside any claim that they make. For where there are several societies answering the description of that mentioned in the will, some of which are capable of taking and others not, the law presumes that the testator intended the former, rather than the latter. And there is nothing in this case, which in the least controuls or weakens that presumption. The question, therefore, is between the “ American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,” and “ the General Convention of the Baptist denomination in the United States for Foreign Missions” &c. Both of these societies were incorporated, at the time of the making of the will; and their
It is claimed, however, that this devise is void as to two thirds of the bequest, because it is directed “ to be appropriated for the natives of this land which, it is insisted, the A. B. C. F. M. has no power, by its charter, to do. Whether if this were so, it would render the devise, as to that part, absolutely void, it is not necessary to consider ; because no doubt is entertained, that the propagation of the gospel among the aborigines of this country, is one of the objects for which that society was instituted, and clearly within the powers conferred upon it. It is incorporated “ for the purpose of propagating the gospel in heathen lands.” That expression embraces every portion of the world, the inhabitants of which are destitute of revelation, and is strictly applicable to the Indians on this continent. They are emphatically heathen ; and as completely isolated, in a religious view, from the Christian portions of our country, as the Hottentots of Africa. The word “ lands” is here used, not with reference to their location, but to the religious character of their people. It is true, that the Indian tribes of our country are not, for certain purposes, foreign nations but it does not result, that a religious mission among those tribes may not be a foreign mission: such missions are undoubtedly foreign, as contra-distinguished from domestic ; and in this sense the term is used. There is no reference, however, in the charter to
4. “ The American Tract Society” established at Boston and not that at New-York, is entitled to the bequest which is given to the society of that name. The former was incorporated before the execution of the will, and therefore capable of receiving the bequest. The latter was not incorporated until afterwards, and after the death of the testator, and had no capacity to take. 6 Conn. Rep. 292. 4 Wheat. Rep. 1. It appears, moreover, that in 1825, the society in New- York, became united to that in Boston, as an auxiliary to it, by which it became merely one of its branches or constituent parts.
5. With respect to the devise to “ the Foreign Mission School at Cornwall, Conn.” it is conceded, that it is void, as that school was not, at the time of the execution of the will, and has never since been, in existence ; unless it must be deemed to be made to the A. B. C. F. M. Although the school was established, by that corporation, it is no part of its constitution, and was only one of its means of operation, which it finally abandoned. If it was the intention of the testator to give that society the benefit of this devise, no reason is perceived why he did not include it in the other devise to that society, in the same manner as he set apart two thirds of that devise for the aborigines of this country. The A. B. C. F. M. are not entitled to take under this devise. Whether a trust is created by the devise, which a court of chancery will protect, by compelling the legal owner to fulfil it, in any form, or supplying a trustee for its execution, it is not necessary here to enquire, as the question before us relates only to the legal title.
6. “ The American Society for ameliorating the condition of the Jews,” is, beyond doubt, intended in the last devise. Its object is most accurately described in it; it was, at the time of making the will, and still is, incorporated; and no other society for a similar purpose, appears ever to have been formed in this country.
7. The devise to the Cornwall School having failed, a question is made, whether that portion of the estate vests in the last-mentioned society, which is the residuary devisee, or
8. The debts, funeral charges, and expense of monuments, are to be deducted out of the residuary portion of the estate, that being according to the terms of the will ; but, as there is no provision of that kind respecting the expenses of settling the estate, those expenses must be charged, as in ordinary cases.
The superior court should be advised in conformity with the foregoing opinion.