Robinson v. Douglass , 2 Aik. 364 ( 1827 )

Prentiss, J.

after stating the above facts in the case, delivered the following opinion of the Court.

It is an establishdd principle of the common law, that a conveyance of lands, where there is a disseizor in actual possession, is inoperative and void. But, notwithstanding this principle, it seems to have been formerly considered in this state, that a conveyance, made in the manner prescribed by the act regulating conveyances of real estate, was effectual to transfer the title, although there was an actual adverse possession at the time. The act provides, that all deeds and other conveyances of lands, signed and sealed, by the party granting the same, having good and lawful authority thereunto, and witnessed, acknowledged and recorded, as the act requires, shall be valid to pass the same, without any other act or ceremony in law whatever. {Comp. Stat. p. 167, s. 5.) It seems to have been supposed that this act abrogated the common law, and gave to every conveyance, having the prescribed requisites, the effect of a perfect title. But it is somewhat difficult to see how the act could admit of this construction. There is surely nothing in it which is repugnant to the rule of the common law, or which affords any implication of a repeal of it. The act speaks of, and is in terms limited to conveyances of lands, granted by a party, having good and lawful authority thereunto; and it merely provides, that conveyances made in the manner prescribed, by a party having such authority, shall be effectual to transfer the lands, without any other act or ceremony whatever. The act does not enable any person to convey lands, who has not good and lawful authority to make the grant, nor does it ascertain who has, or has not such authority, but leaves this to be settled by the rules of the common law; and as a party, when disseiz-ed of lands, has, by the common law, no authority to grant them, it would seem quite evident, that the act did not give ef-feet to his conveyance. The common law considered, that to allow a conveyance under such circumstances, would open the way to the sale of pretended and disputed titles, and thus ne-, cessarily lead to litigation and oppression ; and certainly, nothing short of express words, or necessary implication, would justify a construction of the act, in opposition to a principle so wise and salutary.

But a discussion of the point, whether the common law, in this respect, remained in force in this state, has become of no impor tance, since the legislature have interposed, and by the statute of 1807, provided, “that all bargains, sales, deeds, leases, and other conveyances of lands, &c. where any person shall be in actual possession of said .lands, &c. claiming the same by possession, or in any other way, adverse to the lessor, vendor or grantor, shall be null and void, and of no effect in law, to convey said lands, &c.” {Comp. Slat. p. 171.) The words of the statute, “claiming the same by possession, .or in any other way, adverse to the grantor,” are very strong and comprehensive, and must embrace every case of an entry on land, and possession of the same, claiming title. The argument on the part of the plaintiff, that as the seven acres were parcel of the fifteen acres conveyed by the defendant to Scott, the defendant must be regarded as having occupied the premises, after the conveyance, as tenant at will to Scott, and therefore his possession cannot be considered adverse, would be well founded, if lhere was no' evidence of an actual ouster or disseizen, or that which is equivalent thereto. According to the case of Jackson vs. Sternbergh, 1 Johns. Cas. 153, the defendant, after his deed to Scott, would, in common intendment, become quasi his tenant at will, and would be deemed to continue in that character, until an actual disseizen or disclaimer on his part. The presumption, without doubt, always is, that the grantor, who remains in possession of the land granted, after the conveyance, holds in subordination, and not adverse to the title of the grantee. This, however, is not a conclusion of law, which cannot be rebutted ; but facts may exist which will remove the presumption, and make the possession adverse. The possession of one tenant in common, is, in common presumption, the- possession of both. Yet if one tenant in common enters into the actual and exclusive possession of the lands, taking the rents and profits to his own use, and openly asserts his own exclusive property in the lands, denying the title of any other, it will be considered as an adverse possession by him, and an ouster of the other tenants. (Cummings vs. Wyman, 10 Mass. 464.—Chapman vs. Gray, 15 Mass. 439.)

It is true, as has been argued, that the grantor is estopped to aver against his own deed, or, in other words, to say that the estate conveyed did not pass by the deed; but he is not estop-ped to say that the land in question is not contained in the ^eecb or that he has since acquired a title by ouster and adverse possession. The location or extent of land granted, is often a matter of controversy, and frequently very difficult to deter-mjne. Where the owner of a tract of land conveys a part of it, still remaining in possession of the residue, and occupying and claiming as a portion of the residue, land which the grantee contends is covered by the conveyance to him, it would seem not to admit of a doubt, that if the grantor remains in possession fifteen years, he would acquire a title to the land, claimed and occupied by him as ungranted, although it might turn out in fact to be included in his conveyance to the grantee. And yet it could be so only upon the ground that the possession is adverse, in the present case, the defendant claimed that the tract of seven acres was not included in his deed to Scott, and he occupied it from the date of the deed, not as a part of the fifteen acres conveyed to Scott, and recognizing Scott’s right to it, but as his own, claiming title to the same. He possessed it, therefore, under claim of title, hostile to Scott; and such possession, and claim of title, amount to an ouster or disseizin. The defendant was in the actual possession of the land, claiming the same, adverse to the plaintiff’s grantor, within the very letter of the statute; and we have no doubt, therefore, that his possession was adverse, and, consequently, that the deed from Scott to the plaintiff, as to the seven acres, is void.

As the plaintiff acquired no title to the locus in quo, under the deed from Scott to him, on account of the adverse possession, the question does not arise, whether a title ov right of property, without actual possession, is sufficient to maintain this action. It may be observed, however, upon this as a general question, that although the action of trespass quare clausum fregit is founded on possession, and not on the right, yet, where there is no adverse holding, the possession is considered as following the property, and is deemed to be in him who has the title. (Jackson vs. Gilchrist, 15 Johns. Rep. 89.—Langdon vs. Potter, 3 Mass. 215.—Green vs. Liter, 8 Cranch, 229.) A conveyance, deriving its effect under the statute 27, H. 8, c. 10, commonly called the statute of uses, gives the bargainee a complete seizin in deed, unless there be adverse seizin, without actual entry or livery of seizin. (Harg. Co. Lilt. n. 271.) And in an anonymous case ih Cro. Eliz. 46, it is stated to have been the opinion of divers justices, that cestuy que use is immediately and actually seized and in possession of the land, so as he may have an assize or trespass, before entry, against any stranger who enters without title; and this by the words of the statute, “that cestuy que use shall stand and be seized,” &c. As our statute, regujating conveyances of real estate, is, in substance, like the statute of uses, and gives to deeds the same legal effect, it would seem clear, that the legal seizin carries with it the possession, and is sufficient to enable the owner to maintain trespass, unless the injury is done to a tenant in actual possession, or there is an adverse holding, and the injury is commit' ted subsequent to the disseisin.

Noah, Hawley and S. S. Phelps, for the plaintiff. R. B. Bates, for the defendant.

Judgment for the defendant affirmed.