Case Name: The Lessee of Ashton versus Ashton
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1760-04
Citations: 1 Dall. 4
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Lessee of Ashton versus Ashton.
Judges: Present Lawrence Growdon
Reporter: Dallas
Volume: 1
Pages: 4–4

Head Matter:
The Lessee of Ashton versus Ashton.
Present Lawrence Growdon
William Coleman, Justices.
ON special Verdict. Devise first Heir Male of I. S. when he shall arrive to the Age of 21 Years, he paying to A. and B. the Daughters of I. S. £. 40 each.—After Devisor’s Death I. S. had a Son, who attained the Age of 21 Years, and paid his Sisters the £. 40 each.
The Question was, whether the Son of I. S. could take by executory Devise—It was objected for the Defendant, 1st. That this being a present Devise it could not take Effect because to a Person not in esse. 2d. That though it might be construed a future Devise, yet it was too remote; for an executory Devise must take effect within the Compass of a Life or Lives in esse, or at farthest within nine Months after: And in this case I. S. might have had no Son but a Daughter, who might have had a Daughter, who might have had a Son, who would have been the first Heir Male of I. S. which would have been too remote a Contingency, and would have tended to a Perpetuity. And the Case must be considered as at the Time of making the Devise, that is, how it might be; and not how it has actually happened. 3d. That the Son of I. S. could not take, because the Limitation was to the first Heir Male and Nemo est Hæres. Viventis.
For the Plaintiff it was answered: 1st. That this was no present Devise, the Testator taking Notice that I. S. had no Son born by the Word first Heir Male, and using the Words when and paying.—2d. That this Contingency was not too remote, because the Testator by the Words first Heir Male, must have meant first Son; and that such a Construction must be made as to carry the Intent of the Testator into Execution.—3d. First Heir Male are Words of Purchase and Designatio Personæ, and the Law will supply the Words of the Body in a Will.
Chew pro Quer. Moland and Dickenson pro Def.
See 12 Mod. 279. 287. 1 Inst. 24

Opinion:
By the Court.
The Intent of the Testator is clear, that the first Son of I. S. should take. Therefore judgment By the Court.
Cases cited; 1 Lord Raym. 207 1 Salk 229. Talbot's Cases 44. 50. 145. Vern 729. Vin. Dev. 315. 2 Vent 311. 1 Peer. Williams 229. 3 Co. 20, 2 Peer. Williams 196. 2 Salk 621.