4 Watts 192 | Pa. | 1835
—The plaintiff below claimed under two titles. The first was a warrant, dated the 29th of July 1762, to George
“October 7th, 1762, surveyed for Scull, on a three hundred acres warrant to George Allen, dated the 29(h of July 1762, adjoining Jacob Gaidner, beginning at a white oak on the south side of Shaver’s creek, below said Gardner’s land ; thence by ditto north thirty-four degrees ; west two hundred and thirty-two perches to a white oak; at the end of twenty-two perches crossed Shaver’s creek, south thirty degrees, west two hundred and fifty-two perches to a white oak; at twelve perches from last crossed a small run, south forty degrees, east one hundred and fifty perches to a hickory on the bank of Shaver’s creek ; thence up the creek ; at sixty perches crossed run ; at one hundred perches crossed again ; up Shaver’s creek north twenty-five degrees, east twenty-eight degrees to the mouth of the-, thence up, by a barren hill, said line to the beginning, about thirty perches to the eastward of the creek, which will be on the-line,—drafted three hundred acres and three-fourths,
“N. B. There is forty-two perches added to the end of the line, first course fiom the white oak, which makes it two hundred and seventy-four perches. Also, the third course extended forty-two perches to answer the first course ; and the second course ran parallel.” With this was a draft tabled from the field notes, as surveyed for George Allen, &c. The lines extended as in this N. B., com-' prehended the lands in dispute.
The first error relied on by the plaintiff in error is, on the admission by the court below of the field notes of the assistant deputy surveyor. But in this, we think, there was no error. The field notes, and other official proceedings of the deputy surveyor, have always been admitted in explanation of his acts, when offered by any party interested.
The next errors are in the charge of the court. The court say, that “the lines on the ground constitute the true survey. The first inquiry is, did the surveyor extend the lines after he made the survey. After a survey has been made, and the surveyor finds he has not a sufficient quantity, he may extend the lines by protraction ; and the warrant holder will hold the same so added, if no intervening
In these instructions the court seem fully to admit that the lines run and marked on the ground constitute the survey ; that in certain cases the deputy surveyor may, after a survey made, protract the original lines, and embrace more land ; and that it was a question for the jury, on the evidence, whether in his return he adhered to the first lines run, and called for the corners of those lines. But they do not say that an additional quantity may be introduced by mere plotting on paper; and the plaintiff contended, that the protracted lines were run and marked on the ground. To be sure, after a lapse of nearly three-fourths of a century, marks and corners may have disappeared from various causes, and the evidence may not be precise and full. But it seems to me a strong case must be made out to overturn, on this ground, the presumption arising from a survey returned and accepted more than fifty years before the new warrant, recognized by adjoining surveys at the time and afterwards, and accompanied by acts of ownership. In this there was no error.
But the plaintiff also claimed as the owner of the new warrant and survey of 1816, which passed by purchase at sheriff’s sale to William Connelly, and was sold by him, in 1821, to James Myton. Myton became embarrassed, and many judgments were obtained against him from 1821 to 1828. On one of these his title was sold, in 1831, to the plaintiff in this suit, who paid the purchase money, and received a deed from the sheriff. The money was appropriated to the payment of prior judgments. The defendant, to rebut this title, alleged, that Myton encouraged and assisted him to settle on the tract; in consequence of which the defendant erected a building on the premises, and made improvements. He then requested the court to instruct the jury, “if the testimony of James Myton and Thomas Ralston is believed by the jury, then James Myton having agreed and consented to A. M’Cormick making his improvement, and having induced and assisted in the building of his house, &c., he could not, if yet the owner of the estate purchased by Connelly at sheriff’s sale as the property of R. M’Cormick, recover in ejectment from the defendant now, if the warrant and survey of Robert M’Cormick were vested in him; and that the sheriff’s alienee,
There was no pretence whatever for the defendant’s claiming an equity on the ground of encouragement to improve given to him by Myton. That doctrine applies only to a bona fide improver, who is led into a mistaken expenditure by the acts or connivance of another, supposing the properly to be his own. Here the defendant knew the land was in dispute between these parties; and volunteered tt> . originate a new claim which might prevail against the plaintiff. He desired to make an experiment, and agreed to take his' chance. He cannot complain if the chance fails. No imposition was practised on him ; he was led into no mistake. On the contrary, it wears very much the appearance of a combination to speculate on another title by improvement, and divide the tract between them, if successful. No boundaries between themselves were named : no ascertainment of their respective rights. It was the joint act as well of Myton as M’Cormick; and those claiming under either cannot avail themselves of it.
As to the permission of Myton, treated as a transfer of his title, it was of no avail against the plaintiff, if he claimed under a sheriff’s deed founded on judgments against Myton prior to such permission. It is not correct to say, the purchaser at sheriff’s sale has no better title than the debtor had at the time of the sale. His title dates, in many respects, from the lien of the judgments. He holds, discharged of latent trusts and of intervening conveyances, leases and incumbrances made by the debtor. If it were not so, the debtor might dispose of the land, and thus defeat the judgment creditors : whereas, the general rule is, that the sale on the judgment overreaches the mesne acts of the debtor, and passes the title discharged from them. The acts of assembly of 1802 and 1814 give relief
Judgment affirmed.
