Court Opinion

ID: 6411545
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:53:04.440865+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:23.366171
License: Public Domain

Thomas, J.
The question is what estate in the trees and the land on which they grew was reserved in the deed made by Charles Tattle to Nicholas Woodbury in 1751. We think the reservation is of all the trees standing and growing upon the land when the deed was made, and of the use of the land for their growth and nourishment, and for cutting down and removing them.
The direct reservation is of the wood and trees on a certain island. This is clear and definite, and refers only to the wood and trees then standing and growing. The latter clause, which operates as a habendum, makes no new grant, but shows the *49tenure of that before made, that the wood and trees and the interest in the soil necessary for their growth are reserved to the grantor, not for his life, but in fee to him and his heirs forever — as if he had said, “ I am to have the wood and trees now on the island in the meadow, but the right to take them is not personal to myself or limited to my life, but is also for my heirs.”
A reservation of the right to the wood and trees forever growing on the land would be in effect a right in the soil itself for the growth and nourishment of trees so long and so far as it was used for that purpose.
The case at bar is distinguishable from that of Clap v. Draper, 4 Mass. 266, in which the grant was to Humfrey, his heirs and assigns, of “ all the trees and timber standing and growing on said land forever, with free liberty for them to cut and carry away said trees and timber at all times at their pleasure forever.” The court put particular stress upon the word “ forever ” as applied to “ the trees and timber standing and growing on the close ” — growing on the close forever, instead of those merely standing at the time.
What was reserved by the deed in this case was the wood then on the island, but without limit as to the time when it should be removed. The defendant therefore is liable for all trees cut, not standing and growing on the island in 1751.

Case referred to an assessor to ascertain the value.