Court Opinion

ID: 6420405
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:59:20.651336+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:45.294288
License: Public Domain

Endiqott, J.
The demandant in this action claims title to the demanded premises under a deed given him by Elisha Pratt, *435conveying all his right, title and interest in certain real estate, “ described in my deed to Warner Pratt.’’ Elisha Pratt died before the trial of this action.
The question to be determined depends upon the construction to be given to the deed of Elisha Pratt to Warner Pratt. It conveys the whole of the first parcel and one undivided half of the other parcels therein described. The demandant contended that Elisha Pratt reserved to himself a life estate in the undivided half of the four parcels thus conveyed, and relies upon the following clause in the deed. “ Possession to be given the said Warner Pratt of the house and garden above specified (the first parcel) immediately and one undivided half of all the other tracts of land specified above reserving the buildings now occupied by myself at my decease.” It does not appear where the buildings were, and no allusion is made to them in the bill of exceptions.
We are of opinion that the grantor only reserved the buildings, and did not intend to reserve to himself a life estate in the undivided half of the four tracts conveyed by the deed, and claimed by the tenants as heirs of Warner Pratt. The word “ reserving ” follows the reference to the four parcels, and includes what follows and not what precedes it. Taking the whole clause together, the only intelligent construction to be given to it is, that the words “ possession to be given the said Warner Pratt ” include not merely the house and garden, but the one undivided half in the other four parcels, with a reservation during his life of certain buildings.
The presiding judge, therefore, rightly ruled that, at the date of the deed to the demandant, Elisha Pratt had no interest in the undivided half of the premises claimed by the tenants, which would pass to the demandant. Exceptions- overruled.