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54 Mass. 79

Stewart v. Clark

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided September 15, 1847

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1847-09-15

Action of waste. The plaintiff’s declaration alleged that the defendant held a certain messuage (described) in Colerain, as tenant for life ; that the plaintiff held the next immediate estate of inheritance therein ; and that the defendant “ did make waste, sale and destruction in the said messuage,” (setting forth the acts of waste,) to the damage of the plaintiff.

Decided 1847-09-15

Dewey, J.

¶1The objection taken to the instrument offered as a conveyance of a freehold interest to Lewis Clark is sound, and must prevail. The instrument is not under seal; is not a deed. As a valid conveyance of a life estate, it should be under seal. Rev. Sts. c. 59, § 1. The further provision of § 28, that “ no bargain and sale, or other like conveyance'of any estate in fee simple, fee tail, or for life, and no lease, for more than seven years from the making thereof, shall be valid and effectual, against any other person than the grantor and his heirs and devisees, and persons having actual notice thereof, unless it be made by a deed recorded,” does not dispense with the necessity of passing such title by deed.

¶2Nonsuit confirmed.

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