Case Name: Pelletreau against Rathbone and others, terre-tenants of Medcef Eden; Griffin against Shonnard and others, terre-tenants of Eden
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1821-01
Citations: 18 Johns. 428
Docket Number: 
Parties: Pelletreau against Rathbone and others, terre-tenants of Medcef Eden. Griffin against Shonnard and others, terre-tenants of Eden.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 18
Pages: 428–430

Head Matter:
Pelletreau against Rathbone and others, terre-tenants of Medcef Eden. Griffin against Shonnard and others, terre-tenants of Eden.
Hoactionat legacy^ f°r a an annuity for life is expressly charged on the real and personal estate of the testator, to cannot be gtoBtamedtbé tenants! terre"
The proper remedy for a legacy is in the Court of Chancery.
THESE were actions of debt for legacies, brought in October, 1816, to recover legacies charged on land, by the w'^ Medcef Eden, deceased, against the terre-tenants of the land, of which the testator died seised; and tried at the . , 7 ; Mew-York Sittings, in October, 1819, before Mr. Justice WoodwortlU
All the defendants (twenty-four in number) were relurn-ed, summoned, and declared against jointly. Most of them did not plead, and the plaintiff, in each of the causes, en tered a nolle prosequi, or retraxit, against those who neglected to plead.
As soon as the plaintiff’s cause was opened, the counsel for the defendants objected,
1. That no action at law could be maintained against a terre-tenant for a legacy; at least, not without an express promise to pay by him, which was not pretended; and,
2. Because, it appeared, on the record, that a nolle pro-sequi had been entered against several of the defendants ; and this being a joint action, a nolle prosequi as to some of the defendants was, in effect, a discontinuance, or retraxit, as to all. On these grounds, the defendants’ counsel moved for a nonsuit. But the judge refused the motion, reserving the questions for the consideration of the Court.
The plaintiff then introduced the will of Medcef Eden, dated the 28th of August, 1798, by which, after devising the bulk of his estate to his two sons, Joseph and Medcef, he bequeathed as follows : “ I will and direct, that my executors hereinafter named, shall pay into the proper hands of my loving wife, Martha, five hundred dollars, during her life, &c., in four equal payments, &c. to be paid to my said wife’s own hands, for her separate use, and not into the hands of an assignee, or any other person, &c. ; my intention being, that the said sum of 500 dollars shall be for her personal, and separate benefit, and for her certain maintenance, at all events, and not in her power to sell, assign, or in any way dispose of, or incumber the same; and I. charge all and singular, my real and personal estate, with the payment thereof. And I do hereby expressly declare, that the same is given in lieu, satisfaction, and bar of any dower that my said wife may, by law, be entitled to, on all and singular, my estate, or any part thereof.” “ Item, I give to John Pelletreau, (plaintiff,) of the city of N ew-Yorlc, merchant,.Susannah Pelletreau of the same place, Jane Gal-lilee, wife of Matthew Gallilee, 125 dollars each, during their several lives, to be paid in the same manner as the annuity herein given to my wife. I also charge, all and singular, my real and personal estate, with the payment thereof.” “ It is my will, and I do hereby manumit, and set free, my negro slave, Hannah Palmer, (now Griffin, plain tiff,) and direct my executors, &c. to pay her 100 dollars a year’ during her life.” The testator died in August, 1798, and his two sons qualified as executors, in December, 1798, ar)d both have since died.
The plaintiff again moved for a nonsuit in the second cause, for the causes above mentioned, and because the legacy to Hannah Griffin was not charged on the land of the testator; and, also, on account of the lapse of time, from the death of the testator to the bringing of the action. The Judge directed a verdict to be taken for the plaintiff, in each cause, subject to the opinion of the Court on a case, as above stated, with liberty to either party to turn the same into a special verdict, on a bill of exceptions.
Burr, for the plaintiffs.
Griffin and Talcot, for the defendants.
Decided in October term, 1820.

Opinion:
The counsel for the plaintiff having stated the case, and the points, The Court said, that they did not wish to hear any arguments. That the question was clearly settled, that, no action could be maintained at law for a legacy, and that the defendants were entitled to judgment.
Judgment for the defendants.
The following authorities were noted by the counsel: For the defendants: Dicks v. Strutt, 5 Term Rep. 690. Beecher v. Beecher, 7 Johns Rep. 99. Livingston v Executors of Livingston, 3 Johns. Rep 189. Van Orden v. Van Orden, 10 Johns. Rep. 30. 2 Woodeson, 478. Hobart, 265. Webb v. Jiggs, 4 Maule & Selwyn's Rep. 113. 2 Salk. 215. note by Evans, as to the dictum of Lord Holt, in 6 Mod. 26. 1 Tidd's Pr. 632. 1 Wils. 89. 1 Chitty Pl. 32, 33. 3 Esp. N. P. Rep. 76.
For the plaintiffs : 6 Mod. 26. Anon. per Holt, Ch. J. 4 Burr. 2381. 3 Com. Dig. Debt, (A.) Cowp 291. 2 Johns. Rep, 243. 3 Johns. Rep. 189.