Cook v. Hayward

ICnowlton, J. The testator, Bainbridge Hayward, by his will gave legacies of $200 each to his sons' Henry J. Hayward and William B. Hayward, and gave to his wife Martha Hayward all the remainder of his personal estate, with the real estate which he occupied as a homestead. He then gave her a [196] life estate in all the remainder of his real estate. His will then proceeds as follows: “ Furthermore, at the decease of my said wife, I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my son William B. Hayward the sum of five thousand dollars to be paid to him at the decease of my said wife out of the estate of which I have given the life estate to my said wife Martha Hayward. Furthermore, after the decease of my said wife Martha Hayward and after the payment of said five thousand dollars to my son William B. Hayward, out of my estate, in the which the life estate is given to my said wife, I hereby give, devise, and bequeath the use, occupation, and improvement of what shall then remain thereof in equal shares to my said children, Henry J. Hayward and William B. Hayward, for and during their lifetime, and at the decease of my son Henry J. Hayward, one half in fee to his heirs, and after the decease of my son William B. Hayward the other undivided half part to his heirs.” His wife and two sons survived him, and his son William B. Hayward died before his wife Martha Hayward, who has since deceased. The only question in the case is whether the legacy of $5,000 payable to William B. Hayward after the decease of Martha Hayward lapsed, or whether it goes to William B. Hayward’s representatives. We think it pretty plain that it vested on the death of the testator, although the payment of it was postponed until after the decease of the testator’s widow. It seems to be the ordinary case of a gift of a remainder after a life estate, and it should be held to have vested at the death of the testator unless he plainly indicated an intention that it should not vest until the happening of the later event on which it was to become payable. Wardwell v. Hale, 161 Mass. 396, 399. Eldridge v. Eldridge, 9 Cush. 516. Shattuck v. Stedman, 2 Pick. 467. Seek v. Carlton, 154 Mass. 231. Whall v. Converse, 146 Mass. 345. Cummings v. Cummings, 146 Mass. 501. Loring v. Carnes, 148 Mass. 223, 225. The grounds on which it is argued that the legacy of $5,000 could not vest until after the death of the widow would furnish a foundation for an argument no less strong that the gift of the residue to Henry J. .Hayward and William B. Hayward could not take effect because of the death of William B. Hayward before the decease of his mother, which made it impossible to pay him the legacy of $5,000, without the payment of which [197] the residuary clause could not take effect. Evidently the testator never contemplated such a result. By the terms of the will the legacy is made payable at the decease of Martha Hayward, and the representatives of the legatee are entitled to interest upon it from that time. Inasmuch as the payment is to be made from the proceeds of the real estate, it is the duty of the administrator de bonis non with the will annexed, to sell so much of the real estate as may be necessary to produce this sum with interest, and to make payment thereof to the administrator of the estate of William B. Hayward. Decree of Probate Court affirmed.