Case ID: scl_23/html/0071-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Johnston, Ch.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Jonathan M. Hill, and Wife, v. Henry Hill and John Bates, Administrators.
    A gift of personal.property -was made by deed, to four of the donor’s children separately, and by separate clauses, with a limitation over to the survivors upon the event of one or more of them dying without a lawful issue ; — -held that such limitation was valid.
    The limitation to a survivor only, implies an intent to confer a personal benefit, and restricts the generalty of the phrase “ die without issue.”
    Interests in personalty amounting to execution, devises may be strictly conveyed by deed without the intervention of a trustee.
    BEFORE HIS HONOR, CHANCELLOR JOHNSTON, AT EDGEFIELD, JUNE TERM, 1836.
    The bill stated, that John P. Bond, father of the complainant, Lucinda, made a deed, whereby he gave to his four children, Felix, Lucinda, Moses and Theodore, twelve negroes, in such manner and upon such terms as would appear by reference to the deed, which was as follows:
    
      “ Know all men by these prsents, that I, John P. Bond of the State of South Carolina and district of Lexington, in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have and bear for my children, Felix, Paddon, Lucinda, Moses and Theodore S. Bond, and also for divers other good causes and considerations, I, the said John P. Bond, have given, granted and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant and confirm unto the said Felix P., Lucinda, Moses and Theodore S. Bond, all and singular, twelve negroes, (designated as follows,) viz:
    First. I give, grant and devise unto my son Felix Paddon Bond, my negro girl Tena, (whom I purchased of Warren Hart,) also Joe and Polly, (children of Thom, and Peggy,) and Esau and Julia, whom 1 purchased of Mrs. Burkett and Charles O’Neal, to be his right and title, in whose hands, custody or possession soever they may be, with their future increase, from the date of this deed.
    Secondly. I give, grant and devise unto my daughter Lucinda Bond, my negro man Esau, and his wife Julia, and their son Frank, — To be her right and title, in whose hands, custody or possession soever they may be, with their future increase, from the date of this deed.
    Thirdly. I give, grant and devise unto my son Moses Bond, my negro girl Hannah, (whom I purchased of Warren Hart,) and Tom and Philip, (sons of Esau and Julia, which I give to Lucinda Bond,) — To be his right and title, in whose hands, custody or possession soever they may be, with their future increase, from the date of this deed.
    To have, hold and enjoy all and singular, the said negroes, as above designated, unto the said Eelix P., Lucinda, Moses and Theodore S. Bond, their heirs and assigns forever, — To be and remain their right and property, that if either one or more of the said above named children should die without a lawful issue, that the deceased’s part or parts shall be equally divided amongst the survivors nominated in this deed, against me, my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, and against every other person or persons whomsoever. Given from under my band and seal, this 2d day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, and of the forty-seventh year of American Independence.
    JNO. P. BOND, [Seal.]
    Tho. P. Bond,
    Henry H. Hill,
    Nathaw Norris.”
    The bill further stated that the three brothers died without leaving issue, and without either having been married, viz.: Moses died in 1828, Theodore in 1834, and Felix P. after-wards in September, 1834, leaving Lucinda, the only survivor of the four children. That defendants became administrators of Felix P. Bond’s estate, and in _ December, 1834, made sale thereof to a large amount, say ten thousand dollars; including in the sale, several of the negroes, conveyed in the said deed of gift, particularly Joseph and Polly; and others of the said negroes, with their increase, making in all eight or ten, of whom are mentioned Hannah, and her two children, Jacob and Harriet, Tom, Phillis, Judy, Tom and Prince, for the aggregate sum of five thousand two hundred and ninety-eight dollars of which last named negroes an account of sales was returned to the Ordinary, H. H. Hill, as administrator of Theodore Bond.
    That Felix P. Bond, in his lifetime, sold and delivered to Philip M’Carty, three of the negroes included in the said deed of gift, viz.: Tena and her two children, Alcy and Jim, for eight hundred dollars, or other large sum; but the complainants were not disposed to question the title of M’Oarty to those negroes, provided that they could have an account against the estate of Felix P. Bond, for the said purchase money and interest, to which they conceived they were fairly entitled.
    That the complainant, Jonathan, was present at the public sale made by defendants, but having recently arrived from Alabama, where he resided, and not being well advised of his rights, he did not forbid the sale, but gave notice of his intention to seek advice, and bid and purchased largely at the sale.
    The complainants charged that as Lucinda was the only survivor of the said four children, they were entitled to the whole of the said twelve negroes and their increase, or the proceeds of their sale with interest; and that as Lucinda was a sister of Felix P. Bond, they were entitled to an account and settlement from the defendants, administrators as afore said, for her distributive share of bis estate.
    Prayer for discovery of names and sales of negroes: that by a decree of the Court, the claims of complainants to the twelve negroes might be set up and established; that defendants might account and pay over the proceeds of sales and interest; as well the sale by themselves as the sale by E. P. Bond to M’Carty; and that they might account and pay over Lucinda’s distributive share of E. P. Bond’s estate; and for further relief.
    The joint answer of defendants admitted the execution of the deed by John P. Bond, but did not admit that its effect was to establish a survivorship among the four children; on the contrary, submitted that the deed conveyed an absolute estate to each of the children, of the negroes given to each, and that any attempt to limit a fee after a fee in personalty was utterly fruitless and unlawful, in an instrument of this-kind, which was not a marriage settlement, trust deed, nor testament; and that the limitation to the survivors, being after an indefinite failure of issue in the first takers, was too remote and consequently void, even in a will, &c. The defendants stated that John P. Bond was twice married, and left at his death, in September, 1823, six children, of his first marriage, viz.: Martha, wife of H. H. Hill, Hepsebah, wife of John Bates, John P. Bond, (a lunatic, of whom H. H. Hill was committee,) Matilda, Eelix P. and Lucinda; and two children of the second marriage, viz.: Moses and Theodore:— Moses died an infant and intestate, in 1826, leaving as his only heir and next of kin, his full brother Theodore: Theodore died intestate, in May, 1834, leaving his half brothers and sjsters, as his next of kin, and H. PI. Hill became administrator of his estate: — Eelix P. Bond being then more than twenty-five years old, died intestate, September, 1834, leaving his half brothers and sisters as next of kin, and the defendants became administrators of his estate, and 23d December, 1834, sold Joseph for eight hundred and eighty five dollars, and Polly for seven hundred dollars, on twelve months credit, those being all the negroes of the said Eelix P. acquired under the said deed, which came to the possession of the defendants. At the same time, on like credit, the defendant H. H. Hill, as administrator of Theodore Bond, sold eight negroes for five thousand two hundred and ninety-eight dollars, being all the negroes acquired by Theodore under the said deed, or as next of kin of his brother Moses. At this sale, the complainant, Jonathan, was present, bought largely, and interposed no objection to the sale. The defendants had been, informed that Eelix P. Bond, in .1833, sold two of the negroes conveyed to him by said deed — Tena and her child Alcy — for eight hundred dollars, (one half cash, remainder twelve months credit,) to Philip M’Carty.
    There were considerable demands yet outstanding against the estate of Felix P. Bond, but defendants would settle with complainants for their distributive shares thereof as soon as practicable.
    The defendants farther submitted that complainants had a plain and adequate remedy at law by actions of trover for the negroes they claimed, and of this the same advantage was craved as if it were specially pleaded.
    The case was heard on the bill and answer: the facts stated in the answer being admitted.
   Johnston, Ch.

The grantor gives to four of his children separately, and by separate clauses of his deed, certain slaves, to be his (or her) right,” with their future increase from the date of the deed: and then concludes with the following general clause, “to' have, hold, and enjoy the said negroes unto the said Felix, Lucinda, Moses, and Theodore,” (his said four children,) “their heirs and assigns for ever, to be and remain their right and property, that if either one or more of the above named children should die without a lawful issue, that the deceased’s part or parts shall be equally divided amongst the survivors nominated in this deed.”

Three sons having died without issue, (never having been married,) the daughter, now wife of Jonathan M. Hill, claims the slaves as survivor; which claim the defendants resist on the following .grounds:

1. That this gift was an attempt to limit over a fee in personalty after a fee, which cannot be done by deed, unless by way of trust.

2. That the limitation over is too remote, and, therefore, void; and that an absolute title vested in the deceased’s children as first takers.

The case will be decided by considering these objections:

No case has been pointed out in which the first point has been decided by our own Courts; nor have I found any; but I entertain no doubt upon the subject.

I am entirely satisfied with the observations of the late Court of Appeals on this point in Powel vs. Brown, 1 Bailey, 100; where, although the case turned on another point, this was much considered. I have nothing to say which can add to the force of the remarks made in that case. I will attempt, however, to put the question before us here in another point of view.

The real question seems to be simply this: Can a grantor, in conveying a perpetual title in personalty, annex a condition upon which that title shall be devested ? Can he annex a clause of defeasance ? Every mortgage of personalty is an affirmative answer to the question.

This is also expressly decided in Brummet vs. Barber, 2 Hill, 543.

If a grantor can provide a contingency upon which the title shall determine and revert to himself, what principle forbids his substituting other persons for himself, to receive the returning property when the contingency shall happen ? To the first grantees (and it is their interests we are now considering,) it must be a matter of indifference whether the person to receive the property from them shall be the grantor or his assignee.

Let us now inquire into the second objection made:

In examining whether a limitation over is valid or not, the quantity or duration of the previous title generally, can have no decisive influence. If it be doubtful whether the limitation be within the lawful time, then the quantity of the previous title may aid in resolving the doubt one way or the other; but if the time for the limitation to take effect be clearly fixed, and so fixed as to fall within twenty-one years of existing lives, the limitation will be good whatever the duration of the particular estate or title may be. For let it be borne in mind that the restrictions upon limitations over are intended to prevent perpetuities: a reason which has nothing to do with the quantity of the particular estate, but only with the degree of remoteness of the limitation.

The true question then always is, whether the limitation is to take effect or be entirely defeated within twenty-one years of existing lives. Whatever circumstances or expressions show that a limitation is to depend on a contingency to happen within that time, will support the limitation.

The limitation here is to persons named by the grantor, upon condition they survive the persons named. This is one circumstance in favor of it, since all other circumstances being thrown out of view, it is reasonable to conclude that, as the grantor intended a benefit to existing persons, he contemplated such a state of things as would bring them into possession of the benefit.

But the contingency pointed out by the deed of Mr. Bond is this: — If the sons shall die without issue, then the daughters, being survivors, shall take. This does not suspend the daughters’ right upon a failure of the sons’ issue. He does not say “Whenever the issue of my sons shall fail, then I give to my daughter.” But he points out a contingency which must be determined at the death of the sons themselves.

The case of Cordes vs. Ardrian, refers to cases directly in point to support my views.

Let an account be taken according to the principles of this decree. The costs to be paid out of the fund in controversy.

The defendants appealed, and moved to reverse the decree on the two grounds stated in it; and also on the ground that the complainants had, as to the negroes they claimed, a plain and adequate remedy at law.

The appeal was argued 10th May, 1837, by Wardlaw and Wardlaw, for the appellants, and by Bauskett, Burt and J. J. Caldwell, contra. The Court took time to consider, and at November Term, 1837, delivered its opinion.

Johnston, Ch. The two questions argued before us are:

1st. Whether the limitations over are not void for remoteness.

2d. Whether such limitations can be made directly by deed.

It did appear to me so indisputable, that the limitations were not too remote, that I confess I was surprised when I learned that an appeal was taken from that part of the circuit decree.}

Giving full weight to the artificial rule, and admitting that the words “die without issue" import, of themselves, an indefinite failure of issue; still the limitation here is good.

The books are full of ’cases in which Courts have manifested anxiety to lay hold of even the most trivial expressions to tie up, as they express it, the generality of the phrase, and limit its meaning to a failure of issue at the death of the first taker, (4 Kent, 273, 278.)

One circumstance almost invariably held to be destructive of the artificial rule is, where the limitation over is to persons defined, in such way as to show an intent to give them the personal enjoyment of the thing limited.

The case of Cordes vs. Adrian, 1 Hill, Ch. R., 154, to which I referred on the circuit, is an example of this kind. The bequest was of negroes, “ to my son, T. E. Oordes, his heirs and assigns forever, and should he di.e without lawful issue, the said negroes shall return to my other lawful children.” The question being made, whether this limitation was too remote, the Chancellor, after examining the decisions in this State, upon the point, held the limitation valid, in which he was sustained by the Appeal Court.

Let us turn to the cases referred to by the Chancellor, and see whether they do not bear him out. They are cases of gifts to survivors, as such, in which respect they exactly resemble the case before us.

Treville vs. Ellis, 1 Hill, Ch. R., 156, was upon the following words: “ should any of my children die without lawful heirs of their body, that then their part or division of my estate, shall be divided equally between the surviving children, share and share alike.” Held, on appeal, a good limitation.

Stephens vs. Patterson, 1 Hill, Ch. R., was upon the bequest of a slave to testator’s daughter, Mary, and the heirs of her body, “ but should she die without lawful issue, then the said negro girl, Rose, to go back, and be equally divided among the survivors of my children aforementioned.” The Court of Appeals held the limitation good.

The Chancellor who decided Cordes vs. Adrian, mentions two instances, and but two, of older decisions, which he seems to think conflicted with those of Treville vs. Ellis, and Stephens vs. Patterson. The cases referred to are Henry vs. Felder, 2 M’C., Ch. R., 333, and Guerry vs. Vernon, 1 N. & M’C. R., 69. But, with deference, in my opinion there is no conflict.

Henry vs. Felder, does not bear on the point. The words in that case are: “ I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Contiette, a negro girl, Dinah, to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, forever; but, on failure of issue, to go to the eldest child of my daughter Nancy.” The limitation was not on the death of Elizabeth, but the intention was plainly expressed to suspend it until her issue should become entirely extinct, however remote that contingency might be. Nor was the limitation to a survivor, as survivor; which uniformly imports that the contingency must happen or be defeated during lives in being; that is, it cannot but be ascertained during the life of the limitee, whether he has become a survivor or not.

Guerry vs. Vernon, reconcileable with Treville vs. Ellis, and Stephens vs. Patterson, and with the circuit decision in this case. In Guerry vs. Vernon, the limitation was not to a survivor, as survivor, but simply to a person in esse. His being in esse was the only indication that a personal enjoyment was intended for him. But supposing he was regarded as a survivor, the case may turn upon the distinction taken by Sir Wm. Grant, in Massey vs. Hudson, 2 Merivale, 130.

In the case last mentioned, there were separate bequests to A and B, and in case either of them should die without lawful issue, then the whole of the said two legacies to go to the survivor, his executors, administrators or assigns.

Upon these words, Sir Wm. Grant, (a most decided opponent of limitations) admits, in the first place, that if the limitation had been to the survivor only, it would have been good, as in Hughes vs. Sayer, 1 P. Wms. 534.

He observes, “ If A is personally to take the legacy, then the presumption is strong that an indefinite failure could not be in the testator’s contemplation. Prima facie, $ bequest over to the survivor of two persons after the death of one of them without issue, furnishes this presumption; for it will be intended that the survivor was meant individually and personally to enjoy the legacy, and not merely to take a vested interest, which might or might not he accompanied by actual possession.

After thus fairly stating the principle, he takes a distinction to show that the case before him did. not fall within it; and observes, “If the survivorship be necessary only to vest the interest and to render it transmissible, the objection of remoteness is not at all obviated, and the restrictive presumption does not arise. Now the addition of the words u executors, administrators or assigns, excludes the presumption that it was a mere personal benefit that was intended for the survivor. For, though there should be no such failure of issue, as would enable-him personally.to,take; yet his representative would be entitled to claim in' his right, whensoever the failure of issue should happen.” It is therefore not a personal, but transmissible interest, and consequently the ground fails on which alone the words “ dying without issue” could have received a restricted interpretation.

This case sets forth, at once, the principle on which the cases referred to in Cordes vs. Adrian, were decided, and the exception to that principle upon which Guerry vs. Vernon, may be reconciled to them, even if it was a limitation to a survivor, (which it was not). It is not necessary that I should signify whether, in my humble judgment, the exception is founded on substantial reasons. The distinction was, in the person of Sir Wm. Grant, recognized by the very highest order of judicial talent, and should not be lightly questioned.

On this distinction Guerry vs. Vernon, may have turned. The clause of the will was this: “I give to my daughter Florida, two negro girls, (Subel and Hannah;) but in case my daughter Florida should die without heirs of her body, then the said negro girls to return to my son Isaac, and if my son Isaac should die without issue, then the said negroes to return to my son James’ children.”

Florida died, leaving a husband, but no issue. The suit was by Isaac against the husband; and the question was whether the limitation to Isaac was void for remoteness.

Justice Cheves, who delivered the opinion of the Court, commenting on the will, observes: "It is said the word return" is calculated to show that the testator contemplated the actual persondlenjoyment of the property by plaintiff and therefore did not intend an indefinite failure of issue. Standing alone, at best, this is a very slight circumstance. But it is evidently used, without adverting to its correct meaning, as a synonyms for "go, pass," &c. If any other meaning were to be put upon it, it would seem it ought to be that on a general and indefinite failure of succession to the testatrix in the issue of Florida, it should return to that succession in the person of Isaac and his issue: for in the ulterior limitations ~hg contemplates the transmission of the property to his i~s~ne; an4 4v~n over, still in the line of her own blood." ,~ :~i ~`

Here is a recognition of th~ ~Jd~ti~iction j~ a limitation vested for actual enjoyment~(ah~ oi~e v~1~['for ~ausmission also. -. 1

I do not uphold the implieâti~ifi of a~if~ ~o/the ~s.sue of Isaac, where there is no expres~ gift td~t~tem ;~b'iit it is evident that the learned judge assum~dthat,~iu~4er ~omé possible construction of the words, a benefit~d1~hem might be intended; and inferred that, in that case, the presumption of a personal benefit to Isaac to be actually enjoyed by him, did not arise.

The words of the judge are susceptible of a construction thatif abenefit tobepersonally enjoyedbylsaao wasintended, that was but a slight circumstance. I rather think, however, he intended to apply the remark to the word "return," and meant that that word was but a slight indication that Isaac was intended to have an actual enjoyment of the property. But if his meaning was that the personal enjoyment of Isaac was a slight circumstance, the cases show that, however s~ight it is decisive, if standing alone, and unless a transmissible interest was intended; and it is rather to be inferred from the whole of the judge's language that he was influenced by the nature of the legacy intended for Isaac, which he thought might be considered transmissible, than that he intended to violate the well-established rule that a limitation to a survivor only, infers an intent to confer a personal benefit, and ties up the generalty of the phrase "die without issue."

But whether I have or have not succeeded in reconciling the case of Guerry vs. Vernon, (considered as the case of a survivor, which I repeat it is not,) with the more recent decisions mentioned in Cordes vs. Adrian, it certainly cannot be, taken as authority against them on that point.

I come now to the second question, which is, whether interests amounting to executory devises, in personalty, can be directly conveyed by deed, without the intervention of a trustee.

It appears that notwithstanding the cases of Powell vs. Brown, 1 Bail. R. 100, and Barber vs. Brummet, 2 Hill, this is still thought to be a debateable question. But it does appear to me that whatever be the law elsewhere, it is with us as laid down in these decisions: that whatever it may have been supposed to be in this State before these were made, there ought to be no doubt since; and that even if such a deed could not be supported at law, it should be executed according to its true intent in this Court.

The case of Cooper vs. Cooper, mentioned by my brother Johnson, in Powell vs. Brown, appears never to have received the approbation or confidence of the profession. It attracted so little attention that in Tucker vs. Stevens, 4 Des. R. 532, which was tried but a few years after it was decided, the question as to- the validity of such deeds, if indeed it was a question in equity, was regarded as so desperate, that although it might have been made in the case, the counsel preferred attacking a limitation very clearly valid.

Then followed immediately the case of Milledge vs. Lamar 4 Eq. R. 617 where there is enough to satisfy the profession that the Court differed in no respect from the bar, in their estimate of the doctrines said to have been held in Cooper vs. Cooper.

As early as Dott vs. Cunningham, the same sentiment appears to have prevailed. It appears by the authorities cited by them,, that the counsel on one side did venture to raise the question. The strength of the argument, however, on both sides, was addressed to another point, which seems to have been seriously contested. As to this it was not regarded as requiring an answer; or was so satisfactorily answered, that the Court did not even notice it in its decision.

There has been, I understand, a constant expectation, of long standing, by the profession, that whenever the point should be made, as a dry question of law, such deed would be supported. This confidence was not shaken by Cooper vs. Cooper.

It drew forth the deliberate opinion of the Court of Law, in Powell vs. Brown. The bar and the community having long looked for such an opinion, cheerfully acquiesced in it.

Then came Barber vs. Brummet. I have heard of no discontent with that opinion.

I admit that in Powell vs. Brown, this was not a necessary point. But the' opinion was expressed deliberately, and I acknowledge that in Barber vs. Brummet, the instrument was a trust paper. But the Court treated it as a legal instrument.

It would seem, that if, after all this, any doubt still lingers, it should be dispelled.

' The law courts, after the solemn pledge they have given, cannot dissent from the doctrine they have laid clown, without incalculable injury to the community. Contracts have been made and deeds executed on the faith of it. And that doctrine should not now be abandoned, unless it is grossly unjust in its effects, or has produced confusion by violating some fundamental and valuable principle of law. I am persuaded it is not only just in itself, and better calculated to effectuate the intentions of parties than the narrow technical common law rule, which it is supposed to have infringed, but that, in this Court at least, confusion can never ensue from it.

If the law courts had never given the opinions it has, and if “ in point of law as distinguished from equity,” the limitations contained in the deed under consideration were ineffectual, I should not hesitate to declare that this tribunal is bound by the ancient and well-known principles which characterize its jurisdiction, to execute the instrument according to its true intent.

While the law rule was yet so inflexibly barbarous, that title in personalty, but for a moment, was title absolutely and forever, equity looking to what conscience and common honesty demanded, applied herself to the enforcement of the real intention of the parties; and for this purpose declared trusts to support the successive interests held in personalty.

This is the great principle of the forum, without which it does not deserve its name.

Slowly, and at long intervals, the law courts followed ; and recognized and supported successive interests in chattels as titles. They have at last decreed that deeds, such as are questioned here, are valid. And shall this Court choose such a moment to abandon its own principles.

It is said those principles have never yet been applied to the case of a direct deed: But if the principles exist and are applicable, and justice demands it, why not apply them? Principles exist only for the purpose of being applied.

There is, there can be, no difference, in any sound judgment, between compelling a life tenant to do justice to a remainder man, and enforcing the instrument before us. The case is, to all intents and purposes, that of an absolute title, devested upon a contingency, and cut down to a title for life, with remainder over. It can be effected as much by a trust, as if it were a case of title for life with remainder.

It is said that it is an executory devise; and that it may be difficult to enforce it. If it were a will, and the executor had assented to the first legacy, would we feel the difficulty? We felt none in Heyward vs. Glover, 2 Hill Ch. R. nor in Gregg vs. Harllee, just decided. Yet the difficulty in cases of wills, with assent to the first taker, in which the title has passed, is the same as in the case of a deed containing the same provisions.

The supposed defect here is the want of a trustee. Equity will never let the intention fail for want of one. She will never let a man defeat the ulterior provisions of the very instrument under which he holds.

■ The supposed inaccuracy, in the circuit decree, in classing the contingency upon which the limitations are to take effect as a condition, is not perceived. When a title is defeasible upon condition, the condition must be performed before this Court will interpose. When it is defeasible upon contingency, equity will surely enforce the limitation when the contingency has happened. A limitation to a survivor, as survivor, is really a limitation upon condition that the person to take shall survive; if he does, he has performed the condition, and thereby becomes entitled.

It is ordered that the motion be dismissed.