Case Name: James B. Pickett and John Peay vs. James Barber, Executor, et al.
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1838-05
Citations: 1 Dud. 238
Docket Number: 
Parties: James B. Pickett and John Peay vs. James Barber, Executor, et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 23
Pages: 238–241

Head Matter:
James B. Pickett and John Peay vs. James Barber, Executor, et al.
The marital rights of the husband were held not to have attached upon the wife’s interest in negroes, being a part of the undisposed residue of . an estate, of which the husband was in possession as executor, but who, at the time of his death, had not fully executed the trusts of the will by the payment of the debts and legacies.
BEFORE HIS HONOR CHANCELLOR HARPER, AT CHESTER, SEPTEMBER, 1837.
The principal question in this case arose from the following facts, as stated in the decree of the Chancellor:
Daniel Green, by his will, bequeathed to his wife, along with other property, one-half of his negroes, “which said negroes she is to take, at the valuation of legal appraisers, she having the choice of negroes as aforesaid.” The other half of his negroes, he gave to the six children,, by name, of his sister, Rebecca Barber. He appointed two 'executors, of whom John M. Barber proved the will, and qualified. The testator’s wife died before him, and the legacy to her became lapsed. To this, the said Rebecca Barber was entitled, as next of kin. John M. Barber was afterwards appointed guardian to his children, and the camplainants became the sureties to his guardianship bond. In 1829, the complainants becoming dissatisfied with John M. Barber’s management of the estate, filed their petition in this Court, to which he alone was made a party, praying that he might account for his guardianship and give other securities, a.nd that they might be discharged. On this there were' several orders; but finally, the said John M. Barber, not being able to give other security, his guardianship was revoked, and he was directed by the order of th.e Court to deliver the estate of his children into the hands of the Commissioner. In pursuance of this order, he caused the negroes to be appraised by three persons, and claiming the right of choice which the testator, by his will, had given to his wife, he took about one-half of them at the valuation. The other half he delivered to the commissioner, as the share of his children. The Commissioner, who wa examined as a witness, stated that he did not consent to this division, but objected to it; though he received whatever the guardian thought proper to give him, as his children’s estate. After the death of John M. Barber, the defendant, James Barber, who is also his executor, along with the other children of John M. Barber, filed their bill against Kis widow, Mrs. Rebecca Barber, for a partition of the negroes, which was ordered, and made accordingly. An account was taken as between John M. Barber and his children, to which exceptions were filed, and a decree had thereon by the- Circuit Court, and afterwards by the Appeal Court. To the present bill, which is also filed, to revive the proceedings on the petition, the widow, Mrs. Rebecca Barber and her children, are made parties. The principal question made in the case, relates to the half of the negroes to which Mrs. Rebecca Barber was entitled, as next of kin of her brother. Whether John M. Barber, so far reduced them into possession as husband, that his marital rights attached upon them, and consequently whether they go to his executor, or survive to his widow ? This question is raised by the complainants, because the estate of John M. Barber is insolvent, and it is important to them that the negroes should be taken as a part of his estate, and made liable to satisfy the amount reported against him, in favor of his children. It is not quite accurate to say that Mrs. Barber was entitled to one-half of the negroes. As next of kin, she was entitled to the undisposed residue of the estate whatever that might be. The undisposed part of the negroes might have been applied to the payment of debts, as well as nny thing else. It was a chose in action, entitling Mrs. Barber to whatever might remain after the payment of debts and legacies. The legacy of half the negroes to the children was specific. If they had been of age, and their father had delivered to them the negroes in question, as their portion, which they had accepted, this would have bound them, and then (the debts and other legacies being paid) he might have taken possession of the residue, in right of his wife. But he could not make partition with them as tenant in common, in right of his wife. It was as executor that he was to deliver their legacy to them, and for that purpose the title must remain in him, as executor, up to that time. It is hardly necessary to say that neither he nor his wife could have the right of choice, given as a personal benefit by the testator, Daniel Green, to his wife. It was argued that the partition made with the children, must be regarded as valid, because the Commissioner received them under the authority of the Court, — was in effect their guardian, and accepted the negroes, on their behalf, and that they are therefore bound as if they had been of age and accepted for themselves. But there is plainly nothing in this. Even if the Commissioner had had authority to consent to such partition, he states expressly that he did not do so, but objected, and only accepted the negroes, reserving the right to have a repartition. It may be observed that even if this partition were valid, it does not follow of course that he took possession of the residue in right of his wife, as next of kin. There were legacies still due; the money legacies to the children for one, and perhaps debts; and till these were paid, he had no right to the residue. This is not like the case of Burgess vs. Heape, 1 Hill Ch. R. 397. If there were a joint legacy to two, and the executor deliver the subject of it to one, for himself and his co-legatees, here the possession of one would be the possession of both, and the marital rights would attach; so if there were two distributees, and he should, inlike manner, deliver the residue to one. But certainly there is nothing to show that he even signified his intention to hold these negroes, as tenant in common, in right of his wife, with his children. It may be added that the partition of the negroes, subsequently made by the order of the Court, would be conclusive on John M. Barber, or his personal representative. His creditors could only impeach it on the ground of its having been made fraudulently, and by collusion between the executor and the ■other parties, which I do not understand to be alleged, or established. I am therefore of opinion that the marital rights of John M. Barber, never did attach upon the slaves in question, but that the right óf Mrs. Barber, as next of kin, to the undisposed estate of her brother, Daniel Green, survived to her.
Wm. Harper.
The complainants moved to reverse the decree of the’ Chancellor on this point, and insisted that the personal property which the said Rebecca Barber became entitled to, on the death of her brother, Daniel Green, absolutely vested in her husband, John M. Barber, by virtue of his marital rights, and the Court should have decreed it, subject to the payment of his debts. The complainants also appealed, upon several grounds relating to other parts of the circuit decree, which it is not considered necessary to embrace in the report of the case.
Clark and M'Dowell, for complainants.

Opinion:
Johnson, Ch.
We concur with the opinion expressed in the Circuit Court, on all the grounds of this appeal. It is therefore ordered that the appeal be dismissed, and the decree of the Circuit Court is hereby affirmed.