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17 S.C. Eq. 322

Brown v. Caldwell

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided December 15, 1843

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1843-12-15

Before Johnson, Ch., at JVeioberry, June Term, 1842, from whose circuit decree the facts of the case will be fully understood. Held: that any general disposition of his estate would raise the implication. The direction in this will, that his “remaining property” should be kept together until his oldest child should arrive of age, and then be divided, is the principal circumstance relied on to shew that the testator intended to exclude the complainant from dower.

Decided 1843-12-15

Curia, per Dunkin, Ch.

¶1In affirming the decree of the Chancellor, the court would only add to the authorities cited, the case of Whilden vs. Whilden, Riley’s Ch. Cases, 205. The testator bequeathed to his wife, one thousand dollars, as soon as the money could be collected. He then directed the whole of his estate, real and personal, to be sold, and the money laid out in bank stock, for the support of his children, until his youngest child should come of age, (fee. and then the money to be equally divided among all his children. It was argued that the widow must elect between the legacy and the claim of dower.

¶2Chancellor DeSaussure says, ‘‘dower is a provision made by law, for the support of the widow. A legacy is a provision made by affection for the better support of the wife. As the right of dower is a clear legal right, an intent to exclude that right, must be demonstrated by express words, or by clear and manifest implication, and in order to exclude that right, the instrument must contain some provision inconsistent with the right to demand dower.” After reviewing the authorities, the Chancellor decided that the widow was entitled both to her dower and the legacy.

¶3The appeal court held that the conclusion of the Chancellor was amply sustained by the authorities cited.

¶4The decree of the circuit court is affirmed, and the qp-, peal dismissed,

Johnson and Harper, Chancellors, concurred,Johnston, Ch. absent from indisposition,
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