Case Name: CHARLES R. KINNEY, ADM'R. OF GEORGE FEREBEE vs. WILLIAM ETHERIDGE, ADM'R. OF EDWARD SANDERS AND OTHERS
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1843-06
Citations: 3 Ired. 360
Docket Number: 
Parties: CHARLES R. KINNEY, ADM’R. OF GEORGE FEREBEE vs. WILLIAM ETHERIDGE, ADM’R. OF EDWARD SANDERS AND OTHERS.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 25
Pages: 360–361

Head Matter:
CHARLES R. KINNEY, ADM’R. OF GEORGE FEREBEE vs. WILLIAM ETHERIDGE, ADM’R. OF EDWARD SANDERS AND OTHERS.
June 1843
A bond, taken by a Clerk and Master of a Court of Equity in pursuanae of an order of the Court, and made payable to him and his successors in office, must, on his death, be sued upon in the name of his personal representative, there being no act of the Legislature requiring bonds to be made payable to him and his successors in office.
Appeal from the Superior Court of Law of Camden County, at Spring Term, 1843, his Honor Judge Pearson presiding.
This was an action of debt upon two notes under seal for two hundred and fifty dollars each, payable to George Fere-bee, Clerk and Master in Equity for the County of Camden, and his successors in office. The execution of the notes was not denied. The defendant’s counsel contended, 1st. That the suit should have been brought in the name of the present Clerk and Master, and could not be sustained in the name of the administrator of Ferebee ; Sdly, That the notes had been paid off and satisfied. The first question was reserved. It is unnecessary to state the facts relied upon in support of the plea of payment, as the Supreme Court gave no opinion on the judge’s instructions upon that point. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, subject to the question reserved. Upon that question, the Court was of opinion that the notes being taken by Ferebee as Clerk and Master, under the order of the Court, the legal title did not vest in Fer-ebee as an individual, but vested in him as Clerk and Master, and that, upon the death of Ferebee, these notes should have remained in the office and passed to his successor, and Shat they did not pass to his administrator, so as to enable him to bring-this suit. The judge therefore set aside verdict and directed a nonsuit to be entered, and the plaintiff appealed.
Kinney for the plaintiff.
No counsel for the defendant.

Opinion:
Daniel, J.
The bond's were executed, payable íó Fere-bee as Clerk and Master in Equity for the County of Camden, and his successors in office. On the' death of an obli-gee, his interest vests in his personal representatives, though not included in the terms of it. A bond given to a man and his successors, on his death belongs to and is to be sued on by his executor or administrator, unless the obligee is a corporation sale, in England, corporations are erected either by the charter of the King or by act of parliament, or they exist by prescription. In this State they are created only by the Legislature; The Legislature has heretofore passed acts, directing bonds in certain cases to'' be made payable to persons holding' certain offices and to their successors in office, as to the Governor and his successors, the Chairman of the County Court and his successors. These individuals then became sole corporations, by force of the acts of the Legislature, tor the particular object contemplated, and a-bond, taken in pursuance of those laws, would go to the successor, and not to the executor, of the obligee. But there-is no- act of the Legislature, which directs bonds of the description of those mentioned in this case, to be made payable'to the Clerk and- Master in Equity, and his successors. — * The bonds in this case were executed to- the Clerk and Master by an order of the Court of Equity, but that order could not vest in the successor to the office the legal right to sue-on the bonds. We are of opinion that the administrator only had the legal right to sue on the bonds. Therefore,- the nonsuit must be set aside, and a new trial granted.
Per Curiam. Nonsuit set aside,, and a new trial awarded,