Case Name: Dunham v. Baker
Court: Connecticut Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1805
Citations: 2 Day 137
Docket Number: 
Parties: Dunham v. Baker.
Judges: 
Reporter: Day's Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 137–141

Head Matter:
Dunham v. Baker.
In the Court below,
Timothy Baker, Plaintiff; Daniel Dunham, Defendant.
A "written p^"notCbe enlarged, or ^
T HE declaration stated, That the defendant, on the 5tii of June, 1800, promised, and agreed with the plaintiff, and the plaintiff with the defendant, that the plaintiff should have the defendant’s schooner, for a fishing voyage on the Northern and Eastern coasts of America ; and that the schooner should call at Hiannas harbour, on Cape-Cod, between the 1st and 10th of July, for the purpose of taking on board the plaintiff, him to transport to Norwich, previous to the 12th of July: That the plaintiff and defendant agreed, that the plaintiff should procure two fishermen, at the Cape, to go on the above mentioned voyage : That the defendant agreed to take them on board his schooner at Hiannas, with the plaintiff : And^that he agreed to have the schooner in complete order, and prepared with all the necessary implements for a cod fishing voyage, on or before the 12th of July. The declaration then proceeded to state, That the defendant made and executed to the plaintiff a memorandum, or writing obligatory, in the words and figures following : “ It is agreed between Timothy Baker, on the “ one part, and Daniel Dunham, on the other part, that said “ Dunham is to have the schooner Pasha ready for a fishing “ voyage, and at Norwich, on the 12ih day of July next, “ and to let said Baker and a crew take said schooner on a “ fishing voyage four months, on the lay, or rule of one “ fourth part of all the fish that is caught by said Baker, “ or such master as he may employ, and the crew onboard, “ deducting one eighth part of said fish for making, one “ sixty-fourth out of said quarter, or as perquisite to said “ master; also to find salt and provisions, and all the stores, “ and fishing-geer, and casks, aid master and crew a choose, agreeably to such rules as said Baker, or master# “ shall make -with said crew ; said Dunham is to clear said “ vessel at New-London for a fishing voyage, and find two “ men to go said voyage in her, and give the master half “ the bounty obtained. Dated this 5 th day of June, 1 800.
l< Daniel Dunham.”
The plaintiff then averred, That the defendant having specially promised to, and agreed with the plaintiff, that the schooner should call at Hiannas for the plaintiff, and the two men, and should convey them to Norwich, where the schooner was to have been delivered to the plaintiff for the purpose of a fishing voyage, the plaintiff did, on the 5 th of June, 1800, execute, a writing obligatory, wherein he promised to go the voyage, in person, or by his agent : And that, relying on tire defendant, to comply with and fulfil his part of the agreement, the plaintiff hired two men to go the voyage, made flakes, and other necessary preparations, for curing and drying fish ; and repaired, on the 1st of July, to the harbour of Hiannas, with his two men engaged for the voyage, and there waited 14 days for the defendant’s vessel to call for him ; but the defendant neglected to send his vessel to take the plaintiff, and the two men, and also to have her ready for a fishing voyage, on the 12th of July, and also to clear her for New-London.
The defendant, having prayed oyer of the writings set forth in the declaration, pleaded, that ?in pursuance of his obligation, he stood ready the whole of the 12th clay of July named therein to let the plaintiff, and his crew, take the schooner on a fishing voyage, on the terms stated in the written contract ; to furnish two sailors ; and to fulfil the contract on his part; traversing that the plaintiff came to Norwich on the 12th of July, or in any way demanded the vessel ; and also traversing ; that the defendant promised that the vessel should call at Hiannas harbour, to take the plaintiff to transport him to Norwich.
The plaintiff replied over the facts traversed; and the defendant demurred specially. '
The Superior Court adjudged the plaintiff's replication sufficient.
Ingersoll, and R, Griswold, for the plaintiff in error,
contended, that this action was brought on an entire contract, part of which was alleged to be in writing, and part, by-parol ; that the written part was answered by the plea in bar ; and that to allow a recovery on the other part, would be to admit of an addition by parol to a written contract» The cases of Meres v. Ansell, Preston v. Merceau, and Alsop. v. Goodwin were cited. It was also urged, that the parol contract was without consideration ; that the defendant was to gain nothing by going to Iliannas; and that this was not a case of mutual promises, Coggs v. Bernard, was cited to shew the necessity of a eonside* ration.
Goddard, for the defendant in error,
contended, 1. That the defect in the declaration was, at most, an informality, which it was too late for the defendant to take advantage of, after having pleaded over. He cited an anonymous case in Salkeld, Mattravers v. Posset, Thorp v. Thorp and Hall v. Bond.
2. That the parol contract was the foundation of the action ; and that the written contract was stated only to shew the extent of the injury, which the plaintiff had sustained.
3. That sufficient consideration appeared : The plaintiff was himself to be ready at Iliannas; he was to procure two fishermen there ; and he entered into a written agreement beneficial to the defendant.
The judgment of the Superior Court was reversed, Hosmer, Asst, dissenting.
3 Wils. 275,6.
2 Wm. Bla. 1249,50.
I Root 196.
1 Salk. 26. S. C. 2 Ld. Raym. 909.
2 Salk.519.pl. 18.
3 Wils. 297.
12 Mod. 459. pl. 794.
12 Mod. 537. pl. 897.

Opinion:
By the Court.
The only question arising on this record respects the promise which the plaintiff, in his declaration, alleges, that the defendant made to call with his vessel at Hiannas harbour for the plaintiff, and him to transport to Norwich. It is contended by the defendant, that it was not competent for the plaintiff to prove any other, or different promise than is expressed in the defendant's written contract recited in tire declaration ; and this promise is not there expressed. Of that opinion is the Court. The action is brought on a written contract, which is set forth at large ; and therefore, becomes the evidence of the plaintiff's claim and of the defendant's liability.
On the 5th of June, 1800, the parties contracted by two separate written instruments of that date. The defendant undertakes to have his schooner ready for a fishing voyage, at Norwich, the 12th of July, 1800, and let the plaintiff take her for four months ; on the part of the plaintiff, to go on the voyage, by himself or agent. The contract is mutual, and the promise of one the consideration for the other; and these promises being reduced to writing contain, in contemplation of law, the whole contract between the parties.
By the written contract, the defendant is to have his vessel ready at Norwich, on the 12th of July ; and the plaintiff promises to go on the voyage, by himself, or agent. He is to take the vessel at Norwich. But, by this promise, which the defendant is alleged to have made at the same time, the defendant is to call, with his schooner, at Hiannas har-bour, for the plaintiff, and him to transport to Norwich. This promise, if admitted, altogether changes the contract. on the part of the defendant ; for instead of the plaintiff's being obliged to take the schooner at Norwich, on the 12th of July, which he has stipulated to do, by his written contract with the defendant, the defendant is bound to go, or call at Hiannas harbour, with his schooner, and bring the plaintiff to Norwich ; and if the defendant fails to do it, the plaintiff must be exonerated from his obligation to take the vessel at Norwich, on the 12th of July, 1800, and proceed on the fishing voyage. These contracts are inconsistent with each other ; and the contract of the defendant, which the plaintiff lias set forth in his declaration, must govern in the case.
The only consideration, which the plaintiff alleges for the defendant's assumption to call for him, with his vessel at Hiannas harbour, and him transport to Norwich, is the defendant's contract to let the plaintiff have his schooner at Norwich ; which also confirms the construction, that the written contracts set forth in the declaration, are the only contracts between the parties, which ought to be regarded.