Case ID: mass_6/html/0371-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Parsons, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Nathaniel Perley versus John Chandler, Jun.
    Upon the location of a highway, the public acquire an easement not lawfully to be interrupted by the owner of the land; but the soil and freehold remain in the owner for every purpose of use or profit consistent with such easement: he may maintain ejectment for it; and he may sink a watercourse below the surface, covering it so that the highway remains safe and convenient for passengers.
    If a highway be located over watercourses, either natural or artificial, the public cannot shut them up, but may make the road over them by the aid of bridges.
    This was an action of trespass for obstructing the plaintiff’s watercourse in Winthrop, and filling up the same with logs, stones, and earth.
    The defendant pleaded that the watercourse mentioned in the plaintiff’s declaration was a nuisance in the highway in Winthrop, and that the abatement of that nuisance was the trespass alleged.
    
      To this plea the plaintiff replied in substance, that he was seised of a close of land on each side of the highway, the one close on the north, and the other on the south side; and that he was [ * 455 ] possessed of a right of conducting water * from the close on the north to the close on the south side of the highway, for the purpose of working certain mills belonging to him, and standing on the close last mentioned.
    The rejoinder denied the right of the plaintiff to the watercourse, for the purpose mentioned in the replication, and on this right an issue was joined to the country.
    Upon the trial of this issue, before Sedgwick, J., at the last October term in this county, it appeared that one John Chandler formerly owned the two closes before mentioned, and that one Sampson Da-vis purchased the north close, bounded upon the road upon one side, and on the water upon the other side, by deed dated December 5th, 1798, with privileges through Chandler’s land to his upper mill-pond or dam, for the purpose of conveying water where Chandler formerly conveyed it, or in any other place, where Davis should think most convenient, and the privilege of digging a ditch into Chandler’s mill stream for the conveyance of water. After-wards, on the 7th day of the same month, Davis purchased of Chan aller the south close, which was bounded by the water on one side, and on the opposite side by the highway. On the 21st of January, 1801, Amos Perley duly levied an execution, issued upon a judgment in his favor against Davis, upon the two closes, and on the land between them, over which the highway was located ; and on the 12th of April, 1803, the said Amos Perley, by deed of release, conveyed to the plaintiff in fee, the estate on which his said execution was levied. Upon these conveyances the plaintiff rested his right to the watercourse; he having also offered evidence to prove that he was in possession of the land described in Amos Perley’s deed of release to him, at the time it was given.
    It was agreed' that the plaintiff, claiming a right to do it, made the watercourse, for the filling up and obstructing whereof he brought this action, to convey therein water from the close on the north side to the close on the south side of the highway, [ * 456 ] for the purpose of working his mills * standing on the last-mentioned close, and that those closes were the same conveyed by Chandler to Davis.
    
    A verdict was taken for the plaintiff by consent, subject to the opinion of tfee Court, upon the facts, which are in substance above atcd. And if the Court should be of opinion that the plaintiff jad the right put in issue, judgment should be rendered on the verdiet so taken; and otherwise, that a verdict should be entered for the defendant, and judgment be rendered accordingly.
    The cause was shortly argued at this term by Wilde for the plaintiff, and Todd for the defendant; after which the opinion of the Court was delivered by
   Parsons, C. J.

[After stating the pleadings and the facts.] There is a defect in the case. It is not alleged that John Chandler was seised of the land covered by the highway, which lies between the two closes ; and although this land is expressly levied upon by Amos Perley’s execution, yet it is not stated that the watercourse in question was sunk in this land, nor that the way had been previously laid out.

But taking it for granted, as John Chandler owned the closes adjoining on each side of the way, that he also owned the land over which the way passed; that it was the land described in Amos Perley’s levy as covered by a way; and that the watercourse was sunk in this land, over which the way passed, we proceed.

By the location of a way over the land of any person, the public have acquired an easement, which the owner of the land cannot lawfully extinguish or unreasonably interrupt. But the soil and freehold remain in the owner, although encumbered with a way. And every use to which the land may be applied, and all the profits which may be derived from it, consistently with the continuance of the easement, the owner can lawfully claim. He may maintain ejectment for the land thus encumbered ; and if the way be discontinued, he shall hold the land free from the encumbrance.

*Upon these principles, there can be no doubt but [*457] that the owner of the land can sink a drain, or any watercourse, below the surface of his land covered with a way, so as not to deprive the public of their easement. And it is a common practice for the owners of water-mills, or of sites for water-mills, to sink watercourses for the use of their mills in their own land under highways, care being taken to cover the watercourses sufficiently so that the highways remain safe and convenient for passengers.

These well-known legal principles are now to be applied to the case before us. The point saved is, whether the plaintiff had a right to sink the watercourse in question. And the decision of this point must depend either on the privilege he had in the soil of another, or on his right to make this use of his own soil.

The plaintiff, being an assignee of Sampson Davis, is entitled to the privilege purchased by Davis of John Chandler, by the first conveyance. But Chandler owning at that time the land under the highway, the privilege to dig a watercourse any‘where through his land must include a privilege to dig it under the highway, so that the easement remained to the public. On this ground the plaintiff had a right to dig the watercourse in question. But it further appears, from the extent returnéd on Amos Perley’s execution, that the land under the highway was taken by the execution ; and it also appears that Amos Perley conveyed that land to the plaintiff. If, therefore, the levy by Amos Perley was a disseisin of the right owner, yet, he not having since reentered, the plaintiff has the freehold, subject, however, to be ousted or evicted by one who has the legal right.

But the defendant sets up no title to the land, and cannot therefore dispute the plaintiff’s right to the soil. As to the defendant, the plaintiff must be deemed to be the owner ; and as owner, he has the right to a watercourse in his own land under the highway ;

but so as not to deprive the public of the easement. [ * 458 ] And as the mere right in the * plaintiff to the watercourse in question, is the only point reserved, the plaintiff, having established this right, must have judgment on the verdict.

If the case presented to us a question, whether the owner of the land, over which is a public highway, might open a watercourse under the way, and leave it open at top, to the annoyance of passengers, some further considerations would be necessary.

If a highway be located over watercourses, either natural or artificial, the public cannot shut up these courses, but may make the road over them by the aid of bridges. But when a way has been located over private land, if the owner should afterwards open a watercourse across the way, it will be his duty, at his own expense, to make and keep in repair a way over the watercourse, for the convenience of the public; and if he should neglect to do it, he may be indicted for the nuisance; and upon the conviction, the nuisance may be prostrated by filling up the watercourse, if he shall not make a convenient way over it. This obligation upon the owner arises from the consideration, that when the way was located, the public were to be considered as purchasers of the easement, by the payment to the owner of all damages which he sustained in consequence of the easement. And among other causes if damage might be estimated the inconvenience of opening a watercourse at his own expense.

Judgment on the verdict.