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9 Johns. 306

Smith v. Burnham

New York Supreme Court

Decided October 15, 1812

New York Supreme Court · decided 1812-10-15

THIS was an action of covenant, by which the defendant and. severa* persons agreed with the plaintiffs, in consideration that the plaintiffs had “ agreed to permit each of them to float down the river Saranac, such quantity of timber as was .annexed to names respectively, in a certain schedule thereto annexed, and to put the same over the dam,” &c. that they would pay the plaintiffs at the rate of one dollar for every thousand feet of the timber annexed to their respective…

Decided 1812-10-15

Per Curiam.

¶1The defendant admitted, by his covenant, that Ms name was annexed to the schedule, with a quantity of timber subjoined. He is, therefore, estopped to deny that Delano and Burnam did not include his name. Burnam must be considered to be the same name as Burnham, and he cannot set up a misnomer in avoidance of his covenant. The words "Delano and" may he rejected as surplusage; and if it be a distinct name, yet, as the defendant coupled his name with another, he is still responsible for the sum annexed. The omission to add his Christian name cannot help Mm. A mistake of the surname in a deed will not vitiate ; and the schedule being referred to in the covenant, it is to be taken as part of the covenant, for the purpose of estopping the defendant from denying the name which he has admitted,- merely because there may be a misnomer, or because the Christian name was emitted. The nonsuit ought, therefore, to be set aside, and a new trial awarded, with costs to abide the event of the suit.

¶2Motion granted.

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