Court Opinion

ID: 6407302
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:49:57.445569+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:15.223851
License: Public Domain

Shaw C. J.
delivered the opinion of the Court. The question in the present case is, whether the pauper, Elijah Wixon, has gained a settlement in the town of Brewster. If he has not, it is conceded, that" his settlement remains in Dennis, where it formerly was. The settlement of the wile follows that of the husband. If the pauper has gained a settlement in Brewster, it is in the mode prescribed by St. 1821, c. 94.
The provision of that statute is, that any person of twenty-one years of age, being a citizen, having an estate of inheritance or freehold in any town, and living on the same three years successively, shall thereby gain a settlement on the same.
This statute was a substitute for the fourth mode of gaining a settlement under the former St. 1793, c. 34, § 2, by having a freehold estate of the annual value of 31. and residing upon it three years. Practically the difficulty of proving the annual value of a small freehold was so great, and opinions would differ so much upon it, that it was a source of frequent and obstinate litigation, and often led to injurious results. To avoid these difficulties, it is believed, that the legislature passed the act cited, making the settlement depend upon the party’s holding a freehold estate of any value and residing upon it three years, being twenty-one years of age. The question is, whether the proof offered shows the pauper to be settled in Brewster within this rule.
*236It appears, that in the summer of 1806, he agreed with the owner, by parol, for the purchase of a piece of land of very small value ; that he paid for it and built a small house upon it and has resided upon it ever since, but has had no deed of it, and no contract in writing. But his possession has been open, exclusive and undisputed ; and no question either of his title or possession has been ever made by the owner or by any other person. Upon this evidence the Coilrt are of opinion, that the pauper gained a freehold at the expiration of twenty years from his entry, that is, some time in the summer of 1826. It was not the purpose of the statute to require a freehold held by an absolute title over which no paramount right existed. It is sufficient, that the tenant is seised, by an apparently good title, and without any present right of entry in any other person. Otherwise any dormant title, outstanding in any person, who never has claimed, and who never may claim the right to enforce it, might prevent a freeholder from gaining a settlement. Twenty years’ actual, exclusive and undisturbed possession, by. statute bars the right of entry, and no right can be set up against it, except by action.
It is no valid objection to this view, that here it is conceded, that no deed was ever given to the pauper ; it may be so conceded for the purpose of this trial, but we are to consider the question, as it would present itself in any suit or controversy between the pauper and other persons. In such controversy, it is very manifest, that neither the owner nor any other person could make an entry on the pauper ; and the statute would afford him a perfect protection without his showing any deed.
But the Court are also of opinion, that till the expiration of the twenty years, the pauper could not be deemed a freeholder ; and therefore he must have resided there three years continuously, after that time, in order to acquire a settlement under the statute cited. And we consider it settled, as well by authority as by a reasonable construction of the statute, that any part of the time during which he was receiving actual support or aid as a pauper, could not be computed as part of the three years.
In this respect there is no substantial difference between the present and the former statute. Residence as a freeholder on *237his own estate, must be other than that of a pauper actually-supported. Whilst -a person is receiving support as a pauper, he is liable to be removed to the place of his settlement, and to be separated from his freehold ; and if he is not so removed, it must be attributed to the forbearance of both towns and to their tacit mutual agreement, that he shall be aided as a pauper where he is, instead of being removed. If therefore the pauper did not remain three years, after the summer of 1826, without receiving support as a pauper, notwithstanding his having a freehold, he did not gain a settlement. But it does not appear with sufficient distinctness in the case made by the patties, how this fact was. He received relief in 1829. If this was in the fall of 1829, it was more than three years after he acquired his freehold ; if in the spring of that year, it was less. Unless this fact is agreed by the parties or determined by a reference to an auditor or otherwise, the case must again go to a jury to ascertain it.