Townsend v. Rackham

22 N.Y.S. 878, 75 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 231, 51 N.Y. St. Rep. 872, 67 Hun 231
New York Supreme Court·Decided April 13, 1893·Published

Opinion

MACOMBER, J.

The maiden name of the plaintiff Esther C. 'Townsend was Esther 0. Lutts. The plaintiff Willard Brown is the assignee of the administrator of the estate of Maria Leach, who -died July 12,1890, in the state of Iowa. These two persons, Esther -0. Lutts and Maria Leach, were grandchildren of Catherine Farnham, hereinafter mentioned. On the 26th day of September, 1857, Catherine Farnham, who was 73 years of age and a widow, deeded to her two grandchildren, the defendants Almeron 0. Wilson and Valentine A. Wilson, her farm in the town of Carlton, Orleans •county, 2T. Y., and received back from the grantees a mortgage, containing the following condition:

“This grant is intended as a security for the payment of the following sums of money, to wit: $75.00 on the first day of January, and $25.00 on the first day of July, in each and every year hereafter during the natural life of the party of the second part, to be paid to the said party of the second part at the house of the party of the first part, in the town of Carlton; and the further sum of $1,500.00, to be paid as follows: One thousand dollars to be paid to Maria Leach, or her heirs, five years from the death of the said party of the second part, and $500.00 to be paid to Esther O. Lutts five years from the death of the said party of the rseeond part. The several sums herein mentioned is for the purchase .money of said premises. And, as a further consideration to these pres[879] ents, it is agreed between the parties that, in addition to the sums already mentioned and agreed to be paid, the said party of the first part agrees to and with the said party of the second part to provide her, the said Catherine Farnham, a home at their home or homes, at all times, when she may choose, during her natural life, and provide for her board and all necessary clothing and all things necessary and proper for her comfort and support during her natural life. And this conveyance shall be void if such payments be made as hereinafter specified; and in ease default shall be made in the payment of the above sums hereby intended to be secured, or any part thereof, or in case default be made in providing for in taking care of the said party of the second part as above provided, it shall be lawful for the party of the second part, her executors, administrators, or assigns, at any time thereafter, to sell the premises hereby granted, or any part thereof, in the manner prescribed by law,” etc.

On the 12th day of October, 1857, this mortgage was discharged by Catherine Farnham, and the discharge was delivered to the mortgagors, whereupon they gave her a second mortgage, containing the same conditions as the first, except that in the condition for support these words were added, “while living with the party of the first part.” This second mortgage was in turn discharged on the 15th day of October, 1858, by Catherine Farnham, and the Wilsons thereupon conveyed the lands back to her. She then deeded to Susan A. Wilson, wife of Valentine A. Wilson, the north half of the farm, and to Lovina L. Wilson, wife of Almeron C. Wilson, the south half thereof, and took back from each a mortgage for her support, containing these provisions:

“While living with the party of the first part, $37.50 semiannually, and as security for the payment to Esther O. Lutts of $250.00, and to Maria Leach $500.00, five years after the death of Catherine Farnham.”

The other conditions of the mortgage were the same as those contained in the first mortgage. On the 11th day of May, 1861, Catherine Farnham discharged these last two mortgages, and delivered the discharges to Lovina L. Wilson and Susan A. Wilson, respectively, and they in turn deeded back to her the farm previously deeded to them. Thereupon Catherine Farnham deeded the south half of the farm to Almeron C. Wilson, and the north half to Valentine A. Wilson, and took back from each of them a mortgage containing the same conditions as the last two mortgages, except that her annuity was stated to be $15 semiannually, instead of $37.50. On October 1, 1868, Valentine Wilson deeded his north half of the farm to Almeron C. Wilson. On December 11, 1870, Catherine executed a discharge of the mortgage given by Almeron C. Wilson on the south half of the farm, and Almeron C. Wilson gave the mortgage thereon to one Isaac Cochrane for $1,500, for money borrowed. After this last-named mortgage was recorded, and on January 2,1871, Almeron O. Wilson gave Catherine Farnham a mortgage on this half, containing the same conditions as his mortgage of May 11, 1861.

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Townsend v. Rackham, 22 N.Y.S. 878, 75 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 231, 51 N.Y. St. Rep. 872, 67 Hun 231 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1893).

22 N.Y.S. 878 (Townsend v. Rackham) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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