Baylies v. Bussey , 5 Me. 153 ( 1827 )

The argument was-had at June term 1826 ; and the cause being continued under advisement, the opinion of the Court was delivered at the June term in this year, in Hancock, by

Mellen C. J.

This case presents several facts and questions of law, which have been argued by counsel; and, though not necessary to a decision on the motion for a new trial, still we have examined them all, and shall deliver our opinion upon all, as the course most useful for the parties. '

The first fact in point of time is, that Henry Knox, being seised of a large tract of land, called the Waldo patent, of which die premises described in the petition, are a part, <Jn the 17th of Ocio-_ iher 1798, mortgaged the same to Benjamin Lincoln and Henry Jackson to indemnify and save them harmless from certain liabilities assumed by them as his sureties.

On the 4th of March 1805, Knox conveyed the lands which are described in the petition, to Bussey, the respondent, in fee sim'ple; who thereupon entered and has ever since continued in possession of the same. His deed was registered May 6th 1806. The petition in the present case was presented in June 1823.

Before we state any more of the facts contained in the report, we shall examine and dispose of two objections of a preliminary character which have been urged by the counsel for the respondent.

It is contended that upon the facts stated, the petitioners ¡ cannot maintain this process, inasmuch as it appears that they were not actually seised of the premises whereof partition is prayed, at the time the process was commenced; but that, on the contrary, the report shews that they and their ancestor, Benjamin Lincoln, have been disseised ever since the year 1805. In support of this position they have cited the case of Bonner v. The Proprietors of the Kennebec purchase 7. Mass. 475. In that case, the petitioner had been dis-seised for about forty years; and the court observed, when speaking of the facts of that case, and giving their opinion, that a petitioner must be actually seised, in order to maintain a petition for partition. From the decision of the same court in a subsequent cause, it would seem that the generality of the language of the court in the case of Bonner v. The Proprietors of the Kennebec purchase, must be restricted to the facts of that case; because in Wells v. Prince 9. Mass. 508, the court expressly decided that if a petitioner for partition had a right of entry, at the time of presenting his petition, he could well maintain the process for the proportion of the estate to which he was legally entitled; and the same principle is stated in Barnard v. Pope 14. Mass. 434. See also 4. Dane’s Abr. ch. 132. art. 8. sect. 12. In the case before us, even if Bussey’s possession was of such a nature as to constitute a disseisin, (as to which we give no opinion) still the petitioner’s right of entry was not taken away when the petition was filed. Considering, therefore, that such was the acknowledged law of Massachusetts, at the time of our separation from that Commonwealth, no sound reason can be given why this court should adopt a different principle, unless some of the provisions of our statute entitled an “ act for the settlement of certain equitable claims arising in real actions,” furnish solid grounds for distinction. It has been contended that they do; that they go farther than the statutes of Massachusetts on this subject, and have more carefully guarded these “ equitable claims” from violation or danger; and the court is called upon so to modify and regulate this process of partition, as in no degree to endanger or impair them. In other words, it is contended, that no p'i for partition ought to be sustained in those cases where the prf .uses have been in the actual possession and improvement of one of more persons, for more than six years next before the commencement of the process. We have examined this argument with care and attention; and will now proceed to give our reasons for not considering it as well founded.

The act before mentioned has relation only to real actions brought for the recovery of lands; that is, to writs of right and writs of entry ; not to writs of partition at common law, or petitions for partition pursuant to the directions of our statute; and we apprehend that it would be a species of judicial legislation, if we should undertake to extend the various provisions of the act to processes of the latter kind, in which it seems impossible to apply those provisions to any good purpose. Nor do we feel at liberty to change those principles of law, which we have before stated, by which a tenant in common may maintain his petition for partition, if he has a .right of entry, though not actually seised, and reduce the limitation of his right to make use of this species of process, from twenty years to six years. Besides, die establishment of such a principle, if in our power, is not necessary to guard the equitable rights of those for whose use and benefit the betterment law, so called, was enacted. The best mode of illustrating the subject, and rendering our meaning perfectly intelligible, is, by stating one or two cases by way of example. Suppose A and B are tenants in common- of a lot of land; and that S has been in the exclusive possession and improvement of it for fifteen years. In this case, a petition for partition lies, and S is enti-tied to the estimation and benefit of the valuable improvements made by him on the land. Suppose A brings his petition for partition, and gives due notice to B, and to S, the man in possession. Now, in the case put, S has no kind of interest in the question how the land shall be divided between A and B ; and as his possession has continued only fifteen years, he could not bar the petition by a plea of sole seisin; in fact, he has no interest in the cause, if the judgment of partition does not destroy or impair his equitable claims and pos-sessory rights, under the betterment law. So if A and B are tenants in common, and B has held the whole lot for fifteen j ears adversely, and excluded A; still A may maintain his petition for partition against B, who has made valuable improvements on (he land. Now in this case, as B cannot defend himself on the plea of sole seisin, he has no interest in the cause, except as tenant in common; and as to the fairness of the division, if the judgment in partition does not destroy or impair his equitable claims and rights under the law, will such judgment destroy, impair or jeopard them in either of the eases above stated ? If not, then the argument of the respondent’s counsel, in the case at bar, falls t > the ground. The case of Motley & als. v. Blake, 12. Mass. 280, is stronger than this, as it regards the legal effects of such a judgment. The heirs of John Motley petitioned for partition of the real estate of which he died seised; and his widow, who was entitled to have her dower assigned to her in the premises, appeared as responde?)!, and opposed the partition on that ground. The court in giving their opinion, say — “ it is apparent she has no interest in the question, nor any right to interfere iu this suit, or to object to the partition which is prayed for.” Yet she had a legal right of dower ; • and not merely an equitable claim. Il is well known that in cases of partition, no precept ever issues in the nature of an execution to put the petitioner into possession of the part assigned to him. The final judgment is considered as placing each one in possession of the part so assigned, and as giving him a. several seisin; and on such seisin the assignee may maintain his writ of entry; and the judgment establishing the partition completely bare the legal possessory title of the respondent, and of all others who might have become respondents. Cook v. Allen, 2. Mass. 462. Now let us suppose that S, in the case first put, and B in the other case, both refuse to surrender the actual possession, and quit the premises; in such circumstances, the remedy of A is a writ of entry against each, to amove him. In such an action, what principle of law forbids the application of the equitable provisions of the betterment act? The object of the petition for partition was, and always is, to effect a division of the legal estate between or among those who own it. The statute does not profess to interfere with any rights or claims of an equitable character, in making the parti-. tion. And the judgment in partition is considered as instanter putting an end, to the legal possessory title, and also to the seisin and possession of the respondent, in common and ordinary cases, and a$ transferring such seisin to die petitioner in the part assigned him,' and clothing him with the rights before mentioned. But it does not by any means follow, that it put an end to all, or to any, of the defendant’s claims under the betterment law; more especially when, by such a construction, equities would be displaced and destroyed, and the anticipated relief, provided for him by the legislature, be forever removed from his reach. By adopting, as we do, the more favorable principle of construction, and supporting the distinction above stated, we are advancing the cause of justice, and protecting those peculiar interests, which it was the object of the act to secure to their owners. Besides, this construction is in perfect accordance with the spirit of that provision contained in the 5th section of the act in question, by which the true owner of land is rendered liable to pay to the person in possession and entitled to betterments, the full amount of their value, in case such owner should enter and amove him from the land. This provision .clearly proves that the actual seisin and possession, though regained by the owner, are not incompatible with the equitable claims of the man entitled to them. In fact, these equitable interests are of such a peculiar character, and so perfectly unknown to the common law, that its rules and principles are not applicable to them. Certain are we, however, that in giving this construction, though we protect these interests from all danger, we do not, in so doing, violate any legal principle, or in any manner impair any legal titles. The objections, therefore, tb the nature of the process before us, are not sustained.

We now proceed to an examination of the more important facts in the cause. And here we would again advert to the first fact stated in this opinion, and we do it for the sake of clearness. On the 17th of October 1798, Knox mortgaged the Waldo patent, including the premises in question, to Lincoln and Jackson in fee. For ■the present we pass by the mortgage to Winthrop, and the recon-veyance from him; but shall notice them both in the sequel. On the 5th of July, 1806, Jackson and Lincoln assigned and transferred to Thorndike, Sears and Prescott the mortgage of October 17, 1798, given by Knox, with all the lands therein described, except such parts thereof as had been sold by Lincoln and Jackson, who were empowered by the mortgage deed to sell and give a fee simple estate of such parts of the lands described in the mortgage, -as they chose, and apply the proceeds to the discharge of the notes which they had endorsed for Knox. By this assignment it appears that Lincoln and Jackson had not been saved harmless. Here we must inquire whether the lands described in the petition passed by the assignment to, and vested in Thorndike, Sears and Prescott; or whether they are embraced within the exception. The exception relates only to land sold; and the report states that it did not appear that there had been any conveyance of any of the lands, except the mortgage deed made by Knox, Lincoln and Jackson, to which we have alluded. Neither does it appear that there' had not been any other. Unless some parts of the land had been sold, under the power given in Knox’s mortgage deed, the exception would seem to be useless and unmeaning. It could not have been intended to embrace the mortgage to Winthrop; for that was not a sale; it was not made under the power from Knox; but was a mere mortgage, made by Knox, as well as by Lincoln and Jackson ; all three joining in the deed. From this view of the assignment of the mortgage of Oct. 17, 1798, it is evident that the legal estate in the premises in question is now in Thorndike, Prescott and the heirs of Sears, and not in the petitioners ; unless the transaction between Knox, Lincoln and Jackson, on the one part, and Winthrop on the other, and the deed of mortgage to Winthrop and his deed of re-conveyance, to which we have several times referred, lead us to a different conclusion. It therefore remains for us carefully to examine those conveyances, and ascertain their object and legal effect.

On the 25th of August 1801, about three years after Knox had mortgaged the Waldo patent to IÁncoln and Jackson, they all three joined in a mortgage of the lands described in the petition, being only a part of the Waldo patent, to Thomas L. Winthrop. Their deed passed the whole estate in the lands therein described to Winthrop; Knox thereby conveying his right in equity, and IÁncoln and Jackson the fee, which they held as mortgagees. On the 8th of October 1804, Winthrop, preferring to release the estate so conveyed to him as security, and rely on the personal obligation of Knox, Lincoln and Jackson, as he had a right to do by the terms of the indenture of August 25, 1801, made his deed of reconveyance to them ; and on the day of its date tendered the same to Knox, Lincoln and Jackson, and demanded the money due on their covenants in the above mentioned indenture. The deed of reconveyance, for some reason or .other, was not then accepted ; but afterwards was delivered to them in September 1807. By reference to the indenture and to the facts as reported, the legal operation of Winthrop’s deed to them must be considered to be that of replacing the estate in them as they held it prior to the conveyance to him in mortgage ; that is, Knox as mortgagor owned the e'quity of redemption, and IÁncoln and Jackson, as mortgagees, owned the fee. Such must have been the intention of all concerned; for it can never be presumed that IÁncoln and Jackson intended that their title as mortgagees under Knox’s deed of Oct. 17, 1798, to the lands in question should be lost or impaired in any degree by the reconveyance from Winthrop ; it was merely an ex-tinguishment of his rights as mortgagee.

But it appears that the assignment of the mortgage of 1798 was made and executed in July 1806, which was about ten months prior to the time when Winthrop’s reconveyance was delivered, viz. September 1807; and the last question is whether this circumstance has any effect in defeating the intentions of Lincoln and Jackson, as expressed in their deed of assignment to Thorndike, Sears and Prescott. The answer to this question is, that at the time of the conveyance in mortgage to Winthrop, the fee of the lands was in Lincoln and Jackson as mortgagees of Knox; and this new incumbrance, created by the conveyance to Winthrop, though continuing at the time of the assignment, did not prevent the operation of it to pass the estate to the assignees, who were strangers, subject to the mortgage to Winthrop, as well as to the right of redemption by Knox ; for it is a well known principle, that in respect to strangers or third persons, the mortgagor is considered as owner of the fee; though as between mortgagor and mortgagee, the fee is considered to be in the latter. Therefore when Winthrop delivered his deed of reconveyance or release in September 1807, the incumbrance of his conditional and temporary title was thereby removed, and the estate remained in Thorndike, Sears and Prescott, subject only to Knox’s right of redemption, as it was before the conveyance to Winthrop, and neither Knox or his representatives have ever redeemed the estate or ¡indemnified the mortgagees. Under these circumstances, and by the application of the legal principles above stated, it appears that long before the present petition was filed, the fee of the premises, whereof partition is prayed, had been conveyed to and was vested in Thorndike, Sears and Prescott; and thus the petitioners, who assert no claim, except what is alleged to be derived from Lincoln and Jackson, have no title to maintain this process. We have thus examined all the points made in the argument, and given our opinion on each; and the conclusion from this investigation is, that the verdict must be set aside and a new trial granted, according to the terms of the report. The petitioners, however, will judge whether a new trial can be of any use to them.

Verdict set aside.