Edgerton v. Harrison

Sea well, J. The one question posed on this appeal is whether the deed of Sallie Wiggs, by application of the rule in Shelley’s case, conveyed to Sophronia Edgerton a fee simple estate in the disputed lands. The affirmative answer to this question given in the lower court must be affirmed. The appellants stress the following declaration appearing immediately before the tenendum clause: “And for a better understanding and the true intent of this conveyance, I only intend to convey to F. C. Edgerton and Sophronia Edgerton the lifetime right to said land after my death.” They urge that this intent be observed in the construction, citing Triplett v. Williams, 149 N.C. 394, 63 S.E. 79, and later precedents in accord. They insist that “the intention of the parties is the main object of all constructions,” and particularly those applying to deeds. It is true that rules of construction applied to deeds of conveyance have been greatly relaxed in modern practice, so that emphasis is no longer placed on the order of succession and relative historic importance of the several parts and clauses; and that the intention is to be gotten from the “four corners,” as in other instruments. The whole subject of estates in land, their creation and relationship, is highly technical, and the conveyancer may expect to meet with settled rules of law or rules of property and established public policy which operate in disregard, or even in contravention, of intent. In that event the collateral expression of intent will not avail. Speaking of the rule in Shelley’s case, it is said in Nichols v. Gladden, 117 N.C. 497, 501, 23 S.E. 459, “A declaration, however positive, that the rule shall not apply or that the estate of the ancestor shall not continue beyond the primary expressed limitation, or that his heirs shall take by purchase and not by descent, will be unavailing to exclude the rule *161 . . . tbe rule is one of property and not of construction.” In tbis tbe Court adopts tbe language of Daniel v. Whortenby, 17 Wall. 639. Tbe opinion further says, (adopting tbe expression in 2 Wasb. 273) : “Whenever tbe rule does apply it is as a rule of tbe common law so imperative that though there be an expressed declaration that tbe ancestor shall only have a life estate it will not defeat its union with tbe subsequent limitation to bis heirs.” In tbe instant case, however, tbe expressed intent that Sophronia should have no more than a life estate is not inconsistent with, but actually in aid of tbe limitation to tbe “bodily heirs,” in creating an estate in fee tail, which tbe statute converts into a fee simple absolute. G.S. 41-1 (see stat. 1784, C. 204, S. 5). Tbe rule in Shelley’s case, invoked by tbe defendant, obtains here and is controlling. As understood here, it covers tbe situation where tbe limitation is to bodily heirs, (where there is nothing apparent to indicate that tbe expression refers to bodily heirs as a "descriptio personarum, ” or a limited class who might take by purchase), as well as where tbe limitation is to heirs general. In Nichols v. Gladden; supra, p. 500, tbe rule is stated as follows: “That when tbe ancestor by any gift or • conveyance taketh an estate of freehold and in tbe same gift dr conveyance an estate is limited either mediately or immediately to bis heirs, in fee. or in tail, tbe words ‘heirs’ is a word of limitation of tbe estate and not a word of purchase. Tbe definition is taken from 1 Coke, 104.” Tbe very comprehensive opinion of Chief Justice Stacy, speaking for the Court in Welch v. Gibson, 193 N.C. 684, 687, 138 S.E. 25, (q. v.), adopts tbe rule as stated by Chancellor Kent in bis Commentaries, (4 Kent Com. 215) as follows : “When a person takes an estate of freehold, legally or equitably, under a deed, will, or other writing, and in tbe same instrument there is a limitation by way of remainder, either with or without tbe interposition of another estate, of an interest of tbe same legal or equitable quality, to bis heirs or heirs of bis body, as a class of persons to take in succession from generation to generation, tbe limitation to tbe heirs entitles the ancestor to tbe whole estate.” 1 Prest. Est. 263. In tbe particular case it is to be noted that tbe limitation of tbe life estate is to Fernando Edgerton and Sophronia Edgerton, husband and *162 wife. This limitation of the life estate to two persons introduces no element to defeat tbe application of the rule. The effect would be only that Sophronia’s estate in fee simple absolute would have been subject to the life estate of her husband, Fernando, and the record shows that she survived him. In that respect and others, the factual situation in the instant case is on all fours with those in Rawls v. Roebuck, 228 N.C. 537, 46 S.E. 2d 323; and the succinct but ample opinion of Mr. Justice Denny in that case is controlling here. The pleadings and admissions of the parties contain sufficient facts to make the issue entirely one of law, and the motion for judgment on the pleadings was properly allowed. The correct conclusion was reached, and the judgment is Affirmed.