This controversy turns upon the proper construction of item 5 of Arthur S. Hogan’s will, viz.: “My grand-daughter, Elizabeth Winter, whenever she shall marry, she shall take into possession one-half of the plantation, one-half of the brick house lying in Franklin county, State of Alabama, also eighty acres of land lying at the foot of the mountain, one-half of the negroes named in the item next below. If the said Elizabeth shall have ah heir or heirs, in that case after the death of her father and mother she shall have the whole of the plantation and house and lob in the town of Tuscumbia. together with the balance of the negi\es,she having first to set apart or provide for the- genteel support of her sister Josephine during her life. If the said Elizabeth die and leave no heir or heirs of her body, my will is that all of' the property she may acquire by the will shall be equally divided between all of my children living and such of my grandchildren whose parents may have died, and if she should die and leave an heir or heirs I give it to them forever.” The testator died in 1849. When his will was made and when he died, he had living a number of children and grandchildren. The devisee in question, Elizabeth Winter, married one Bell, and had one child who lived three or four hours
Upon mature consideration, our minds are without doubt — it is impossible to escape the, conviction — that the testator intended to declare that if Elizabeth died leaving no child or children the estate should go to his children and grandchildren as in the will expressed; but if she left a child or children it should go to such child or children forever Thus construing the will, it follows, that the plaintiffs — the grandchildren of testator — took as purchasers, and their estates and right to recover are not affected by the conveyance of Mrs. Bell, who had only an estate for life.
Reversed and remanded.