Case Name: Wheeler and Wife against Walker
Court: Connecticut Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1817-06
Citations: 2 Conn. 196
Docket Number: 
Parties: Wheeler and Wife against Walker.
Judges: The- other Judges were of the same opinion.
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 196–202

Head Matter:
Wheeler and Wife against Walker.
THIS was an action of ejectment, for one undivided fourth pai'-f of a piece of land in Trumbull, containing about fifty-two acres,
Where»tes-tatordevi-to his sons, jointly and severally paying to each of his two daughters a certain sum, within one year his decease ; it was held, that this was a conditional devise to the sons, and to entitle themselves to the estate, they were bound to perform the condition strictly, by paying the mon - ey within the time prescribed.
New-Haven,
June, 1817.
The case was as follows. Eliakim Walker, being seised of the demanded premises, made his will, on the 29th of .Time 1812, and died in the month of December following. One clause of the will was in these words: « As to the rest and residue of my estate, both real and personal, together with my wearing apparel, I give, and bequeath the same to my two sons, David and Nathan Nichols, to be equally divided between them, in quantity and quality, they jointly and severally [laying (o my two daughters, Patience Wheeler and Jinn Wheeler, the sum of three hundred dollars each, within one year after my decease.” Immediately after the distribution of the estate of the deceased, David Walker, the defendant, entered on the demanded premises, parcel of the lands devised by the clause above recited, claiming title under the will, and has ever since remained in possession. The testator, at his death, left four children only, w«. David, the defendant$ Nathan Nichols, who survived the testator but three months; Jinn Wheeler, one of the plaintiffs; and Patience Wheeler, the wife of David Wheeler, a person non compos mentis. Neither of the devisees, nor any person in their behalf, paid, or offered to pay to the plaintiffs, or either of them, the sum of three hundred dollars, mentioned in the will, until six weeks after the expiration of one year from the testator’s death, when the defendant tendered that sum, with the interest due thereon, to the plaintiff; but he refused to receive it. On the same day, the defendant paid the sum of three hundred dollars to Patience Wheeler, as the money due her under the will, which she accepted. She had been accustomed, on account of the mental derangement of her husband, to re ceive and pay money, and transact his concerns generally. On the 22d of December 1815, the plaintiff, in behalf of himself and wife, entered on the demanded premises, alleging that the condition on which the devise was made, was broken, and claiming one fourth part, in right of his wife, as heir at law. The plaintiffs were soon afterwards disseised by the, defendant, and have been, ever since, held out by him.
This case was reserved, by consent of parties, for the consideration and advice of the nine Judges.
■ Sherman and Staples, for the plaintiffs,
contended, lhaf the devise to the sons w as dependent on the condition of their paying to each of the daughters, the sum of three hundred dollars, within a year from the testator’s death : and that time having elapsed, w ithout performance oí" the condition, the heirs at law had good riglit to enter, as they had done, and avoid a ° the estate of the devisees. Wellock v. Hammond, Cro. Eliz. 204. Crickmere v. Paterson, Cro. Eliz. 146. S. C. 1 Lean. 174. S. C. cited Co. Lilt. 236. ft. Fox v. Carlyne, Cro. Elix. 454. Boraston’s case, 3 Co. 21. a. In a will, the same words may make either a condition, or a limitation; and they will be held to make one or the other, according as the intent of the testator appears to be, that the estate, in the event specified, shall go to the heir, or go over to a stranger. 10 Co. 41. a. Pow. Dev. 262, 3, 4. Fearne’s Coni. Rem. 272. 6th edit. 5 Bac. Mr. 803. Wils. edit. 1 Ves. 422. Cowp. 841. Grim-, slon v. Bruce <$* ux. 2 Vern. 594. Lyon v. Bennett, Superior Court, Fairfield county, 1803. The intent of the testator, in this case, to subject the devise to the sons, to the condition of their pacing the money to the daughters, within the time prescribed, is apparent, not only from the words of the devise, but also, from the consideration, that otherwise, the daughters would be left without provision.
Daggelt and JV’. Smith, for the defendant,
insisted, 1. That the will in question created neither a condition nor a limitation; but it was a devise of an estate to the sons in trust to pay a certain sum to the widow yearly, and a certain other sum to each of the daughters, within a specified time ; this being the manifest intent of the testator, and according to the rules of law. The testator did not intend to die intestate as to any part of his estate. He meant that his lands should, at all events, go to hte sons-; and that they should pay his widow her annuity, and the daughters their legacies. And it is an established rule, that where an estate is devised to tííc heir, and not to a stranger, with a direction to the devisee to pay a certain sum, this creates a trust, and is a charge upon the estate. 8 Vin. Mr. 336. pi. 4. cites Anon. -I Freem. 278. Sadd v. Carter, Free. Chan. 28. Alcock v. Sparhawk, 2 Vern. 228. Miles v. Leigh, 8 Vin. Ahr. 347. in marg. Com. Dig. tit. Chancery. Breach of condition. Q. 2.
2. That admitting a condition, yet as there was no demand of payment, there was no breach. Robinson v. Holmes, cited in Joliff v. Crew, Free. Chan. 161.
The whole will was as follows. “ In the name of God, Amen. I, Etia-kirn Walker, of Trumbull, in the county of Fairfield, and state of Connecticut, being' in perfect health of body, and of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God therefore! and knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die; do make, and ordain, this my last will and testament; that ⅛ to say, first of all, I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my body recommend to the earth, to be buried in a decent manner, at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting, but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same, by the mighty power of God. And as touching my worldly estate, I give and dispose of it in the following manner. *
First, after my just debts are settled and paid, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Abigail, all my household furniture, and the stores that shall be in the house at my decease, also my horse and carriage, as her own proper es-f ate ; also the use and improvement of the house where I now live, to occupy herself, together with the improvement of the garden, door-yard and well, so long as she shall continue my widow. Also, it is my will and pleasure, that my two sons, David and Nathan Nichols, pay to my wife annually, eighty dollars, during her natural life; which sum is to be paid equally, by my two sons, their heirs and assigns. Also, it is my will and pleasure, that my two sons furnish my widow a reasonable supply of fire-wood for her own use, so long as she shall continue my widow, and live in the house.
“ Secondly, I give and bequeath unto my son, David Walker, a certain piece of land, containing about three acres and an half, lying south of the homestead where he now lives, bounded west on Stephen Middlebrooks, south on my own land, east on highway, and north on David Walker’s land.
“ Thirdly, I give and bequeath unto my son, Nathan Nichols Walker, the house where I now live, when it shall cease to be occupied by my wife, agreeably to the tenor of this will; also a certain piece of land containing about three acres and an half, bounded north on my own land, which I have willed to my son David as above, east on Stephen Middlebrooks, south on said Nathan Nichols’ land, and east on highway.
“ Fourthly, as to the rest and residue of my estate, both real and personal, together with my wearing apparel, I give and bequeath to my two sons, David and Nathan Nichols, to be equally divided between them, in quantity and quality, they jointly and severally paying' to my two daughters, Patience Wheeler and Ann Wheeler, the sum of three hundred dollars each, within one year after my decease.
“ And I do constitute and appoint my two sons, David and Nathan Nichols of Trumbull, executors of my last will and testament; and I do utterly revoke and dis-annul every will, testament, legacy and executor, by me, in any way before named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming thiaj and no other, to be my last will and testament.”

Opinion:
Swift, Ch. J.
The question is, whether this is an absolute devise of the lands to the sons, and a legacy to each of the daughters ; or whether it is a devise on condition that the sons pay to each of the daughters three hundred dollars. The word " paying," according to all the authorities, clcarh Imports a condition. There is no ^ift or legacy to the daughters. No right is created in their favour, by the will; nor are any words used, which can be construed to imply such intent. It is, then, a conditional devise. The devisor has given the land to his sons, on condition that they pay three hundred dollars to each of his daughters within one year after his decease. To entitle them to the land, they are bound literally to perform the condition on which it was given, and pay the money by the time prescribed. Having failed to do this, they have no right to the land under the devise. It reverts to the heirs of the devisor. The plaintiffs had right to enter, and are entitled to recover.
There is no ambiguity in the language of the will; and whaler er we may conjecture respecting the intent of the testator. we are not at liberty to presume one contrary to the legal effect of the words he has used.
Hosmek, J.
It is difficult to conceive a case more free from controversy than this, whether we regard flic manifest intention of the testator, or the uniformity of precedent.
The devisor, after having made certain devises, gives to his sons David and Nathan, " all the rest and residue of his eslate, real and personal, they paying to his two daughters, Tat unce. Wheeler and Ann Wheeler, each 300 dollars, within one year after his decease." The money was not paid. The plaintiffs enter for non-payment; and bring ejectment to recover the possession.
It was argued for the defendant, that the sum bequeathed was a mere legacy, or trust, to be enforced in chancery only. To this the reply made is conclusive, that it is more than a legac y or trust; it is a devise on condition, by the non-performance of which, the plaintiff Ann, one of the heirs of the devisor, lias right of entry on the land devised.
An estate on condition expressed in the grant or devise itself, is, where the estate granted has a qualification annexed, whereby (he estate shall commence, be enlarged, or defeated, upon performance or breach of such qualification or condition. 2 Black. Comm. 154. Co. Lilt, 201. Estates on condition subsequent are defeasible, if the condition he not strictly performed. 2 Black. Comm. 154.
The words, which constitute a condition, may be various. " In particular words there is no magic f their operation dr pc nds on the fíense which they carry. 1 Ves.147. What, in fiiis casr, was the intention of the devisor, is the decisive question. Was it Ids purpose, to invest his sons Mill) an estalc defeasible on a condition, which would eíícetuuily coerce the payment off lie money bequeathed to his daegls-ters ; or did he intend to leave them destitute of legal remedy to vindicate their undoubted rights ? A construction of the devise, according to the usual signification of language, and duiv regarding the subject matter, and the consequences, will leave no doubt on the mind.
Land granted to a person on condition, or provided always, or if it shall so happen, or so that he pay to another a specific sum, within a specified time, vests in 1dm a conditional e-date ; and if he does not punctually make payment of the money, his estate Iras become voidable by entry. Co. Lift. 203. a. From the case of Crickmere v. Paterson, adjudged in the 30th of Elizabeth, Co. Litt. 236. b. Cro. Eliz. 146. it appears, that the words to pay, in a will, have been considered as constituting a condition. That case was this. A man seised of certain lands, holden in socage, had issue two daughters A. and B., and devised all his lands to A, and her heirs, to pay unto B. a certain sum of money, at a certain day and place. The money was not paid.; and it was adjudged, that these words " to pay," &c. did amount in a will to a condition j and the reason was, for that the land was devised to for that purpose : otherwise B., to whom the money was appointed to be paid, -would be remediless; and the lessee of B., upon an actual ejectment, recovered the moiety of the land against A. The words, to pay, in the preceding case, are precisely equivalent to the word paying, in the one before !.⅛ Court. In Boraston's case, 3 Co. 21. Mary Partington's case, 10 Co. 41, Wellock v. Hammond, Cro. Eliz. 204. and Fox v. Carlyne, Cro. Eliz. 454. the word paying, in a will, was considered as creating a condition, or limitation, as should best effectuate the intent of the testator. In the case of Crickmere v. Paterson, the words " to pay," &c. were decided to import a condition, and this construction gave a sufficient remedy. But, in Welloek v. Hammond, the expression, " paying forty shillings to each of his brothers and sisters," was adjudged a limitation ; for if it were considered a condition, there was, in that case, no remedy for the money. And in Mary Por!ingiori*s case, it is said,i: this word paying, shall amount to a limitation in a will by construction, because in law it is not any word, either of condition, or limitation ; arid therefore, in a will, it shall serve, us well for the one, as for the other, to supply the intent of the devisor."
The meaning of the expression, in Crickmere's case,ss otherwise fi., to whom the money was appointed to be paid, would he remediless," has been quite misconceived. The idea communicated, undoubtedly, is this, that under Ike devise, there was no other legal remedy. It is of no avail in. this construction of the devise, that chancery may give redress, or that the devisee has engaged to make payment. The court neither refer to the remedy, which a court of equity may impart, nor to any future possibilities: for the exposition given, it is a sufficient reason, that the law gave no other redress hv virtue of the devise, for the coercion of payment, than by construing the words to import a condition. This effectuated the intent of the testator. The same observations arc equally applicable to the case before the Court. To expound the devise, as bequeathing a legacy, or subjecting the devisees to a trust, deprives the daughters of all redress at law : and this is a decisive reason for considering the words as importing a condition.
To enter at greater length into a consideration of the question, whether the devise creates a condition or limitation, can be of no importance. On either exposition, the remedy of 1 lie plaintiffs is the same. It is, however, very apparent, 1 Suit to consider the words as importing a condition, is all that, is requisite, to secure the rights of the plaintiffs, under the devise : and this, decisively, settles the < onstruction.
The- other Judges were of the same opinion.
Judgment to he given for the plaintiffs.