Casper v. Walker

33 N.J. Eq. 35
CourtNew Jersey Court of Chancery
DecidedOctober 15, 1880
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 33 N.J. Eq. 35 (Casper v. Walker) 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
Casper v. Walker, 33 N.J. Eq. 35 (N.J. Ct. App. 1880).

Opinion

THE CHANCELLOR.

Ebenezer Peterson died in 1869, leaving his widow, Clarissa C., and bis daughter Amy, his only heirs at law, surviving. By his will he provided as follows: “ I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Clarissa C. Peterson, the sum of $4,000, the same to be put at interest in some safe investment, and secured to her during her natural life.” “Also, I give and bequeath unto my said wife the annual income of $400, to be paid half-yearly from the farm where I now reside, in the township of Lower Penn’s Neck, purchased of Thomas D. Bradway; the said income to be paid in full, without any de[37]*37ductions for taxes or other expenses, this being my expressed wish and will. Also, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Clarissa C., the choice of all my household goods and furniture, or the whole of them, if she chooses, without any reservation.”

A devise to testator’s wife for life, and then, “ It is my wish my son W. should live with his mother; ” and after her death the fee to be his own, gives no present estate in the land to W. (Head v. Head, 7 Jones 620). A devise of a lot for life, and of $10,000 to enable the devisee to build a house thereon, does not compel him to build the house (Ashe v. Ashe, Rich. Eq. Oas. 380; see Five Points House v. Amerman, 11 Hun 161; Eeek’s Appeal, 46 Pa. St. 527). The following words were held to render the devise conditional upon the devisee’s residence on the premises: that “ if A. refuses to dwell there himself, or keep in his own possession” (Eoe v. Hawke, 2 East 481); that “every such person shall live and reside on the said estate called Juts” (Fillingham v. Bromley, Tarn. & Buss. 530); that the use and enjoyment should be offered, rent free, to his eldest child for the time being, as long as he or she should please, and in case of refusal, or of his or her ceasing to occupy the same, then to his other children in succession (Madarm v. Stainton, 4 Jar. (N. S.) 199) ; that the devisee should “ reside ” in the mansion-house for six months in every year (Walcot v. Botfidd, Kay 634); that the devisee’s estate should be forfeited in case he did not make the mansion-house “ his usual and common place of abode and .residence” (Wynne v. Fletcher, 24 Beav. 430); that the person entitled should, with his family, reside at the mansion-house, and make it his principal place of abode (Dunne v. Dunne, 8 8m. & Giff. 22, 7 De G. M. & G. 207); “on the express condition only that she remove into and live in said house, herself and family” (Bart v. Ghesley, 18 K. JET. 378); “that my wife is to keep my children, and raise them, and give them a sufficient schooling ” (Orawford, v. Patterson, 11 Gratt. 364); that a plantation be given to E. and M., “provided they come and live on it” (Lowev. Cloud, 45 Ga. 431); that “ B. should remain on the farm,” and pay certain charges (Lindsey v. Lindsey, 45 Lnd. 552); that lands should go to O., “ providing he shall live on the place, and carry it on in a workmanlike manner (Marston v. Marston, 47 Me. 405. See, further, Moore v. Gamble, 1 Stock. 246).

[37]*37I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Amy R. Turner, wife of Jonathan I. Turner, the homestead farm where I now reside, in the township of Lower Penn’s Neck, adjoining lands of John Dunn and Elijah W. Dunn, containing about 105 acres, more or less, save the legacy of $400 per year payable to my wife, Clarissa, as above specified.”

“ It is further my will that the said Amy R, Turner reside on the aforesaid farm after my decease, and take proper care of the same. In case they (I mean Amy R. Turner and her husband) should not see proper to move on the same, then I order my executor, hereinafter named, to sell the same farm at public vendue to the highest bidder; but there is nothing herein con[38]*38tained that affects the dower of $400 devised to my wife aforesaid.”

But a condition that if any of the devisees “ shall not settle on my land, or those now settled will not remain on said land, but will remove off and leave the same,” was deemed void (Pardue v. Givens, 1 Jones Eq. 306); so, a devise to testator’s children, “ in case they continue to inhabit the town of H.” (New-kerk v. Newkerk, 2 Caines 345; see Beenes v. Craig, 1 Winst. 209; Keeler v. Keeler, 89 Vt. 550; Wren v. Bradley, 2 De G. & Sm. 40 ; Boss v. Lies, 20 W. B. 858); so, if a devisee should not cease to reside in S., within a limited time (Wilkinson v. Wilkinson, L. B. (12 Eq.) 604; Forward v. Thamer, 9 Gratt. 537). The following words were held not to be conditional, but that the devisee might reside elsewhere without forfeiting the devise; that testator’s wife “shall have her maintenance off of the farm devised to J. while she lives, * * * that J. is to let her have the house while she lives, and to furnish her with everything necessary to her comfort” (Tope v. Tope, IS Ohio 520); that she should have “a comfortable room” and “sufficient maintenance during her natural life ” (Steele?s Appeal, 47 Pa. St. JjS7); that “ my five daughters shall have a home in the house, and a reasonable and moderate support, during their single lives, from the said farm” — not lost by one becoming a sister of charity (Donnelly v. Hdelen, 40 Md. 117); that “I give unto my wife E. the use of that part of my house which I now occupy, during her widowhood, and her full and comfortable support,” &c., (Van Buyne v. Van Duyne, 1 MeOart. 49); that A. should have the right to occupy and possess my estate called Bellegrove, and the furniture, &c., there or elsewhere, during her natural life and widowhood” (Kearney v. Kearney, 2 Q. E. Or. 59, 504; see Murphy v. Murphy, 20 Oa. 549); that a son to whom a farm had been given “afford a lawful maintenance to my daughter A. and her two daughters, from said farm, as long as they live and shall want the same,” and that “ A. shall abide and have a lawful maintenance, and her two daughters with her, on said farm, as long as the said A. lives and her two daughters shall want their maintenance ” — as to the daughters after A.’s death (Stillwell v. Pease, S Or. Oh. 74) ; that “my mother is to have her support on my estate, to the amount of forty dollars a year, if she chooses to remain on my estate, and if she chooses to go away, she is to be paid the sum of forty dollars a year during her natural life,” — and she goes away, the devisee is still liable, and not the executor (Henry v. Barrett, 6 Allen 500); that “it is my desire that my son Aaron remove back to this country, and to have them [slaves], but not to take them to any other part of the country” (Harris v. Iiearne, Winst. Eq. 91).

[38]*38“Further, I order and direct the balance of my personal property, after securing the $4,000, to be equally divided between my wife, Clarissa C., and my daughter, Amy R. Turner.”

The $4,000 have been duly invested, and the interest paid to the widow.

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Bluebook (online)
33 N.J. Eq. 35, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/casper-v-walker-njch-1880.