17 N.H. 508 | Superior Court of New Hampshire | 1845
This will presents a singular specimen of ambiguity, leading to a suspicion that the testator may have intended so far to cover up his meaning that it would not be discovered by some person interested, who might see the will.
The only devise which it contains, and which certainly might easily have been made to express a plain meaning, either to give his wife all his property, real and personal, or to give her the use of it during her life, has all this phraseology as descriptive of the disposition he makes of his estate in her favor, as the sole devisee.
Ve can have no reasonable doubt, however, that it must be construed as a bequest of a life estate only to the widow. The first portion of the devising clause, “ all my property, real and personal,” may be regarded as merely descriptive of the property upon which the will was intended to operate, and would be equally consistent with subseqent words, which disposed of his entire interest in it, or of an interest only during the life of the devisee. “I give and bequeath to my wife all my property, real and personal, to have and to hold during her life,” would, without any contradiction or ambiguity, vest in the devisee only a life estate.
The only question, considering the devising clause alone, is, whether the word “ forever,” interposed before
The subsequent part of the sentence shows what he meant by “forever,” — that is, during her life, — a very limited “forever,” certainly, but as large a “forever” as she could have in which to hold any property. In construing a will which contains conflicting’ clauses or language, those parts expressed with technical precision may be regarded as declaring the testator’s intention with greater certainty than those which are less formal.
The lack of technical or definite certainty in the term “forever,” as designating title, when anything conflicts with it, and the certainty indicated by the words, “to hold during her life,” when nothing conflicts with them but the term “ forever,” serve to show that if the devising clause stood alone, only a life estate would pass.
There are numerous authorities regarding the effect of an introductory clause upon the subsequent language of the will in cases of ambiguity. 2 Vern. 690, Beachcroft v. Beachcroft; Cowp. 657, Denn v. Gaskin; Id. 356, Loveacres v. Blight; Doug. 734, Right v. Sidebotham; 3 Atk. 486, Ridout v. Pain; 3 Wils. 414, Frogmorton v. Wright; 5 T. R. 13, Goodnight v. Stocker; 2 Preston Est. 188-206.
But the language of the introductory clause is, in this case, but little different from the language of the devise itself. The testator recites that he is desirous of settling his worldly affairs, — revokes all other wills, — “and as to my estate and all the property, real, personal and mixed, of which I am seized and possessed, and to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease, I devise, bequeath and dispose thereof in manner following.”
This is certainly an appropriate introduction to a disposition of all his interest in his entire property. But it by ho means indicates such an intention to do this that it will authorize us to reject a material part of the devise, which follows in order that the will may have that operation. As, in the devising clause itself, this reference to all his estate and property, in the introductory part,°may be but descriptive of the property which he intends to make the subject of disposition, and not of the quantum of interest which he designs to give in it. And when he subsequently disposes of but an estate for life, th<^ introductory clause cannot enlarge that estate. Nor can the word
If the language of the introduction were more clearly significant of an intention, when he commenced to dispose of his whole estate, he might have changed his mind before he closed. He may have designed to satisfy some one who had an interest in the matter by the use of general terms, — assured, himself, that the last clause would determine his intention.
Our particular attention has been called also to several well settled rules of construction which are applied in cases of doubt.
It is urged that the devise is to the wife, whom the testator was bound to provide for. Admit it. He undertook to provide for her. But the questions arise, How much did he think it necessary to do for her? How much has he done? He may have thought that the use of all his property during her life was an ample provision.
It is said that that construction is to be adopted which best satisfies all the words of the will; but.what would satisfy one set of words here, taken separately, will not satisfy another, also taken separately. ¥e cannot satisfy all the words of the will by rejecting a part, particularly a significant part, and that part which from its position is presumed to jsxpress the last thoughts and intentions of the testator.
The fact that there is no devise over, will not warrant us in rejecting the words “ during her life.”
If we were to depart from the considerations already suggested, showing that a life estate is given, it would be to find ourselves in an utter uncertainty respecting the testator’s intention, and then the heir at law could not be disinherited. Cowp. 306, Hogan v. Jackson; 2 B. & P. 249, Moor v. Denn.
Bill dismissed.