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144 Mass. 315

Carpenter v. Page

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1887-03-24

Contract upon a promissory note for $184.50, dated November 20, 1882, payable in two years from date to the order of the plaintiffs, and signed by the defendant. Writ dated April 14, 1886. Answer, a general denial. Trial in the Superior Court, without a jury, before Hammond, J., who allowed a bill of exceptions, in substance as follows: The plaintiffs proved the note, and rested their case.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently November 1909

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1887-03-24

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Devens, J.

¶1It must be held that the Superior Court has found that the note in suit was given by the defendant in payment of her husband’s debt to the plaintiffs ; that they received it as such at her request, and receipted their bill against the husband’s estate. The defendant’s contention is, that, as the debt was one due from her husband’s estate, which the wife was not bound to pay, and as, at the time, no administration had been .granted on the husband’s estate, the note given by her was without consideration.

¶2The relation in which the parties in the case at bar stood to each other establishes fully a sufficient consideration for the defendant’s promise. While she was under no legal liability to pay her husband’s debt, she was entitled to administration upon his estate. Pub. Sts. c. 130, § 1. If his debt was paid by her, and she was afterwards appointed administratrix of his estate, she would be entitled in her account to an allowance for the payment of this debt, as her appointment would relate back to the husband’s decease. By giving the note in suit, she established a claim against her husband’s estate, which she could readily enforce. Again, as the plaintiffs were creditors of the husband’s estate, if administration thereon was refused or neglected to be taken out by the widow or next of kin, the plainr tiffs would be entitled thereto. By acceptance of the note as a payment of their debt, they would necessarily be deprived of this right, and a valuable privilege would have been relinquished by them, which would also afford a good consideration for the defendant’s promise.

¶3*317The case of Nelson v. Serle, 4 M. & W. 795, relied on by the defendant, recognizes fully that, where the debt of a husband is paid by the note of his widow, who is entitled to administration on his estate, the consideration is sufficient. See also Ridout v. Bristow, 1 Cr. & J. 231. jExceptions overruled.

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