Case Name: JOSEPH J. WILLIAMS AND WIFE vs. JOSHUA GRIFFIN et al.
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1856-12
Citations: 4 Jones 31
Docket Number: 
Parties: JOSEPH J. WILLIAMS AND WIFE vs. JOSHUA GRIFFIN et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 49
Pages: 31–32

Head Matter:
JOSEPH J. WILLIAMS AND WIFE vs. JOSHUA GRIFFIN et al.
The fact of the registration of a deed, without its having been proven, will not entitle it to be read in evidence.
AotioN of trespass q. c. f., tried before his Honor, Judge Manly, at the Fall Term, 1856, of Beaufort Superior Court.
On the trial, a deed to Thomas Collins and Christian Reed, from Samuel and Thomas Gardner, was offered in evidence in behalf of the plaintiffs. It did not 'appear that this deed had ever been proved; there was an endorsement upon it of registration, but no endorsement or other evidence of its hav ing ever been proved. It was objected to as evidence for tbe want of probate, and excluded by bis Honor. Eor wbicb tbe plaintiffs excepted.
Plaintiff took a nonsuit, and appealed.
No counsel appeared for tbe plaintiff in this Court.
JRoclmcm, for defendant.

Opinion:
Nash, C. J.
The question presented in this case is scarcely an open one. Tbe general provision made by tbe Act requiring deeds for lands to be registered, is that " no conveyance of land shall be valid unless it be acknowledged by tbe grantor, or proven upon oath before one of tbe Judges of tbe Supreme Court, or of tbe Superior Court, or in tbe County Court of tbe County where tbe land lieth, and registered by tbe public register of tbe County." Until a deed is proved, as by tbe Act directed, tbe public register has no authority to put it on bis book; the probate is bis warrant, and his only warrant for so doing. Burnett v. Thompson, 3 Jones' Rep. 113 ; Tooley v. Lucas, Ibid. 146 ; Lambert v. Lambert, 11 Ire. Rep. 162.
In this case tbe original deed was produced, upon wbicb is a certificate of registration. Tbe case states, however, that there was no evidence that it ever bad been proved. If, upon this certificate of tbe register, tbe deed is to be received in evidence, tbe Act requiring probate is a dead letter, and tbe unauthorised act of tbe register gives efficacy to tbe- deed as evidence. The case of Freeman v. Hatley, 8 Jones' Rep. 115, affirms this view of'tbe question. Tbe evidence there was admitted upon tbe peculiar circumstances of tbe case; tbe original deed was lost, and tbe records of the- County Court of Montgomery, tbe County in wbicb tbe land lay, were destroyed by fire. There is no error.'
Pee Oueiam. Judgment affirmed.