Booraem v. Wells

19 N.J. Eq. 87
CourtNew Jersey Court of Chancery
DecidedFebruary 15, 1868
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 19 N.J. Eq. 87 (Booraem v. Wells) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Jersey Court of Chancery primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Booraem v. Wells, 19 N.J. Eq. 87 (N.J. Ct. App. 1868).

Opinion

The Chancellor.

The bill in this case was exhibited by Georgiana Booraem,. Sarah Smedes, and-William Lyell, three legatees under the will of Abraham Beach, deceased. It asked for an account of his estate from the defendant Cornelia B. Lawrence, the surviving executrix, and the defendants Wells and Leupp, the executors of Hannah Rattoone, deceased, one of the executors of the will. It also sought to set aside a sale made by Cornelia B. Lawrence as executrix, of the real estate of Beach, now held in part by Thomas L. Wells, as trustee for his [91]*91wife, Julia Wells, and in part by the defendant Henry 0. Kock, who had mortgaged it to the defendant Smock.

Abraham Beaeh, by his last will, dated April 12th, 1823, devised all his estate, real and personal, to his executors, in trust for the purposes of his will.

He gave the part of his farm northeast of the turnpike road, by which it was intersected, with the personal property upon it, for the use, residence, and support of his daughter, Hannah Rattoone, and his son, Evert, so long as thoy should remain single; and gave the sole direction and management of it to his daughter Hannah. After the decease of Evert, he directed his executors to sell that land and personal property, and to pay to Hannah Rattoone, Cornelia B. Lawrence, and Maria Carter, his three daughters, each one-fourth of the proceeds; the remaining fourth he gave to the seven children of his deceased daughter, Ann 0. Lyoll, to wit, Abraham, Georgiana, Thomas, John, Ann, Sarah, and William, the same to be invested by his executors, and compounded, until the youngest, which was William, should he twenty-one, and then to be paid to such as might then be living.

The residue of his farm, southwest of tho -turnpike road, he requested his executors to soil as soon after his death as might be convenient, and disposed of the proceeds in .the same manner. His sons-in-law, Isaac Lawrence and Abiel Carter, and Hannah Rattoone, were appointed executors.

By tho first codicil, dated December 22d, 1823, he directed if Hannah should die before Evert, that the property given to them for their support should be managed by the executors for tho support of Evert, during his life, and the surplus income should pass into the residue of his estate. He also appointed his daughter, Cornelia Lawrence, a co-executrix, giving to them full power to sell and convey his real estate, as in his will was already given.

By a second codicil, dated May 23d, 1825, reciting that he had directed his lands northeast of the road to be sold on the death of Evert, he altered these directions for a sale on [92]*92that event, so far as to leave it in the election of Hannah to have the same then sold, or to. occupy the same for her life. He also appointed Maria Carter co-executrix of his will, giving to the executors full power to sell and convey his real estate according to the directions and for the purposes in his said will and codicils.

By a third codicil, dated November 16th, 1827, reciting the death of his daughter, Maria Carter, he gave her fourth of the proceeds of the sale of his lands to her three children, and directed that in the event of Evert surviving Hannah, his executors should rent out the house and lands annexed to it, or make such other arrangement in regard to the same as they might deem expedient, providing, however, for the comfortable support of Evert on the same.

The testator died in 1828, and his will and codicils were proved October 28th of that year, and probate granted to Isaac Lawrence, Cornelia B. Lawrence, and Hannah Rat-toone. Isaac Lawrence died in 1841, and Hannah Rattoone in 1848.

William Lyell became of age in 1840, before which his sister Ann had died. John H. Lyell conveyed his interest in the property to Isaac Lawrence, and Abraham Lyell conveyed his interest to Georgiana Booraem, in 1825. Thomas Lyell died intestate, and without issue, after William became of age, but when does not appear. He left a widow, Jane B. Lyell, to whom administration of his estate was granted, in the city of New York, where he resided at his death.

In 1848, Hannah Rattoone died, having by her will devised her interest in this property to the defendant, Julia B. L. Wells. Evert survived her, and is a defendant in this suit. In 1853, the executors conveyed to the Raritan and Delaware Canal Company, which had constructed a canal across the farm northeast of the road, the land occupied by the canal. After the death of Mrs. Rattoone an arrangement was made by some members of the family with the defendant, Julia Wells, that if the whole farm should be conveyed to her husband, to be held in trust for her and her children, [93]*93she would assume the care, support, and maintenance of Evert upon the same, as directed by the will of Abraham Beach. She had lived upon it with her aunt, Mrs. Battoone, and in pursuance of this arrangement returned to the farm in the spring of 1849, having left in 1848, upon the death Mrs. Battoone. In July, 1849, the whole farm was sold at auction to William B. Lawrence, a grandson of the surviving executrix, for $6000. The sale had been properly advertised, was held at Somerville, some miles distant, and was attended by several persons, but no one hid except the purchaser. At that time, the complainants and their brothers, Abraham and Thomas — if Thomas was still living — were entitled to five-sixths of one-fourth of the proceeds of the property; Cornelia B. Lawrence was entitled to ouo-fourth; Julia Wells to one-fourth; William B. Lawrence was entitled to the fourth given to the children of Maria Carter, who had, in May and Juné, 1849, conveyed their interest to him. It does not appear to whom the one-twenty-fourth assigned by John Lyell to Isaac Lawrence then belonged.

The sale was made subject to the trusts and provisions in the will of Abraham Beach, in favor of Evert, which provision was inserted in the deed, which also excepted the part before conveyed to the canal company. This deed was dated July 23d, 1849, and was for the consideration of $6000. William B. Lawrence, by deed dated July 24th, 1849, conveyed to Thomas L. Wells, the whole farm except the fifty-seven acre tract afterwards convoyed to Cornelia B. Lawrence. The consideration of this deed was one dollar. No proviso for the support of Evert was inserted, and it was in trust for Julia, the wife of the grantee, during her life, and at her death, in trust to convey to such of her issue as she should appoint, and failing such appointment, to all her surviving issue.

William B. Lawrence, by deed dated December 24th, 1849, conveyed the fifty-seven acre tract, which was southwest of the turnpike, to Cornelia B. Lawrence. The consideration was $1500. The first two deeds were acknowledged [94]*94on the 9th of January, 1850, after the date of the deed to Cornelia B. Lawrence, which was acknowledged April 29th, 1850. No consideration was paid by W. B. Lawrence for the conveyance to him, and none by Wells or his wife for the conveyance to her; nor was any agreement or stipulation made, except the proviso in the deed to W. B. Lawrence, for the support of Evert on the farm.

The fifty-seven acre tract, conveyed to Cornelia B. Lawrence, was for the price of $1500, being one-fourth part of the $6000, the price of the whole, and may be presumed to be in payment of her share. The purchaser, William B. Lawrence, was entitled to one-fourth, and one-fourth belonged to Mrs. Wells, to whom the residue of the farm was conveyed for one dollar.

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Bluebook (online)
19 N.J. Eq. 87, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/booraem-v-wells-njch-1868.