Wells v. Beall 2 G. & J. 468

Wells, et ux. vs. O. Beall, et ux.

1830.

The Court of Chancery has jurisdiction to decree dower, and rents and profits, to the widow, from the death of her husband.

Where dower is claimed at common law, and the husband’s title to the land is controverted, it must be made out at law; but it will not therefore follow, that a bill in Chancery for its recovery is to be dismissed, because the right to dower is denied. The Chancellor should in such case retain the bill for a reasonable time, until the right at law is established.

The statute of limitations is no bar in equity to a widow’s claim for dower, er the rents and profits thereof. Per Bland, Chan’r.

*469Appeal from the Court of Chancery.

The bill which was filed in this ease by the appellees, Otho B. Beall and Mary his wife, on the 10th of December, 1825, against William, Wells of George, and Jemima his wife, the present appellants, and William Wells, executor of Jacob W. Brashears, stated, that some time in the year 1797, a certain John W. Brashears oí Prince George County died, leaving five children; one of whom, Richard W. Brashears, the former husband of the complainant Mary, died in the year 1806, intestate, leaving a son, since deceased. That the said John W. Brashears, by a duly executed will, (a copy of which the complainants exhibit,) devised to the aforesaid Jacob W. Brashears, (one of his sons in tail,) 44 acres of a tract of land called Plummer's Pleasure, and also by the said will, devised the residue of the said tract in tail, to be equally divided between the said Richard W. B. and Beall B. (another son,) with cross remainders, to the survivor, and the aforesaid Jacob W. B. That Beall B. died in the year 1801, without issue, and without altering the estate so devised to him, whereby the aforesaid Richard W. B. became entitled to three-fourths of the residue of the said land, and that upon his death, his widow, the complainant Mary, (afterwards married to the other complainant Otho B. Beall, became entitled to one-third of the rents and profits thereof. That at the death of Richard, W. B. in 1806, the said lands were undivided, and they have continued since in the possession and use of Jacob W. B. who has received all the rents and profits of the same, promising to account to complainant Mary, for her dower right therein, hut never doing so. That the said Jacob W. B. died in the year 1816, devising and bequeathing his whole estate to Jemima, (one of the appellants,) since intermarried with the other appellant, William Weds of George, and appointing William Wells, the other defendant, his executor. That since the death of Jacob W. B., Wells and wife have had possession of the aforesaid land, and have received to their own use the .rents and profits of the same, *470promising to account, &c. as the said Jacob W. B. had done before them. Prayer, that William Wells, the executor of Brashears, maybe decreed to account with, and pay to the complainants, the rents and profits which accrued to complainant Mary, in the life-time of his testator, and that the appellants (Wells and wife,) may be compelled to do the same, in reference to the rents, &c. accrued since, and for general relief.

The answer of Wells and wife, admits, that John W. Bra-shears died in, 1797, leaving five children, of whom Richard W., the former husband of complainant Mary, was one. That he died in the year 1806, intestate, leaving an only-son. They further admit that John W. B. made such a devise of the tract of land called Plummer's Pleasure as the bill charges, and that Beall B. died in the year 1801, without altering the nature of the estate created in him by the said devise of John W. B. But they expressly deny, that Richard W. B. the former husband of the complainant had, or could have, any title to the land so devised to him by John W. B. because the said John W. B. had not himself any title therein. They admit ¿that John W. B. in his lifetime, contracted for the purchase of said land, but they deny that he ever paid any part of the purchase money for the same; and they allege, that after his death, Jacob W. B. made a new contract for the purchase of said land, and paid the entire purchase money out of his own private funds, taking a deed to himself for the same. They likewise admit, that from the death of Richard W. B. the said land has been held and used by Jacob W. and themselves, but they deny that either of them ever promised to account to the complainants, or either of them, for any portion of the rents and profits. They insist that Jacob W. B. was the rightful owner and occupier of said lands, and they exhibit and make the will of Jacob a part of their answer, by which he bequeaths and devises the whole of his estate to the defendant Jemima in fee tail general, and therefore they are not accountable to any person, for the rents .and issues of *471the lands in question. They admit that Jacob died in 1816, as charged.

The answer of William Wells, the executor of Jacob, admits that he was constituted and qualified as his executor, but he alleged, and proved, that he had settled the estate, and paid over the residue, to the defendant Jemima and her husband William Wells of George, and the bill was dismissed as to him, without any opposition from the complainant’s solicitor.

A commission issued, and proof was taken, among other things, in relation to the value of the rents of the land in controversy. — The opinion of the Court of Appeals however, renders a recapitulation of the proof, wholly unnecessary.

At December Term, 1827, Bland, Chancellor, passed the following decree.

This case has been intimately associated, and in some respects blended with the case of Otho B. Beall, administrator of the late Richard B. Brashears, against William Wells and others. The two cases were argued together, and admitted to depend upon the same principles, to a certain extent. I therefore took up, and considered the case instituted by Otho B. Beall, as administrator, and have decided it first, because it manifestly involved every material principle of this case, and more.

This suit has been instituted to recover the rents and profits of the dower, to which it is alleged the complainant Mary, was entitled, in a portion of the land called Plummer’s Pleasure; and her claim is opposed upon two grounds. First, that her former husband Richard W. B. had during the coverture, no more than a mere equitable interest of which she is not dowable, and secondly, the lapse of time, and the statute of limitations, is relied on as a bar. But as I have already explained and decided in the case of Beall as administrator vs. Wells and others, the late Richard W. B. the former husband of the complainant Mary, had, during the coverture actual possession, and a good, legal title, *472and died seised of three-fourths of that portion oí Plummets Pleasure, which had been devised to him and his brother Beall in tail, by their father the late John W. B. and consequently she was entitled to dower of that land. And with regard to the statute of limitations I have formerly decided, that it constitutes no bar, and does not in equity, apply to a widow’s claim of dower, or the rents and profits thereof, Oliver vs. Richardson, 9 Ves. 232. Whereupon it is on this 29th day of December, adjudged, ordered and decreed, &c.

From this decree the appellants Wells and wife, appealed to the Court of Appeals.

The cause was argued before Buchanan, Ch. J., Earle, Martin, Stephen and Archer, J.

Key, and Johnson for the appellants, contended,

1. That if Richard W. B. the first husband of the complainant Mary, had any title in the land in question, it was but an equitable title, and as he died prior to the act of 1818, ch. 193, his widow is not entitled to dower in it.

2. The title to dower being expressly disputed by the answers, the right should first be established at law.

3. Limitations is a bar to the recovery of the rents and profits, which became due more than three years prior to the filing of the bill.

1. Richard W. 3. had no title to Plummer’s Pleasure, or if any, but an equitable title. The answer expressly denies that he died seised of any part of said land. This denial is responsive to the bill, and throws the proof of title on the complainant, and there is no proof.

2. The objection to the want of jurisdiction in the Court, is open to us, notwithstanding the answer. In fact the question could not arise until the answer is filed, as it is not until then that the Court can know, that the title to dower will be disputed. A demurrer to a bill like the present, would admit the seisin of the husband, and of course the *473right to dower would follow. As a general rule, it is admitted that in reference to dower, Courts of law and equity, have a concurrent jurisdiction; but when the facts upon which the claim rests, are controverted, the title must be established at law, before Chancery can grant relief. Herbert vs. Wren, 7 Cranch, 370. Mundy vs. Mundy, 2 Ves. Jr. 122. 4 Kent’s Com. 70. Jeremy’s Equity, 305. 1 Johns. Ch. Rep. 111. Philips vs. Green, 3 Ib. 302. Swaine vs. Perine, 5 Ib. 482. D’Arcy vs. Wake, 2 Sch. and Lef. 391. Coop. Eq. 134, 135. Mundy vs. Mundy, 4 Brow. Ch. Rep. 294.

Magruder, for the appellees.

1. The bill filed in this case, would have authorised a decree for profits, and an assignment of dower also. Chalmers vs. Chambers, 6 Harr. and Johns. 29.

2. If when, the right to dower is contested by the answer, it must be established at law before Chancery can relieve, it does not follow, that the hill is to be dismissed. It must be retained until the right is ascertained. But suppose the objection to be a valid one, it should have been presented by demurrer or plea. After answer, it cannot be insisted on. On this point, he cited, Mitf. 109, 110. Herbert vs. Wren, 7 Cranch, 370. 2 Johns. Ch. Cases, 339. 1 Fonb. 19. 2 Eq. C. Abr. 382, 383. note (C.) Jeremy’s Eq. 295. Dimond vs. Billingslea, 2 Harr. and Gill, 273. Mundy vs. Mundy, 2 Ves. Jr. 122. Mundy vs. Mundy, 4 Bro. Ch. C. 295. Coke Lit. 36, (B.) 1 Madd. Ch. P. 97.

Upon the question of limitations he referred to, Oliver vs. Richardson, 9 Ves. 222. 1 Madd. Ch. P. 197. Swaine vs. Perine, 5 Johns. Ch. Rep. 488.