Case Name: OAKES v. DE LANCEY
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1893-07-28
Citations: 24 N.Y.S. 539
Docket Number: 
Parties: OAKES v. DE LANCEY.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 24
Pages: 539–540

Head Matter:
OAKES v. DE LANCEY.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department.
July 28, 1893.)
1. Deed—Description—Land between High and Low Water Mark.
A patent from the English colonial government, in 1668, to certain necks of land on Long Island sound, included all “woods, beaches, marshes, pastures, creeks, waters, lakes, fishing, hunting, and fowling.” The same description was carried into the manor of Scarsdale by English grant in 1701, in which the grant was widened so as to include the shores, bays, and harbors. Such title was unbroken down to a conveyance in 1871. The latter did not, in terms, convey the land under water, or use the words of the colonial grants, but it was undisputed that the premises conveyed are the same as described in the patents. Held, that the grantee in the conveyance of 1871 had title to the strip of land along the shore between high and low water mark.
2. Same—Description—“Along the Shore.”
Where it appears that the deed of such premises in 1871 reserved nothing, and they are described therein as “along the shore," such description wifi go to low-water mark, to fill the requirements of such deed.
Appeal from circuit court, Westchester county.
Action hy Thomas F. Oakes against Edward De Lancey to recover money paid for certain land conveyed by defendant to plaintiff, on the ground that defendant had no title thereto at the time he conveyed: From a judgment for defendant, plaintiff appeals.
Affirmed.
For former litigation, see 12 IT. Y. Supp. 840; 14 IT. Y. Supp. 294; 15 IT. Y. Supp. 561; 30 IT. E. Eep. 974.
Argued before BAEITAED, P. J., and PEATT, J.
Holmes & Adams, (Artemas H. Holmes, of counsel,) for appellant.
Martin J. Keogh, for respondent.

Opinion:
BAEITAED, P. J.
On the 4th of June, 1890, the defendant conveyed to the plaintiff a piece of land said to contain about 221-acres. The land was situated on Long Island sound, and nearly 4 acres of the parcel was between high and low water mark. The land was sold by the acre at public auction, and was sold at a large price, by the acre. The plaintiff objected to the land under water being included in the deed, on the ground that the description did not include it. This claim was made the basis of an action, and it was decided that the land under water was included in the description. Oakes v. De Lancey, 133 N. Y. 227, 30 N. E. Rep. 974. This action is based upon the allegation that the defendant has no title to the lands between high and low water mark. The evidence shows that the premises are part of what is known as the "East" or "Mamaroneck" neck. This, with two other necks of land adjoining, was conveyed to John Eichbell in 1662 by the Holland provincial government, and by the English colonial in 1668. The English patent included all "woods, beaches, marshes, pastures, creeks, waters, lakes, fishing, hunting, and fowling." This description is carried into the manor of Scarsdale by a grant of the English sovereign in 1701 to Caleb Heathcoate, who had bought the land, and the description is in this grant widened so as to include bays and harbors, as well as beaches, and included the shore. This title is unbroken down to the conveyance to the defendant in 1871. It is true that the deed to the defendant does not, in terms, convey the land under water, or even use the words of the colonial grants, but it is admitted by both parties, and is proven by the evidence, to be the same premises as are described in the patents. The plaintiff's claim is mainly, if not' entirely, based upon the description of the deeds from the immediate grantor to the defendant,—one Shepherd. This description is, "along the shore." If the word "shore," in the patents, included the strip between high and low water mark, the description in the defendant's deed will go to low-water mark, to fill the requirements of a deed which reserved nothing. The court of appeals has decided that the word "shore" includes, lands washed by the sea, and between high and low water mark. Trustees v. Kirk, 68 N. Y. 459. A shore must always have a definite limit on the seaboard.
The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.