Whittlesey v. Fuller

Williams, Ch. J. That the legal title to all the land, which was the sole property of David Geer, passed to the plaintiff, by the deed of Geer, cannot be doubted. Neither is there any doubt, that an interest of some kind in the property conveyed to Geer and his wife, also passed. What the ultimate effect of a decree of foreclosure upon that property would be, the parties are desirous now to ascertain, with reference to the question of redemption : for, if Geer, by his deed, conveyed nothing in the estate granted to him and his wife, those who claim under a deed from both, might not think it an object to redeem. The great question, then, is, what interest did David Geer acquire in the lands conveyed to him and his wife. It was suggested, by the counsel for the plaintiff, that as the consideration proceeded from Geer, it might, in equity at least, be considered as a deed to him, although his wife also was a grantee. But in the absence of all evidence, that this was not done bona fide, a court of equity would not consider this deed to the wife as void, or as conveying nothing to her. [340] Again, it was said, that Geer, and all claiming under him, would be estopped, in consequence of the covenants in the deed to the plaintiff from claiming against them. But these subsequent mortgagees claim under a deed from the wife, as well as the husband. Of course, they cannot be placed precisely upon the same ground as if they claimed under the deed of David Geer alone. The qustion then returns, what interest was vested in Geer, by the deed of Hatch and others; or rather, what interest could he convey to the plaintiff by his mortgage deed. If Geer and wife are to be considered as taking this property as joint tenants, then even if she had been dead before the conveyance to the plaintiff he would have taken one undivided moiety of the land because, as Judge Swift remarks, the odious and unjust doctrine of survivorship was never adopted in this state. 1 Sw. Syst. 272. This question was put at rest, by a decision of the superior court, in the year 1769. Phelps v. Jepson, 1 Root 48. So, too by our practice, on joint tenant can sue alone, without his co-tenant. Indeed, there is, in our state, no essential difference between the rights of joint tenants and tenants in common. Sanford v. Button, 4 Day, 310. 312. Indeed, were it the case of joint tenants, there would be no question, even in England, as the tenancy would have been destroyed, by the alienation of one of them, during the life of the other. But it is said, that although this estate has all the incidents of a joint tenancy, yet that the relation of husband and wife is such, that they cannot receive an estate by moieties, but that each must be seised of the entirety and of course, that no part of the property so held can be conveyed by one of them. And that such is the doctrine of the English books, cannot be doubted. Husband and wife cannot take by moieties, during the coverture; and he has no power to sever the jointure, nor to dispose of any part of the land. Co. Litt. 299. Butler and Baker's case, 3 Rep. 30. Winchester's case, 3 Rep. 5. Back v. Andrews, Prec. in Chan. 1. S. C.2 Vern. 120. 2 Eq. Ca. Abr. 230. And the reason given is, that husband and wife are one. If that were the real reason, it is very difficult to see why a deed to the wife would not be, in effect, a deed to the husband and wife, and vice versa. It certainly is not a reason much regarded in a court of equity, where her separate exist [341] ence is constantly recognised, in her separate property, her separate contracts, and her separate suits. The courts of that country rather regard it as a rule upon which estates have been settled ; and therefore, not to be disturbed. In a case comparatively modern, De Grey, Ch. J., speaks of it as a nice distinction, laid down in our ancient books, and which, having never been over-ruled, continues law at this day. The same words which make other persons joint tenants, will make husband and wife tenants of the entirety, so that neither can sever the jointure, but the whole must accrue to the survivor. Green d. Crew v. King, 2 W. Bla. 1211. And the courts in New-York have adopted this nice distinction of the ancient law of Great-Britain. Jackson d. Stevens v. Stevens, 16 Johns, Rep. 110. But in Connecticut, we cannot learn that it was ever recog-nised as a law of our state. On the contrary, so far as we are informed, deeds or clevises of lands to husband and wife, have been considered as vesting the estate conveyed in the same manner as to other persons. The wife having a separate existence, so as to be able to take by a deed to herself, her identity has not been considered as destroyed, from the fact that the conveyance was to her and to her husband, by one and the same instrument. Estates have been, as we believe, frequently, and so far as we are informed, uniformly, settled upon that principle ; and although no adjudged case has been shewn upon this subject, this practical construction is in such strict accordance with the common understanding, so conformable to the simplicity of our practice, and to the general principles of our law, and has been so long acquiesced in, as to afford high evidence of the question having been settled, by the highest authority ; and if so, we certainly feel no disposition to disturb it. The superior court, therefore, is advised to grant the prayer of the bill. The other Judges concurred in this opinion. Decree for plaintiff.