Cook v. Sinnamon

Mr. Justice Lawrence delivered the opinion of the Court; In this case the third count in the declaration was in the name of Martha Reason, alleging seizin in her, and the only question is, whether a patent from the Hnited States “ to Martha’Reason and the other heirs-at-law of James Reason, deceased,” was evidence upon which judgment should have been given for the plaintiff under that court, no proof besides the patent being offered. We entertain no doubt that the circuit court decided correctly in holding the evidence insufficient. The patent recites that “ Martha Reason and the other heirs-at-law of James Reason, deceased, having deposited in the general land office a warrant in their favor, numbered 15,766, there is granted unto the said Martha Reason and the other heirs-at-law of Jamos Reason, deceased, late a private ” &e. All the heirs of the soldier were equally entitled to share in this grant, and they all took under this patent as if they had been each specially named, or as if the patent had run to the heirs of James Reason, without specifically naming any of them. In order to recover under this patent it is necessary to show what heirs James Reason left. This patent vested in Martha Reason some unknown fraction of the legal title, as is to be presumed from its own face, since the grant is to Irel- and her co-heirs. If it were made to appear by proof that she was in fact the only heir, then the words relating to the other heirs would be rejected as surplusage. But in the absence of any such proof, she must be considered as raising the presumption by her own evidence, that James Reason left other heirs besides herself, and in the absence of all proof as to the number of such heirs, it is impossible to determine the extent of her interest. In this view of the evidence it is unnecessary to decide the question of practice raised by counsel. Judgment affirmed.