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48 Mass. 268

Whitman v. Whitman

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided October 15, 1843

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1843-10-15

Petition for partition of lands in Barnstable. The petitioner averred that he was seized, as tenant in common with the respondents, of one undivided fourth part of the premises described in his petition, being the same' that were conveyed to Samuel Whitman by his mother, Mercy Whitman, by deed executed and delivered on the 28th of July 1832. The respondents denied that the petitioner was seized of any part of said premises.

Decided 1843-10-15

Wilde, J.

¶1Upon the facts agreed, we think it very clear that the petitioner has a good legal title to the undivided quarter part of the premises, as claimed in his petition. This share was devised by Mercy Whitman, the former owner of the premises, to Stephen Bailey and Josiah Whitman, in trust for the benefit of the petitioner; but she afterwards conveyed the premises to Samuel Whitman, and he afterwards conveyed the share now claimed to the petitioner. The words of the conveyance are, “ all the right, title and interest which I have in and to all the real estate devised to said Stephen and Josiah, in trust for said Jonas, in the last will and testament of said Mercy.”

¶2These are words of description of the estate intended to be conveyed ; and unquestionably they passed the legal estate to the petitioner.

¶3It was argued for the respondents, that by the words “ estate devised ” nothing was intended to be conveyed but such property as would pass by the will. But it is impossible to support this construction; for after the conveyance of the whole real estate by Mercy Whitman, nothing but personal property could pass by her will. And the intention of the parties to the conveyance, to convey the real estate intended to pass by the will, is very manifest.

¶4Judg writ for partition.

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