Case Name: Swain vs. Bell and Bellune
Court: North Carolina Superior Court
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1802-05
Citations: 2 Hayw. 179
Docket Number: 
Parties: Swain vs. Bell and Bellune.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 179–179

Head Matter:
Wilmington,
May Term, 1802.
Swain vs. Bell and Bellune.

Opinion:
johmtem^ Judge.
The courses of the patent after arriving afe ILoekwood Folly are described thus: thence up a creek 'within the inlet and the weciwardly branch to the head; thence north-east to Elizabeth river. Where there is a natural boundary it must be followed j and if, as here, the next course will lead to a point whereby the land will not be included, but calls for a natural boundary, the course is to be disregarded, and the nearest course to the natural boundary must be taken. As to possession, if a smaller patent be laid on land included In a greater, and the pa-tentee of this smaller part take possession, and that be not interrupted, though possession be taken of other parts of the larger patent, and that uninterrupte d possession be continued under the smaller patent for seven yeais, it will give a title to the possessor.