Opinion ID: 2353841
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Pertinent Family Facts

Text: Colonel Colt was survived by his wife, by two sons, Russell G. and Roswell C., by his brother LeBaron B. Colt, and by four grandchildren, viz., defendants Samuel Colt, Ethel Colt Miglietta and John D. Colt, children of Russell, and defendant Elizabeth C. Stansfield (formerly Elizabeth C. Morey), a child of Roswell. Other grandchildren, namely, Byron Colt, who died on June 11, 1965 and defendants. Caldwell C. Colt and Melba Colt Delmouzos, were born after Col. Colt's death. In Colt v. Industrial Trust Co., 50 R.I. 242, 245, 146 A. 628, 630, one of the questions presented related to the meaning of the word grandchildren as used in the first sentence of the 27th clause. This court held    that the testator meant by his `grandchildren' only those who were living at the time of his death and that he did not intend to include any child who might be born to his sons after his death. That holding is now the law of this will. Industrial National Bank v. Morey, 86 R.I. 15, 133 A.2d 724. Colonel Colt's son, Russell, died in 1960, survived by three children, defendants Samuel Colt, Ethel Colt Miglietta and John D. Colt, and by a grandson, defendant John D. Miglietta. By his will Russell left the residue of his estate to his widow, defendant Gwendolyn Mary Gray Colt. Colonel Colt's son, Roswell, died intestate in 1935. He was survived by the following children: Byron Colt and defendants, Elizabeth C. Stansfield and Caldwell C. Colt. A posthumous daughter, Melba Colt (now defendant Melba Colt Delmouzos) was born. Roswell was also survived by his wife, defendant Melba P. Colt. Colonel Colt's brother, LeBaron, died in 1924. He was survived by three daughters and three children of his deceased son, LeBaron C. Colt. For the purposes of this case, we do not deem it necessary to indulge in any further discussion of the family facts. We have discussed only such family facts as we believe are pertinent to the issues raised by this complaint. It suffices to say that all parties defendant base their claims on family connections related in one way or another to Col. Colt and/or his sons or brother.