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49 Mass. 127

Brigham v. Wheeler

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided October 15, 1844

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1844-10-15

The parties submitted the case to the court upon the following facts: Jonathan Wheeler, of Grafton, by his last will, (which was duly proved and allowed,) after disposing of part of his property, made this provision ; to wit, “ the residue and remainder of my estate I order divided into two equal shares, and give and devise the same as follows, viz. one share or half to the child or children, now born or hereafter to be born, of my niece, Hannah A. Mills, (wife of Lewis…

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently February 1907

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1844-10-15

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Wilde, J.

¶1The main question in this case is, whether Jonathan D. Wheeler took any estate or interest under the last will of Jonathan Wheeler; and it appears to the court very clear that he did not. The testator undertook to appoint him guardian of his own children, without giving bonds, for the purpose of receiving and managing the property given to them by the will. This appointment the testator had no authority to make. He could only appoint a guardian for his own children. Rev. Sts. c. 79, § 6. The appointment, therefore, is wholly void.

¶2It has been argued that, to effectuate the intention of the testator, the will may be so construed as to vest an estate in *129trust in Jonathan D. Wheeler, for the use of his children. But the language of the will is plain, and will admit of no such construction.

¶3The disallowance, therefore, to the executors, of the charge of $500 paid to Jonathan D. Wheeler, as guardian or trustee of his minor children, by the judge of probate, must be affirmed.

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