Case ID: misc_49/html/0044-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Lester, S.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Matter of the Final Judicial Settlement of the Account of George H. Cunning as Executor and Trustee Under the Last Will and Testament of Persis Dunning, Deceased.
    (Surrogate’s Court, Saratoga County,
    December, 1905.)
    Wills — Interpretation — Description of persons — Particular terms of doubtful meaning — “ Above said nieces.”
    Where a testatrix directed that, upon the death of one to whom she gave the residue of her money for life, it should be divided between “ the above said nieces that has received no money,” held, that the testatrix intended such division to be made between all her nieces whom she had mentioned as a class, and not between those only whom she had mentioned by name.
    Proceeding for the judicial settlement of the accounts of an executor and trustee.
    James L. Scott, for accountant.
   Lester, S.

The will of Persis Dunning contains the following provision:

"Tenth. I hereby authorize my executor to execute the above bequests as soon as proper after my decease and my niece Melissa Van Vranken is to have the house and lot as stated above also the use of the residue of money if there be any left over and above my expenses during her natural life then it must be divided between the above said nieces that has received no money and if any of the above said nieces should not survive me to receive their share of the estate it must be divided share and share alike between the surviving ones.”

The testatrix had, in previous clauses of her will, made bequests to her nieces Jane L. Brown, Persis Carroll, Persis Wager, Melissa Van Vranken and Mary Anri Cummings and to one of these nieces she had given a sum of money; and she had provided in the sixth clause of her will as follows:

" Sixth. I give, devise and bequeath to my niece Melissa VanVranken of Burnt Hills, Saratoga County, H. Y., my house and lot situate at the village of Burnt Hills in the town of Burnt Hills, U.. Y., where I now reside to her and her heirs forever. Also all of my household effects of every name, kind and description whatever for her use during her natural life providing she stays with me and takes care of me until my decease, but if she fails to stay she must bo amply paid for all the services she has rendered me while she has been with me except the above named articles which I request shall be given as soon as convenient after my decease.”

Her niece, Melissa Van Vranken, stayed with the testatrix and took care of her until the latter’s decease and has, herself, since died.

The question now arises as to the persons entitled to share in the residue of the money of the .estate under the tenth clause of the will, above quoted, which provides that “ it must be divided between the above said nieces that has received no money.”

It is conceded that Persis Wager, to whom a sum of money was bequeathed, is not included among those to whom the residue of the money is given; and the question is, whether the testatrix intended, by the words, the above said nieces that has received no money,” only the nieces she had previously mentioned by name, or whether she intended to include all her nieces; she having, in the eighth clause of her will, given her wearing apparel to my nieces, my brothers and sisters daughters that survives me,” several of whom she did not mention by name.

It is to be noted that, in the twelfth clause of her will, she gives to Persis Carroll some silver spoons, upon the death of Melissa Van Yranken, such bequest having been, she states, “forgotten above;” and she then goes on to provide further for the disposition of personal property she had previously given to Melissa Yan Yranken for life, as follows: Or if she (Melissa Yan Yranken) should dispose of this place (the house and lot of the testatrix) in her lifetime the personal property must be divided' between my brothers and sisters daughters that has received no money. It is my wish that my effects will be divided between my nieces when Melissa does not wish to stay here longer.”

The testatrix seems to have contemplated the division of her personal estate (leaving out of account certain articles which she specifically bequeathed) into 1. “ Wearing apparel.” 2. “ Household effects,” and 3. “ Residue of money left over and above my expenses.”

The first, she plainly gives to “ my nieces, my brothers and sisters daughters that survive me.” This description included the entire class, whether named in her will or not. The second, she also directs in equally plain language, to be divided “ between my brothers and sisters daughters that has received no money;” and I am of the opinion that the testatrix, when she provided for the distribution of the third, “ between the above said nieces that has received no money,” intended that it should be divided among the same persons among whom she wished her household effects to be divided at Melissa Yan Yranken’s death; that is, among all her “ brothers and sisters daughters that has received" no money.” I do not think by the words “ above said nieces ” she meant, only, above-named nieces, but that she meant above-mentioned nieces; and she had already mentioned “ my nieces, my brothers and sisters daughters.” She had already, by making certain specific bequests, preferred, to that extent, those nieces whom she had named; and, further than this, it is my opinion, she did not intend to go. The words, the above said nieces that has received no money,” and the words, my brothers and sisters daughters that has received no money,” are similar phrases and were employed, it seems to me, to denote the same persons. I think, if the testatrix had intended otherwise, she would have used language in the two cases that would have more plainly distinguished them from each other; and that, by language so similar, she would not have designated classes that were intended to be different.

My conclusion is that the residue of the money should be ■divided among all the surviving nieces, except Persia Wager, and not among those only whom the testatrix had called by name in the earlier part of her will.

Let a decree be entered accordingly.

Decreed accordingly.