Aldrich v. Funk

1 N.Y.S. 541, 55 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 367, 16 N.Y. St. Rep. 503, 48 Hun 367, 1888 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1435
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMay 17, 1888
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 1 N.Y.S. 541 (Aldrich v. Funk) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Aldrich v. Funk, 1 N.Y.S. 541, 55 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 367, 16 N.Y. St. Rep. 503, 48 Hun 367, 1888 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1435 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1888).

Opinions

Ingalls, J.

This action is instituted by the plaintiff to recover possession of the undivided one-half of lot Ho. 151, Third street, in the city of Troy. The plaintiff and defendants derive title to the premises from John W. Fonda, as the common source of title,—the plaintiff, as a devisee under the last will and testament of said John W. Fonda; the defendant Margaretta Funk, as a purchaser of the premises for a valuable and adequate consideration from William Spath, who was at the time of such purchase, in 1865, in the actual possession and occupancy thereof, claiming title thereto. Since her purchase the defendant has been in the actual possession of the premises, claiming title thereto under her deed from Spath. When the defendant Margaretta Funk purchased the premises, the buildings thereon were in a dilapidated condition, and were taken down, and a substantial brick dwelling-house was erected. The title of the said defendant had never been questioned until the commencement of this action, in May, 1884. John W. Fonda, who resided in the city of Troy, made his last will and testament, bearing date October 25,1850, as follows: “I, John W. Fonda, of the city of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and state of Hew York, being of sound mind, do hereby make this, my last will and testament, to-wit: First. I will and direct all my just debts and funeral charges be paid by the executor and executrix hereinafter named. Secondly. I give and devise to my wife, Martha, all my real and personal estate of every name and nature, wheresoever the same may be, for her use and benefit during her life, and as long as she may remain a widow, and, after her death or day of marriage, then I give and devise all the real estate to be equally divided among my two children, if they should be of the age of twenty-one years; if not, to remain under the control of my hereinafter named executor till they shall have attained the ages of 21 years each; then I will the said real estate to be equally divided between my two children, their heirs and assigns. Thirdly. I do will and declare that the devises and bequests hereinbefore named and made to my wife, Martha, are by me meant and intended to be in lieu, bar, and satisfaction of all and every claim of dower or thirds she could or by law might have, at the time of my decease, of, in, or to my estate and effects, real or personal, or any part thereof. Lastly. I do hereby nominate and appoint John Gardner, of the city of Troy, executor, and my wife, Martha, executrix, of this, my last will and testament, and I do hereby revoke all and every former will by me made. In witness whereof I have h Teunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of October, 1850. John W. Fonda, [l. s.] Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the testator, John W. Fonda, to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses. James Thorn, County of Rensselaer, State of Hew [543]*543York. Charles Cole, County of Rensselaer, State of New York.” He died about the 1st day of November, 1850, and the will was admitted to probate November 16, 1850, as a will of real and personal estate. John W. Fonda left him surviving his widow, Martha F. Fonda, and two children, Philip W. Fonda, who was at the death of his father twelve years of age, and Henrietta, the plaintiff, who was three years of age. In 1854, John Gardner, who was named in the will as executor, was removed from such office by the surrogate of Rensselaer county. The widow, then Martha F. Fonda, was the sole remaining executrix. In 1856 she married James G. Holmes. Philip W. Fonda, on the 14th day of September, 1863, being then of age, with his mother, acting as trustee for Henrietta, the plaintiff herein, conveyed the premises to said William Spath, for the consideration of $900, taking back a bond and mortgage upon the premises for $500, to secure a portion of the purchase money; which mortgage, with the bond accompanying the same, was executed by the said William Spath to Martha F. Holmes, as trustee for Henrietta Fonda, her daughter. The mortgage contained this provision: “Provided that, at the time when the said sum of five hundred dollars shall become payable and due, the said Henrietta Fonda shall tender and give to said William Spath a quitclaim deed for the premises hereinbefore described, the said amount of $500 being a part of the purchase money.”

In the year 1864 the plaintiff, being then nearly 18 years of age, and being the wife of Henry B. Aldrich, to whom she was married in 1864, desired to obtain the money secured by the bond and mortgage, and through her mother, who had assumed to act as her trustee, and with whom she had resided up to her marriage, and with whom she was then residing, applied for the money. Mrs. Holmes, who then resided at Jeddo, Niagara county, in this state, visited Troy for the purpose of obtaining such money for her daughter, the plaintiff herein. A question was raised in regard to the conveyance by Henrietta, which was provided for in the mortgage; she not having reached majority, being only about 18 years of age. And the money, by the terms of the mortgage, was made payable in live years from the date thereof, which would extend to a period when she would become 21 years of age. But to oblige the plaintiff, for whom her mother was acting, Mr. Spath consented to pay the money, in advance of the time fixed therefor, provided he could obtain a valid deed from Henrietta. To accomplish this, an application was made to the county court of Rensselaer county, where the premises were situated, for leave to sell and convey the interest of the plaintiff in such premises. The petition was signed and verified by Henrietta Aldrich, the plaintiff, in which she stated, among other things, that she was 17 years of age, and described the premises, and stated her interest therein, and how derived, and the fact that her brother Philip W. Fonda had conveyed his interest in the premises to William Spath, and that her mother had joined in the deed; that the premises were worth $900; and that her interest therein was unproductive, and liable any time to be partitioned by action, which would be expensive; that she owned no other personal or real estate, except wearing apparel. She prayed the appointment of James Thorn, who resided in the city of Troy, as special guardian, for the purpose of selling such real estate. She stated, further, that she had no general guardian. The court entertained the proceeding, and investigated the facts, and made an order appointing Mr. Thorn such special guardian, upon bis executing a bond, with securities, as prescribed by the order, which he did, and the same was approved by the court. The special guardian reported to the court a contract for the purchase of the said real estate, as follows: “Rensselaer County Court. In the Matter of Henrietta Aldrich, Infant, for the Sale of Certain Real Estate. To the Honorable Gilbert Robertson, Jr., County Judge of the County of Rensselaer: In pursuance of an order of this court made in the above matter, on the 29th day of December, 1864, authorizing and empowering me, as [544]

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Bluebook (online)
1 N.Y.S. 541, 55 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 367, 16 N.Y. St. Rep. 503, 48 Hun 367, 1888 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1435, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/aldrich-v-funk-nysupct-1888.