Marden v. Chase , 32 Me. 329 ( 1850 )

Tenney, J.

The title relied upon by the demandant is under a deed of quitclaim from Nailaniel Moncey, to him and heirs and assigns forever, warranting against all claims, which have or may originate in him. After a description of the land, which is represented as being the farm on which the grantor lives, follows “ excepting and reserving to the said Nailaniel Moncey the use, occupation and control of the said described premises, during the said Nailaniel Moncey’s and his wife Margrette Moncey’s natural lives, for their maintenance and support.”

The tenant introduced no title of evidence in himself, but denied, that the demandant could maintain this action, inasmuch as the whole premises described were reserved during the lives of the grantor and his wife ; and that the instrument subsequently executed by the grantor, purporting to cancel this reservation, not being under seal, was wholly inoperative for the purpose intended.

If the reservation is as broad in its signification, as it is contended in behalf of the tenant, the deed as one of bargain and sale of a fee-simple estate, to take effect in futuro, would be void. This result is not to be admitted, if it can be prevented by a construction, which will carry into effect the intention of the parties, and that their designs shall not be defeated. So that if a man have two ways to pass lands by the common law, and he intended to pass them one way, and they will not pass that way, ut res valent, they may pass the other way. Shep. Touch. 82. Upon this principle, a deed of lease and release has been holden to be a covenant to stand seized to uses, when the consideration was a good one. Doe v. Trummer & al. 2 Wils. 75. A bargain and sale from a parent to a child, to take effect after the death of the parent, has been holden to be a covenant to stand seized to the use of the parent for life, with a vested remainder to the child in fee; because, as a bargain and sale, it would have been a conveyance of a freehold, in futuro, and therefore void. Wallis v. Wallis, 4 Mass. 135; Emery v. Chase, 5 Greenl. 232. But in the present ease, it is believed, effect may be given to the deed under which the demandant claims, consistently with the true intent of the parties, as shown by the deed and in the manner contemplated by them, notwithstanding it is in-artificially drawn.

If the design of the parties had been, that an entire reservation of the whole subject-matter of the deed should be made, to continue during the lives of the grantor and his wife, so that the grantee could take nothing at the time of the delivery, the clause “ for their maintenance and support” would be wholly unnecessary. The object of the reservation, being expressed, could not enlarge in the least the meaning. But the design may have been to restrict the reservation and thereby to give effect to the deed. The land described in the deed was that on which the grantor lived. It is manifest. that at the time of the transaction, he depended upon this farm as the source from which his support was to be derived. By the alienation, he did not intend to expose himself to want by the loss of that upon which he so relied for that purpose. The security for his wife’s support was also intended to be retained in the same manner, if she should survive him. It is difficult to believe, that it was his expectation or that it was the expectation of the grantee, that the grantor was to have the exclusive management of the farm, unaided by the grantee, during the decrepitude and disease of old age, which might have been anticipated before his death ; much less that all the burden and care of taking charge of a farm, would devolve upon his widow, if she should survive him, when she could have no title whatever under a reservation, and when it is considered that the sole purpose expressed, was their support and maintenance. Hence the reservation was a qualified one. It was to continue so long as the grantor and his wife should need support, but no longer; it was to be for an amount, which would be sufficient for the purpose expressed, but to be limited thereto. Such is the plain import of the deed, and should have the effect intended, if no principle of law is violated thereby. If the reservation is absolute, without any qualification, the deed will be utterly inoperative for every purpose. The mode of support provided by the grantor would be entirely changed from his manifest design ; the support of his wife after his decease, would be from her dower in the farm, instead of the whole farm, if the income of the whole should be necessary, as he undoubtedly intended.

The deed may be fairly construed to convey an estate, immediately subject to the support of the grantor and his wife, during their lives, and incumbered by the right of the grantor to the use, occupation and control of the farm, so far as it might be necessary to obtain that support. Such right would not necessarily extend to an exclusive occupation or control of the farm, and would not therefore amount to a reservation of a life-estate in it.

Exceptions overruled.