Court Opinion

ID: 3677964
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:24:07.664951+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:26:13.662577
License: Public Domain

The bill was filed by the plaintiff in his own right, and also as executor of Margaret S. Britton deceased, as administrator of his deceased daughter Rosa Mary, and also as next friend of his infant daughter Margaret; against Margaret, Isabella and *Page 269 
William Miller; and William R. Miller as administrator of Fanny Miller deceased.
It set forth that one Aaron J. Spivey had died in 1854, leaving a will, by which among other things he devised certain real and personal estate to his wife for life, and then to his sister Margaret S. Britton; that Margaret S. Britton died in 1864 leaving her interest under the above will, and some personal estate in possession; the whole of which she disposed of as follows: "I give and bequeath to the children of my brother Stephen W. Britton, and of my sister Mary F. Miller, all of my property of every description, to them and their heirs forever;" that Mrs. Spivey died in 1867; that at the death of Margaret S. Britton, her brother Stephen had one child, Rosa Mary, who died, an infant, in September 1864, and that in 1866 or 1867, and before the death of Mrs. Spivey, he had another, the complainant Margaret; and that those named as defendants, other than William R. Miller, are the children of Mary F. Miller, Fanny having died before the death of Mrs. Spivey.
The prayer was, for directions to the plaintiff Stephen as executor, for an account, and for general relief.
An answer was put in by William R. Miller, as administrator of Fanny and guardian ad litem of the other children of Mary F. Miller deceased.
I. Under the 2nd clause of Margaret S. Britton's will, the children of Stephen W. Britton and Mary F. Miller take per capita. The general rule is that in such bequests they take per capita, unless there is something in the will to show the contrary. Cheeves et. al. v. Bell et. al., 1 Jon. Eq. 234.
II. Is the estate of Margaret S. Britton which she had in possession, and that which she had in remainder, to be divided among the same persons? No! The property in possession is to be divided among those who answered the description at the time of her death; and the property in remainder is to be divided among those who answered the description at the falling in of the life estate, and those who legally represent such as may die during the life of the life tenant. Chambers v. Payne, 6 Jon. Eq. 276.
III. Does Stephen W. Britton take the share of his deceased child Rosa Mary? Yes! Margaret S. Britton's remainder was vested, and at the time of her death in July 1864, Rosa Mary Britton, daughter of Stephen W. Britton, was in being, and one to whom the remainder is given. It vested in her, and upon her death it vested in her father, S.W. Britton, and the estate is not divested out of the father by the birth of his daughter Margaret more than ten lunar months after the death of Rosa Mary, — Rev. Code, ch. 38, Rule 7. Of course he takes Rosa's share of the property in possession.
IV. Does Margaret, a daughter of Stephen W. Britton by a second marriage, and born after death of testatrix but during the life of life-tenant, take? She does not take any of the property which was in possession of testatrix at her death; but she does take a share of the remainder, which opens so as to let in all who answer the description at the time of the falling in of the particular estate. It was admitted that this would be so if the testatrix had created the remainder herself; but it is insisted that where the remainder is created by some other means, and *Page 271 
the testatrix is not making, but is disposing of a remainder already made, a different rule prevails, and those who answer the description at the time the remainder is disposed of, i. e., the death of the testatrix, will take. But we can see no reason for the difference, and we do not agree to it.
There will be a reference to the clerk of this Court to take an account, if desired. The cause will stand for further directions.
PER CURIAM.                                       Decree accordingly.