Carpenter v. Schermerhorn

2 Barb. Ch. 314 | New York Court of Chancery | 1847

The Chancellor.

The master has clearly mistaken the rights of the children of Garret Schermerhorn, and of those claiming under them, in relation both to the Charlton lands and to the two lots of land in Glen’s patent. He is right in supposing that the present owners of the Charlton lands are entitled to hold, by adverse possession, the one-sixth of their several lots, which was undisposed of by the will of the testator in consequence of the death of his son John without issue. For, upon the death of John, forty years since, the remainder in fee in that one-sixth, became vested in his four surviving brothers and his sister, who had an immediate right to bring ejectments for the recovery of the same.; except so far as the persons in possession were entitled to protection under their respective covenants of warranty, which gave to them a portion of the fee by way of estoppel. Although Engletje may have been married at that time, so as to protect her interest from being barred during the coverture, she died as early as 1834, and the lands were held adversely more than ten years after the descent to her hens. And the statute requires the heirs of the person as to whom a disability has existed, to bring their suit within ten years after the death of such person. (1 R. L. of 1813, p. 185, § 3.) It is true, the complainant, and perhaps the other daughter of Engletje, may have been femes covert at the death of their mother, in 1834.. But the law does not allow successive disa< bilities in different persons taking the same estate by devise or descent from each other. (Doe v. Jesson, 6 East, 80. 2 Preston on Abs. 341.)

The master appears to have proceeded upon the presumption that the surviving children of Garret Schermerhorn, Were heirs to those who died without issue in the lifetime of their father. The devise of the remainder in this case, however, is not to such of the testator’s grandchildren as shall survive their parents; but one-sixth of the estate in remainder is given to all the children of each child of the testator as a class. Bach grandchild, therefore, the moment it came into existence, took a vested interest in the remainder in fee; subject to open and let in after-born children. And such of them as died leaving issue, transmitted that interest by descent to his or her issue, even in the lifetime of the tenant for Hfe, as a vested remainder in fee. The parent from whose side the estate came, however, was the heir at law .of such of the grandchildren of the testator as had died without issue in the lifetime of such parent. In relation to five of the children of the testator, it does not appear that they had any children who died without issue in the lifetime of their parents. The master has therefore properly considered those who survived their parents, or who died leaving issue, as entitled to the whole estate. But in relation to Garret, who is still living, and who is probably so far advanced in life that he can have no other children, it distinctly appears that he had two children who arrived to full age, and afterwards died without issue. And as they did not convey their interest in the one-sixth of the remainder in fee to any one, during their lives, it descended to their father, as their heir at law, under our statute of descents. Garret Schermerhorn, therefore, upon the death of those two children, became seised of two-ninths of one-sixth of the remainder in fee in the whole premises, as the heir at law of those two children. And as he had conveyed lot number four which was allotted to him, and also lot number five, allotted-to his sister Engletje, with warranty, his interest in fee in two-, ninths .of one sixth of those two lots in Charlton passed, by estoppel, to those who have derived title to the. different portions of those two lots under that conveyance. He.is also, entitled to the remainder in fee in two-ninths of one-sixth of each of the other four Charlton lots, and to the two lots in Glen’s patent, as the heir at law of those two children; and to the fee in one-fifth of one-sixth of the two last mentioned lots, as one of the heirs at law of his brother John. And he is entitled to a life estate in seven-ninths of one-sixth of the two last mentioned lots, the remainder in fee in which seven-ninths of one-sixth, subject to such life estate alone, belongs to his other children, or those who have acquired their interests therein. His life estate also continues in seven-ninths of one-sixth of the four lots in Charlton not embraced in his deed to Melville Brown. But by virtue of the parol partition, and the subsequent adverse possession of those four lots, the persons who derived title to the same under the conveyances from his brothers are entitled to the whole of his life estate in their respective lots. It must be ascertained and paid to them accordingly, in the distribution of the proceeds of those several lots. And the other seven children of Garret, or those who now represent their interests in the premises of which partition is sought, instead of being entitled to the share stated in the master’s report* are only-entitled, under the will of the testator, to seven-ninths of one-sixth of the several lots of which partition is sought, including the two lots in Glen’s patent. Those interests are also subject to the life estate which Garret Schermerhorn still has therein, under the will- of his father.

As the rights of these several parties appear upon the face of the master’s report, it is not necessary to send that report back to the master to correct the erroneous estimate which he has made of their several interests in the premises, but that part of the report may be corrected in the decree.

The counsel for Gould insists that Garret Schermerhorn’s two-ninths of one-sixth of the reversion, in the four Charlton lots which were allotted to his brothers in the parol partition, belong to those who have derived title to those lots under the conveyances in fee from those brothers. This would be so if Garret Schermerhom had been the owner of either a vested or a contingent interest in that two-ninths of one-sixth of those lots at the time of the parol partition; or if he had conveyed the one-sixth of those lots to his brothers with warranty; or if it appeared that it was an interest which had been cast upon him by descent more than twenty years since, so that his right to the same was barred by the statute of limitations. But a mere parol partition of the interests of the children of the testator in the Charlton lands, could only, as between those children,'give to each the rights and interest which the others then had in the lands set off in severalty, either vested or contingent. And, at the time of that partition, the interest which Garret has subsequently acquired, as the heir at law of two of his children, was not a vested or contingent interest in him; but the chance of his succeeding to the same, as the heir at law of his children, was a mere possibility, unaccompanied by any interest whatever in the premises. Again; there does not appear to be any equity in favor of those who have derived title to those lots under his brothers, as against him. As he acquired no interest whatever in the remainders in fee in his own lot, by that parol partition, as against the remaindermen to whom such remainders were devised, he is bound at law, as well as in equity, to protect the grantee of his own lot, and those claiming under -that grantee, against the claim of those remaindermen. And if any persons had an equitable lien upon his two-ninths of one-sixth of the four lots in Charlton allotted to his brothers, it would be those who have become entitled to the other two lots under his conveyance with warranty. I do not see, however, that his conveyance of two lots, with warranty, gave, even to , his grantee, an equitable lien upon the title which he after-wards acquired in the other four lots as heir at law of two of his children. Their claims are against him personally, under his covenant of warranty. The decree must, therefore, declare that he is entitled to two-ninths of one-sixth of the remainder in fee in each of those four lots, subject to an estate for his life in those two-ninths ; which estate for life belongs to those who have derived title to the several portions of those four lots under the conveyances from his brothers, John, Bartholomew, and Rykert.

The counsel for Gould also claims that the grantees of the Charlton lots, under the conveyances from the testator’s children, are entitled to the interest of the children of Engletje in the Charlton lands, upon the ground that their claims are barred by the statute of limitations; they not having been made within ten years after the death of their mother. He has, however, entirely mistaken the law on the subject; for the limitation, as to them, is a limitation of twenty years, and not of ten. The ten years’ limitation applies where the person entitled to sue for the recovery of lands is under a disability when the right accrues, and dies before such disability terminates, and thus casts the same estate, by devise or descent, upon heirs or devisees; in which case the heirs or devisees must bring their suit within ten years after the right of action accrued to them. But in this case, the children and descendants of Engletje do not claim title to the premises in question as the heirs at law of their mother. They are claiming a separate and distinct estate from hers, as the devisees of her father. And as a right in possession, to the estate in remainder, did not accrue to them until the death of their mother, in 1834, each of them had a right to bring his or her suit within twenty years from that time.

The interests of the several parties do not appear to be the same in either of the seven parcels of the Charlton lands described in exhibit B. annexed to the master’s report. And the interests of the parties in the two lots in Glen’s patent are also different from those in either of the seven parcels described in that exhibit. The decree must therefore describe the interest of each party in these several eight parcels of land, the two lots in Glen’s patent being considered as one parcel, and stating the general and specific liens or incumbrances on the interest of any of the parties in all or any of such parcels. Each of the eight parcels must then be sold separately; subject to such taxes and assessments as may have been imposed thereon—each lot in Glen’s patent being sold by itself. The costs of all parties entitled to costs, including the master’s fees and expenses of the sale, must then be charged upon the proceeds of the eight parcels in proportion to the amount of the proceeds of each parcel. The master must then calculate the value of the life estate of Garret Schermerhorn in the óne-sixth of the residue or net proceeds of each parcel- of the Charltoii lands, and' pay the same to those who are now entitled to his life éstate in the several parcels of such Charlton lands; "deducting the same from the respective shares óf his children, or their representatives, whose interests are subject to" such "life estate. And the value óf his life estate hi the net proceeds of seven-ninths of one-sixth of the two Glen’s patent lots must also be computed, upon the principle of life annuities, and paid to himself; the same being deducted from the shares of his children, or their "representatives, whose interests in those lots are subject to "his life estate therein.

The shares "of the proceeds belonging to the infant defendants áre nót to be paid to their guardians ad litem, as provided for in the draft of the decree presented; but they must be brought into court by the master, and paid to the clerk of the cóúrt Of appeals, to be invested for their benefit.

The equitable lien of James N. Schermerhorn, for the purchase money, is not upon the whole of the share of which H. Carpenter diéd seised, but only upon the half of that share which belonged to Jámes N. at the time-of the execution of the cónvéyáñce from him and" his sister for both of their shares. The amount due him for such purchase money must, therefore, be paid him out of the net proceeds of the half of the share óf ' the premises of which H. Cárpenter died seised, after deducting the costs and expenses properly chargeable thereon. And -the rights of the parties must be "declared, and provided for "accordingly,"in the decree. The dower of the complainant, in thenet proceeds of the half of the share of which her husband died seised must be computed only upon the balance of such proceeds after deducting the amount of such equitáble lien. For her dower interest, as well" as the interests of her children m that part of the premises which carné to H. Carpenter from James N. Schermerhorn, is subject to the éqúitáble lien of the latter for his unpaid purchase money

As the taxes and assessments upon the several pieces of land must .necessarily be different, and there are probably none upon the Charlton lands, which have been actually occupied and claimed in fee for nearly fifty years, the parties who are interested in those lands alone ought not to be subjected to the expense of ascertaining and paying the taxes on the lands in Glen’s patent, in. which lands they have no interest. I have, therefore, directed that each piece of land shall be sold subject to the lien of any tax or assessment which may be found to be chargeable thereon. And as the interests of many of the parties in the proceeds will be very minute, it would subject them to unnecessary expense hereafter to obtain their shares of such proceeds if the premises were sold on credit, and the securities taken on such sales brought into court for future distribution. The decree must, therefore, direct the several parcels to be sold for cash; so that the proceeds thereof may be apportioned and distributed by the master, without further expense.

The defendant Garret Schermerhorn, by virtue of his covenants in the deed to Melville Brown, is liable to the several persons who have derived title under Brown, for the loss of such portions of their several lots as by this partition suit are ascertained to belong to others, as well as for their shares of the costs to which they have been subjected by this suit. And the children of Bartholomew and Rykert Schermerhorn, as. the heirs at law of their respective parents, having taken an interest by descent in the two lots in Glen’s patent, in addition to their interests therein under the will of their grandfather, they are, as such h.eirs at law, liable upon the covenants of warranty in the deeds of'their respective parents, and of their uncle John, to the extent of the interests which have come to them by descent. Even the children of Jeremiah and of Engletje, although the former gave no covenant of warranty, and the latter, béing a feme covert, was not bound by her covenant, are still liable, to a. certain extent, under the covenant of warranty of their uncle John. For they have taken by descent from their parents, interests in the two lots in Glen’s patent, which interests cune to their-parents as heirs at law of John Scherraerhorn. The children of Engletje, although she was not bound by her covenant in the deed to Brown, may also be liable upon the covenants of their father, in the same deed, if they took any real estate by devise or descent from him. To protect the future rights of the parties claiming under or through such covenants, therefore, the decree must contain a provision that it is to be without prejudice to the rights of any of the parties in this suit, as against any of the other parties, or as against any other person, by reason or on account of any breach of warranty in any deed or conveyance of the premises of which partition is made in this suit, or of any part or parcel thereof.