Case ID: yeates_3/html/0261-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Thomas Hastings and Elizabeth his wife against Joseph Crunckleton, James Flack and Mary his wife, Moses Cunningham and Sarah his wife, Robert M'Cutchen and Elizabeth his wife, Samuel M'Cutchen and Margaret his wife, and Susannah Crunckleton.
    Tenant in dower may clear woodland assigned to her in dower, provided she does not exceed a just proportion of the whole tract.
    Dower of lands in Antrim township.
    John Crunckleton devised to his wife Elizabeth, one of the demandants, the sum of 181. annually during her life, and certain specific articles and privileges in the house, in lieu of her dower. The widow, after his death, elected to take her thirds at common law, and afterwards brought dower and recovered. Her thirds were assigned to her, and on her taking possession, she cut down timber and cleared lands, part of what was allotted to her. The proceedings were afterwards reversed in the Supreme Court, for error.
   The counsel for the tenants insisted, that by cutting down timber and clearing lands, the widow had committed waste, and forfeited her interest in the lands. Co. Lit. 53, a. b. 54, a.

*262] *But the court said, there was a material difference be-J tween the local circumstances of this state and of Great Britain. It would be an outrage on common sense to suppose, that what would be deemed waste in England, .coidd receive that appellation here. Lands in general with us are enhanced by being cleared, provided a proper proportion of woodland is preserved for the maintenance of the place. If the tenant in dower clears part of the lands assigned to her, and does not exceed the relative proportion of cleared land, considered as to the whole tract, she cannot be said to have committed waste thereby.

Referred to in 56 Pa. 129 and no Pa. 477.

In Lyman’s Appeal, 31 Pa. 44, it is said that the privileges of a life tenant are much greater under the law of Pennsylvania than those recognized by the common law of England. If the tenant exceeds his rights, the act of April 10,-1848, gives the remainder man a writ of estrepement.

Mr. Bowie, for the demandants.

Mr. Hamilton, for the tenants.

Verdict for the demandants.