Case Name: WILLIAM S. CHEEVES AND OTHERS, EXEC'RS against SARAH BELL AND OTHERS
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1854-06
Citations: 1 Jones Eq. 234
Docket Number: 
Parties: WILLIAM S. CHEEVES AND OTHERS, EXEC’RS against SARAH BELL AND OTHERS.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 54
Pages: 234–238

Head Matter:
WILLIAM S. CHEEVES AND OTHERS, EXEC’RS against SARAH BELL AND OTHERS.
A bequest to four grandchildren, the children of a deceased son, which is contained in a clause, giving off the whole personalty to the children and grandchildren of the testator, shall be construed to be per capita, and not per stirpes, there being nothing in the will to show that the testator meant differently.
Cause removed from tRe Court of Equity of Franklin County at the Spring Term, 1854.
The hill was filed by the Executors of Henry Williams, to obtain a construction of the will, and for instructions in the payment of legacies according to the provisions of the same. The following is the material portion of this will, viz:—
“ I bequeath that after my death, that my negroes, land, and every species of my property be sold, and after my honest debts have been paid, the balance be divided among my heirs as my will directs.
First, I give unto my daughter Sarah Bell, Haney High-tower and heirs, Simon Williams, four children, (Wilson, Anne, Craven and Mary,) Marmaduke Williams. I give unto my beloved grandson Henry Carter, his mother’s part of my estate. Margarett Cheeves. Rebecca Hopkins part I give unto her four children, and lastly, I give unto Obedience Dolvin one hundred dolLrs.”
The testator left surviving him the following children, Sarah Bell, Obedience Dolvin, wife of .James Dolvin, Haney Hightower, wife of William Hightower, Marmaduke Williams, Margaret Cheeves, wife of William S. Cheeves, and Rebecca Hopkins. A son, Simon Williams, had died in the lifetime of the testator, and left the following children him surviving, ■viz : "Wilson Williams, Craven Williams, Mary Fort, wife of William Fort, Anne Harris, wife of Richard Harris. Another daughter of the testator, Mary Carter, was also dead at the time of making this will, leaving her surviving one child, Henry Carter.
Rebecca Hopkins is still alive, and her children are Joseph H. Hopkins, Sarah Hopkins, Elizabeth Hopkins, Simon Hopkins and Obedience Dolvin, wife of James Dolvin.
The several questions arising in the construction of this will as presented by the answers of the parts are
First. Dolvin and his wife contend that the will, except as to the clauses giving him $100, and those providing for the sale of the property and the payment of the testator’s debts, is so vague and uncertain in its terms, that no sensible rule for distributing the property among the persons therein mentioned, can be derived from it, and they therefore insist that a distribution shall be made according to the statute upon the subject .of intestate’s estate.
2nd. The children of Simon Williams say that they are entitled, each to a share, with Sarah Bell, Nancy Hightower, Marmaduke Williams, Henry Carter, Margarett Cheeves, and the four children of Rebecca Hopkins, (the last taking as a class,) that is, they each claim one tenth of the fund, after deducting the debts, and one hundred dollars for Mrs Dolvin.
3rd. The defendants, Margaret Cheeves, Marmaduke Williams, Henry Carter, Nancy Hightower and the four children of Rebecca Hopkins, (excluding Mrs. Dolvin,) insist that the distribution ought to made between them as laid down in the second proposition, except that the children of Simon Williams, shall only have one share between them: that is, that each shall have a seventh part of the fund, except the Hopkins children, who claim a seventh among them, and Simon Williams’ children who are entitled to a seventh among them. The cause was set for hearing upon the bill, answers and exhibit and sent to this Coui-t by consent.
Moore, for plaintiff.
Lewis and Eaton for defendant.

Opinion:
Battle, J.
The bill was filed by the Executors of Henry Williams, against his legatees, stating that difficulties had been suggested in the construction of his will in certain particulars, calling upon the court for its advice and direction. In exam-amining the will with a view to its construction, it will be most convenient to consider the questions l'aisedinthe reverse order from that in which they are presented in pleadings. The coxxnselfor the defendants, Dolvin and wife, contends that the will is void for uncertainty, except so much thereof as relates to the legacy to the wife of $100, the sale of the testator's property, the payment of his debts, and the appointment of his executors. But if that be not so, he then insists that they are entitled to an equal share of the estate, in addition to the legacy of one hundred dollars. In Owen v. Owen Busb. Eq. Rep. 121, we said that " all admit that the fundamental rule in the construction of wills is to ascertain the intention of the maker ; and for that purpose, all the parts of the will are to be taken into view, and effect is to be given as far as possible to every clause. What is wanting or obscure in one section or paragraph, is to be supplied by what is cleai'ly expressed in another, so as to give to the whole instrument, a uniform, consistent interpretation throughout all its parts." Taking this rule for our guide, we have no hesitation in declaring the objection of uncertainty to be unfounded. The counsel says, that excepting the legacy to Mrs. Dolvin, nothing is given to any person whatever: that the testator merely names certain of his children and grandchildren, without giving them any thing. ' That might perhaps be so, were the clause referred to, taken by itself, but it is to be considered in reference to the other parts of the will; and talcing it in connection with the clause immediately preceding, it shows that the whole estate, when converted into money, is directed to he divided among his " heirs " in certain specified proportions which are subjoined. The claim for Mrs. Dolvin of a share of the estate, in addition to the legacy of $100, is clearly inadmissable. The sentence in which the legacy is given is complete. There is no apparent omission in it, as there is in the will of James Simms, which we were called upon to construe'in the case of Dew v. Babnes, decided at the present term, (ante 149.) ' We might as well supply any other words as those which the counsel insists, ought to be inserted.
' The main question in the case is whether the testator's four grandchildren, the children of his deceased son, Simon Williams, are to take par capita, with his children, or per stirpes as representing their deceased father. The rule is firmly settled that they are to take per capita unless there he something in the will to show that, upon a just construction of it, the testator's intention is apparent that they should take otherwise —Ward v. Stowe, 2 Dev. Eq. 509 — Martin v. Gould, Ibid. 305 — Spivey v. Spivey, 2 Ired. Eq. 100 — Harris v. Philpot, 6 Ired. Eq. 324 — Henderson v. Womack, 6 Ired. Eq. 437. The general rule was adhered to in Ward v. Stowe, and Harris v. Philpot; in the first of which the question was frequently argued by counsel and the whole subject fully considered in an elaborated opinion of the court in which all the English cases were reviewed. The other cases of Martin v. Gould, Spivey v. Spivey, and Henderson v. Womack, were held to be exceptions to the admitted general rule upon the special indications of intention apparent in the wills respectively, which, those cases brought before the Court. This narrows the question before us, to the inquiry, whether any expression is to be found in the present will to exclude the applic ition of the general rale. It must be admitted, that there is not, unless it be in the first clause of the will, which is as follows: " I request that after my death, my negroes, land, &c., be sold, and after my honest debts be paid, the balance be divided among my heirs, as my will directs." It is contended by those who are opposed to the application of the general rule, that the word "heirs," means children, and that by dividing his property among his children, the testator intended to assign to each living child an equal share except as otherwise directed, and then to give the shares of his deceased children to their children respectively. It may be that the testator by the term " heirs," meant " children," but it is more probable that he meant his issue, for whom he felt bound to provide, and therefore, included his grand-children, whose fathers and mothers were dead. Whether he meant the one or the other, we think the construction contended for, cannot be admitted. The testator shows that he knew how to give the share of a child to his or her children whether such child were living or dead. For instance, he gives to his grand-son, Henry Carter, the share of his mother who was dead, and to the four children of Rebecca Hopkins, the share of their mother, who was living. Why, if he intended to make a like gift to the children of his deceased son, Simon Williams, did he not express himself in similar terms % Why name Simon Williams's children seriatim at all, unless he intended them to takey><?r earpita with the other named legatees, who were to have a share ? We think the intent to be collected from the will itself, is rather for, than against, the admissibility of the general rule, and it must prevail. A decree may be drawn in ' accordance with this opinion.