Case ID: h-mch_4/html/0283-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Chase, Ch. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GENERAL COURT,
    (E. S.) APRIL TERM, 1799.
    Colston vs. Dorchester County Court.
    Motion for a mandamus. The case was as follows, vis. John Lecompte, in his life-time, was seised in fee of certain lands in Dorchester county, and by his will divided his lands, devising one part to his son John for life, and the other part to his son James for life, and died intestate as to the fee, after the 1st of January i 788. John, the tenant for life, died some time after, leaving children., Colston purchased the right of James to that part which had been devised to. John, and-obtained a deed for the same, John, the original devisor, had but those two children, conse.quent.i_y the part devised to John descended by inheritance to James and John/s children, as heirs at law of the original devisor, according to the act of 1/86, eh. 45. to direct descents. By this act of assembly, if the parties entitled to the intestate's estate cannot agree upon the division thereof; or in case any per-om entitled to any part he a minor, application may fie made to the court of the county where the estate lies, and the court shall appoint, and issue a commission to five discreet, sensible men, to proceed according to the directions of the. said act. Colston, by petition made application to the county court for a commission, according to the eighth section of the above act, stating in his petition the manner in which he became, entitled to the estate, as a purchase from Janies J^ecompte., one of the. heirs t law of the intestate. The county court refused to grant the prayer of the petition, and dismissed it.
    Martin,. (Attorney General,) and Bayly, for Colslon,
    moved the court for a inunilannis iy the county court, commanding them to grant the prayer of the petition? alleging that Colston was a person legally entitled to a. pari of the intestate’s estate) that the words of the act are general? and not confined particularly to the parties entiÜed by descent) that he was a party claiming a part of the estate? and entitled to the remedy prescribed by the act of assembly, in common with the other heirs; that he legally represented James, who v as one of the heirs, and entitled to all the rights and privileges vested in Mm by law relative to the said estate.
    
      Key and W. B. Martin, Mr the children of John Le-, compie,
    
    objected to the mandamus being granted. They contended that the remedy by the act of assembly, by application to the county court, was exclusively given to those who were entitled to the estate by inheritance, and not by purchase. The act contemplated such persons only as were entitled by operation of law, and for such only was the remedy prescribed., That Colston was a tenant in common, and .not a party known to the act of assembly.
   Chase, Ch. J.

The county court have done right by refusing the application for a commission.

The court are of opinion that the mandamus ought not, to he granted.

The remedy given by the act of assembly to direct-descents, is new, and can he extended only to such persons as were contemplated by the act for whose benefit i!; was made. The act was made for the regulation of descents, and the remedy prescribed for those persons who should ho entitled to the intestate’s estate by descent, according to the rules and canons enacted by the said law. These who claim by a different title'must resort to a djfferent remedy. This is exclusively given. Tenants in common cannot be included with, the other heirs, and must resort to the remedy prescribed for such claimants,

Katie eok a Mandamus Discharged*.