Hunt v. Hazelton

The opinion of the court was delivered by RichaRdson, C. J. One ground of defence, upon which the respondents in this case rely, is, that the share which the petitioner claims, has been leased to one of the respondents by the person from whom the petitioner derives his title, for a term of years which has not yet expired. The grant of the term is alleged to have been by a writing under the hand of the lessor, but is not alleged to have been by deed. But this is of no importance, as it is well settled, that a valid lease of lands for years may be made by a writing not under seal. Woodfull’s Landlord and Tenant, 13 ; 2 Wilson, 26, Farmer v. Rogers; 5 Burr. 2827, Beck v. Phillips. The question then, is, whether the lease is an answer to the petition ? By the common law, a writ, de partitione faciendo, lay only between parceners, who were tenants of the freehold. If one parcener made a lease for years, still the writ lay ; but it was otherwise, if one or both made a lease for life. The language of the writ was,:U quod insi-mul et pro indiviso teneant,” and the word tenet, in a writ, always implied a freehold. Coke Litt. 46, a, and 167, a ; 2 Binney, 1, M’Kee v. Straub ; Litt. sec. 264 ; Com. Dig. Parceners, C, 6. And it was held, in very ancient times, that when one of several coparceners leased her share to another copar-cener for years, the writ de partitione fatienda, might be maintained against the lessee during the term. Fitz H. N. B. 62 ; 22 E. 3, 57. But in such a case the judgment was rendered with a saving of the term. Fitz H, N. B. 62, note. These authorities are decisive of the question we are now considering, unless the law on this subject has been changed. We find, upon examination, that the first change in the [218] law of partition was made by the statute, 32 H. 8, which extended the writ, dc partitions faciendo, from parceners to joint tenants and tenants in common of an estate of inheritance in their own right, or in right of their wives. Com. Dig. Parcener, C, 6 ; Coke Litt. 169, a, note 23 ; Booth, 243. And by the statute 32 PI. 8. cap. 32, joint tenants, or tenants in common, might have partition by writ, when one or all had only an estate for life or for years. Com. Dig. Parceners, C, 6 ; Cro. James, 218, Beedle v. Clerke; Booth, 243. It also appears, that Chancery has long exercised a jurisdiction in England in making partition. Co. Litt. 1C9, note, 23 ; Com. Dig. Chancery, 4, E ; 1 Vesey & Beames, 551, Baring v. Nash. In this State the provincial act of the 13th Anne, cap. 33, authorised partition between coparceners, joint tenants, and tenants in common, by a writ of partition at common law. Prov. Laws, 45. And the provincial act of the 6 Geo. 3, cap. 136, authorized the judges of probate to make partition where the parties were under any disability to make partition by deed. Prov. Laws, 203. The statute of February 4th, 1789, authorised judges of probate u upon application of any person or persons interested with others in any lot, tract, or parcel of land, or other real estate,” to cause partition to be made. And by the statute of June 26, 1810, the same power was given to this court. These statutes authorize a partition to be made in all eases when a partition can be had in England under their statutes, or by the common law. 2 Mass. Rep. 469, Cook v. Allen; 15 Mass. Rep. 155, Mussey v. Sanborn. A great revolution has taken place with respect to the mode of proceeding to obtain partition. In England, the writ de partitions faciendo, seems to have gone very much out of use, and partition is now believed to be generally [219] made in the court of chancery. In this State, that writ is entirely obsolete, and all the business is now done in this court and in the courts of probate, upon petition. But, notwithstanding this revolution, we see nothing that indicates any change of the principle laid down by Fitz Herbert, which we before stated to be decisive of the question now to be decided. Nor do we see any sound reason why there should not be a partition of the inheritance, notwithstanding one of the respondents has a subsisting lease of the petitioner’s share for years. We pre, therefore, of opinion, that this plea is no answer to the petition. The next question is, whether the third plea is a good answer to the petition ? It may be here remarked, that there is a general issue in these proceedings, which might very well have been substituted for the three first pleas in this case. That general issue is, “ that the respondents do not hold, nor on the day of the exhibition of the petition in this behalf, nor ever afterwards did hold the said premises, nor any part or parcel thereof, together and undivided with the petitioner, as he, in his said petition, has supposed. 17 Johns. 221, Ferris v. Smith; Com. Dig. Pleader, 3, F, 3 ; 2 Mass. Rep. 474. Such a plea puts in issue all the material allegations in the petition, and if it appear in evidence upon the trial, that the petitioner has not such an interest in the land as is supposed in his petition, or that the respondents have never had any estate in the land, the verdict must be for the respondents. 17 Johns. 221 ; Croke Eliz. 759, Moor v. Onslow. The plea, we are now examining in this case, does not meet the allegation in the petition, that at the time of exhibiting the petition, the petitioner was seized in fee as a tenant in cbmmon with the respondents, but only alleges, that at the time of filing the plea, the respondents were not tenants in common together with the petitioner. The plea is not, therefore, broad enough to [220] amount to an answer to the petition. For if tlie parties were tenants in common when the petition was presented, a partition may be had in this ease, although they may have since ceased to be tenants in common. For instance, a conveyance of their estate in the land by the respondents to a third person, would not defeat this petition. The form of the general issue in this suit is decisive. Story’s Plead. 347 — 348 ; 17 Johns. 224. Judgment that partition he made, saving any interest less than a freehold, which any of the respondents may have.