Case Name: Watson v. Eliza Dunlap, a Widow
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1810-11
Citations: 2 Cranch 14
Docket Number: 
Parties: Watson v. Eliza Dunlap, a Widow.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 14–14

Head Matter:
Watson v. Eliza Dunlap, a Widow.
The promise of a feme covert is void, and her subsequent promise -when sole, without a new consideration, is also void.
A promise in writing without consideration is void; hut the burden of want of consideration is on the defendant.
The plaintiff cannot give evidence of a consideration different from that alleged in the declaration.
Assumpsit, to pay for money advanced by the plaintiff to the defendant’s son by her first husband.
Mr. J. D. Simms, for the defendant
prayed the court to instruct the jury that the first assumpsit being made while under covert-ure was void, (1 Strange, 94,) and that the subsequent assumpsit while sole, was void for want of consideration.
Mr. Youngs, for the plaintiff,
contended that the promise being in writing, it was not necessary that there should be a consideration. 3 Call, 114.

Opinion:
The Court
cannot alter the words of a statute, if they are positive ; if not ambiguous, there is no room for construction. The statute of frauds only requires the promise to be in writing, not the whole agreement. Violett v. Patton, 5 Cranch, 142.
The Court was of opinion, 1st, that there must be a consideration, although the promise be in writing. Rann v. Hughes, 7 T. R. 350 ; Wain v. Warlters, 5 East, 11. But the burden of proof is on the defendant to show the nature of the consideration, or that there was none. 2d, That the advance of money to her son while she was covert, did not create such a moral obligation upon the defendant as is a sufficient consideration to support her actual assumpsit in writing.
The Court also refused to permit evidence of a consideration different from that assigned in the declaration. Non pros.