Case Name: NOAH COOK, adm'r. vs. HENRY RICE
Court: New Hampshire Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
Decision Date: 1824-05
Citations: 3 N.H. 60
Docket Number: 
Parties: NOAH COOK, adm'r. vs. HENRY RICE.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Hampshire Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 60–61

Head Matter:
NOAH COOK, adm'r. vs. HENRY RICE.
When the statute of limitations is pleaded to an action of assumpsit, brought by ati executor, it will be sufficient.for him-.to-.-reply generally, that the testator had cause of action, at the time of his decease.
If, in such a replication, the particular time of the testator’s decease be not averred, it will be well enough on a general demurrer.
The time of the commencement of the action is part of the record, and need not be averred.
Assumpsit, upon a note ofliond, dated September 18, 1810. for $515, payable on demand, by the said II Rice, to the late Francis Dana, of whose estate the plaintiff is administrator.
The defendant pleaded in bar, that be never promised within six years next before the commencement of the action/
To lilis plea the plaintiff' replied, that the said Francis Dana had cause of action at the time of his decease ; that the plaintiff took upon himself the administration of the said estate, on the thirtieth day of July, 1822 ; and that this action was commenced within two years after that time, to wit, on 20th August. 1822.
To this replication there was a general demurrer.
Cook, pro se.
L. Chamberlain, for the defendant.

Opinion:
By the court.
The statute of December SO, 1799, sec. 2, (1 N. H. Laws 169,) enacts, iliat the statute of' limitations "shall not extend to bar any action hereafter brought upon " any contract therein mentioned, by any executor or admin"istrator, until the expiration of two years from the time of " pioving the will, or taking out letters of administration, c Provided, the testator or intestate had cause of action at "the time of his or her decease." Upon this clause in the statute, the replication in the present case is founded ; and it is objected, that it is not alleged in the replication, that the cause of action accrued to the testator at any time within six years next before his decease. But the replication alleges, that the testator had cause of action at the time of his decease, and this, being in Ihe words of Ihe statute, seems to us to be sufficient. It is c learly v\ ell upon a general demurrer.
It is also objected, that the time of the testator's decease is not averred. This objection, had it been particularly assigned as a cause of demurrer, would have deserved consid eration (Story's Pl. 79); but we are of opinion, that ii cannot prevail upon a general demurrer.
The time, when this action was commenced, is averred. This averment is altogether unnecessary ; the commencement of the action forms a part of the record, and need not be averred.
Judgment for the plaintiff.