Case ID: sc-eq_4/html/0445-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Beaufort District.
    
    Heard by Chancellor Waties.
    Mrs. Charlotte Heyward, vs. John A. Cuthbert, Executor of W. Heyward.
    CiSF r.xiri.,
    A mother who lias only a bare competence for berselfj and has Tniim,- c'nh'rvii iivii'jy with ha-, v, ho .are entitled to large estates, shall have i.ti afo'-v e ■»:.■. li her by ,hc ixccnlor, out of their estates, for the tn..i'.t'e.)..i,ee and education oi her daughter, and for the maintenance of her .-oil.,.
    Sr.c: - As the exclusive right to the cere and education of her daughter, tirh^s there he strong object to¡s to her clni-icter. The executor to direct the expenditure ibr the education of the sons.
    Tíi,k complainant has applied to the comb for an annual allowance out of the incomes of the estate of her children, for their maintenance and education.
    They are unfilled, it appears, to a considerable estate. and she has not more than a competent provision for herself. It is reasonable, therefore, that she should be relieved from the burthen of maintaining and educating them. lint in providing for these objects, the court ivli.-uld take- care not to exceed them. The allowances ought to he liberal, b ut not beneficial. The mother ought to be indemnified for all expenses on account of her children, but not for her care and attention; her only and best reward for these, is to be looked for, in the good effects produced by them, on their morals and manners. The allowance then, should be to such an amount, as will provide for tlie maintenance, of the children in a way suitable to their condition and estates, and no more.
    lint another question arises, shall the allowance be for their education as well as maintenance ?
    I have no doubt that the complainant might to have the exclusive direction of the education of her daughter: Tins is a sacred right of which a mother ought not to be deprived, unless there are serious objections to her want yf character or discretion. Í am fully of opinion at the lame time., that a judicious executor is bvtW qualified to iii’cci the education of the cons, and that this trass our-ht to be left with the defendant. I shall therefore make an allowance for the education only of the daughter.
    
      FEB'Y. 1814
    
      It is accordingly ordered and decreed, that the defendant do pay to the complainant out of the estate of his |¡íC snm 0f two thousand dollars annually, to commence from the first day of January last, for the maintenance and education of her daughter, and lor the maintenance, of her sons, while they live with her; giving leave to either party, to apply to the court for an increase or diminution of the said allowance, under any future change of circumstances. The costs to he paid out of the estate.
    Thomas Watxes,
   There wa3 no appeal from this decree*