Case Name: Isham K. Pringle vs. Greenbury L. Dunkley and Wife
Court: High Court of Errors and Appeals of Mississippi
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 1850-11
Citations: 14 S. & M. 16
Docket Number: 
Parties: Isham K. Pringle vs. Greenbury L. Dunkley and Wife.
Judges: 
Reporter: Mississippi Reports
Volume: 22
Pages: 16–18

Head Matter:
Isham K. Pringle vs. Greenbury L. Dunkley and Wife.
The testator devised his estate, consisting of personal property, equally to his wife and three children, “ to be held equally, so long as his wife shall continue his widow, but in the event of her marrying, then her interest to go to his heirs above named, in equal portions;” the widow remained for several years in possession of the estate, without having renounced the provision of the will in her favor, and afterwards married; and, with her husband, applied to the probate court for her distributive share in her first husband’s estate: held, that the devise in the will was a limitation of the estate to the widow during her widowhood ; and that, by her marriage, after having accepted the terms of the will, she forfeited her estate.
Such a devise is not one in restraint of marriage; but is strictly a limitation; if, however, it had been a devise in ierrorem, it would not have been void ; the limitation over, taking it out of the rule that a condition in terrorem is void.
On appeal from the probate court of Lauderdale county; Hon. Jubal B. Hancock, judge.
The facts are stated in the opinion.
Geo. Wood, for appellant,
On the validity and effect of the devise in the will, and the marriage of the widow, cited Chilt. Prob. Co. Law, 145; Wilkes v. Lion, 2 Cow. 333; Jackson v. Thompson, 6 Cow. 171; 12 Wheat. 568; 2 Lomax, 50; 1 Rop. 553-555; 1 Story, Eq. 291, § 287; Clark v. Parker, 19 Yes. 13 ; 4 Kent, 125 ; Story, Con. 125, § 197; Chilt. Prob. Co. Law, 151, § 8; Parsons v. Winslow, 6 Mass. Rep. 169.
D. C. Glenn, attorney-general, on the same side.
John M. Duffield, for appellee.

Opinion:
Mr. Chief Justice ShaRKey
delivered the opinion of the court.
Dunkley and wife petitioned the probate court for a distributive share of the estate of James G. Pringle, and obtained a decree in their favor, from which this appeal was prayed. The question to be determined, depends on the last will and testament of James G. Pringle. The testator divided his estate, consisting of personal property, equally between his wife Elizabeth, and his three children, to be held equally " so long as the said Elizabeth shall continue my widow, but upon the event of her marrying, then her interest to go to my heirs above named, in equal portions." The widow remained in possession of the estate for several years, without having renounced the provision in the will in her favor. She afterwards married Dunkley, and then applied for her distributive share.
It is contended that this was a bequest in restraint of marriage, or in terrorem, and is therefore upon a void condition, and on this ground, probably, the court made its. decree in favor of the widow. The doctrine invoked does not apply in this case, for even if this were a bequest on condition, the bequest over, after the marriage, would take the case out of the rule, that a con- ditition in terrorem is void. This is strictly a limitation, a gift to the wife daring her widowhood, and such limitations have been uniformly sustained as valid. The right of the widow ceased at her marriage, and the children of the testator took the whole property from that time. Richards v. Baker, 2 Atkyns, 321; Sheffield v. Lord Orrey, 3 Ib. 282; 1 Roper on Legacies, 526, 527, 556, 557, 558; 1 Jarman on Wills, 731. The widow cannot complain of the hardship of this disposition. By our statute she could have renounced the provision in her favor, within six months. During that time she had her election, either to take what was given by the will, or to renounce it and take her distributive share under the law. She acquiesced in the will, and must abide by the consequences.
Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.