Case Name: Matthew Barber and Ruth Barber, his Wife, Administrators, versus David Bush
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1811-09
Citations: 6 Tyng 510
Docket Number: 
Parties: Matthew Barber and Ruth Barber, his Wife, Administrators, versus David Bush.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 7
Pages: 427–428

Head Matter:
Matthew Barber and Ruth Barber, his Wife, Administrators, versus David Bush.
Where a feme sole is sole executrix or administratrix, and marries, the husbano becomes joint executor or administrator with her.
Case upon a promissory note made by the defendant to Eli Bush, upon whose estate the said Ruth, when sole, was appointed sole administratrix. The said Matthew having since intermarried with her, the action was brought in their joint names, as administrator and administratrix.
The defendant prays oyer of the letter of administration, and pleads in abatement to the writ, that the said Matthew is not, nor ever was, administrator, &c., but that the said Ruth is sole administratrix, &c.
The plaintiffs reply their intermarriage, by virtue whereof the said Matthew became administrator in the right of his wife, traverse that the said Ruth is sole administratrix, and tender an issue to the country.
The defendant demurs, and the plaintiffs join in demurrer,
Gold for the plaintiffs.
Hayden for the defendant.

Opinion:
* By the Court.
The sole question is upon the writ. Where a feme sole executrix or administratrix, jointly with one or more persons, and afterwards intermarries, her power and authority is, by the statute of 1783, c. 24, § 19, extinguished and determined. But here the wife was sole administratrix ; and hv the marriage the husband became joint administrator with her.
Respondeos ouster awarded.