Summary
In Wright v. Wright (Court of Chancery,1886), 41 N.J. Eq. 382, testator, by his will, gave all his property to his wife for life "and at her death may by will dispose of the same between my children and grandchildren as she may think proper."
Summary of this case from Brown v. Fidelity Union Trust Co.Opinion
06-15-1886
WRIGHT and another v. WRIGHT and others.
E. M. Colie, for complainants.
Bill for construction of will, etc. Facts appear in the opinion.
E. M. Colie, for complainants.
RUNYON, Ch. The question presented for decision is whether the complainants, who are executors of the will of Elizabeth Richards, deceased, can lawfully execute the power to sell land given to them by the will. The land was owned by William Richards, the husband of the testatrix. He predeceased her, and died seized of it. By his will he disposed of his estate as follows:
"I give and bequeath all my property, both real and personal, that I die possessed of both in the state of New Jersey and the city of New York, (after my funeral expenses and debts shall be paid,) to my wife, Elizabeth Richards, to use or dispose of in any manner that she may think proper during her life-time, and, at her death, may by will dispose of the same between my children and grand-children as she may think proper."
By her will she ordered her executors to sell all her estate, both real and personal, within one year from the date of her decease. She charged her estate with the payments of her debts, and a sum sufficient for the erection of a suitable tomb-stone over her grave, and directed that out of the remainder of the property a legacy of $100 be paid to her daughter-in-law, the widow of Thomas Richards. She then directed that the residue of the property be divided into six equal shares, and gave one of them to each of her three daughters, "or to their respective" descendants; another to her granddaughter Frances, daughter of William Richards, "or her descendants;" a half share to each of her grandchildren Abby Ann and Ira L., children of Thomas Richards, or "to the descendants of each" of them; and a half share to each of her grandchildren Frances and Peter, children of Mary Garrison, "or to the descendants of each" of them.
The testatrix had no real estate upon which the will could operate. Her estate in the real property devised to her by her husband's will was a life-estate only. The property was given to her, to use or dispose of in any manner she might think proper during her life-time, with provision that she might dispose of it between (among) the testator's children and grandchildren as she might think proper. The gift is not of an unlimited interest, with a superadded power to dispose of the property by deed or will, but it is for life merely, with a power of appointment by will.
In Bradly v. Westcott, 13 Ves. 445, where there was a bequest of personal estate to the sole use of the testator's wife for life, to be at her full, free, and absolute disposal during her life, without liability to account, and, after her decease, certain specified articles and £500 were to go according to her appointment by will, and, in default of appointment, they were to fall into the residue, which was disposed of, it was held that the widow took an interest for life only, with a limited power of appointment. It was also held that the power given to her to dispose of the property was merely such power of disposition as a tenant for life might exercise. So, also, in Scott v. Josselyn, 26 Beav. 174, where the bequest was of the residue, in trust to permit the testator's wife to receive the annual produce of the property for life, and also to apply to her own use such parts of the capital as she should think proper, and, after her death, to stand possessed thereof in trust for such persons as she should by will appoint, and in default of appointment, in trust to pay certain legacies, it was held that the widow took a life-estate only, with power of disposition of the capital during her life and of appointment by will. And in Pennock v. Pennock, L. R. 13 Eq. 144, where the gift was to the testratrix's husband, in trust, to stand possessedthereof, and to enjoy the rents, profits, and income for his own absolute use and benefit for life, with power to take and apply the whole or any part of the capital (the will gave him full power of sale) to and for his own benefit, and from and after his decease the property was to go over, it was held that the husband took a life-estate only, with power of appointment, and that on his death, without having exercised, the power, the gift over took effect.
In the case under consideration the gift was of the property, to use and dispose of it as the donee might think proper during her life, and at her death she was to dispose of it among the testator's children and grandchildren as she might think proper. The devise is expressly for life. Where the devise is expressly for life, with power of disposition annexed, an estate for life only passes. Bradly v. Westcott, ubi supra; Downey v. Borden, 36 N. J. Law, 460. Inasmuch as the testatrix had no real estate upon which her devise of real property could operate, it is to be presumed that she intended to execute the power by the devise. But she has not made the appointment according to the requirements of the power. She was to appoint the property among the donor's children and grandchildren, as she might deem proper. Under such a provision, both the children and grandchildren take. Barnaby v. Tassell, L. R. 11 Eq. 363; Law v. Thorp, 4 Jur. (N. S.)447; In re Fox's Will, 35 Beav. 163. She has appointed a share to each of her daughters, "or their descendants." At least one of them, Sarah Jordan, (or Jardine,) had a child living at the death of the testatrix. He is named as one of the executors, and is one of the complainants. Under the terms of her husband's will the testatrix was not at liberty to exclude any of the children or grandchildren; the power was not an exclusive one. While she had a discretion as to the shares to be given to them, she was bound to give each child and each grandchild a portion. Lippincott v. Ridgway, 10 N. J. Eq. 164. The word "grandchildren" is not used in a substitutionary sense, but as a word of purchase. The direction is "to dispose of the same between" the testator's "children and grandchildren, as she may think proper." The words must, in the absence of anything in the context to lead to a different construction, be construed according to their natural import. There is nothing in the context in this case to control the meaning. The gift to the wife and the appointment of executors are all the provisions contained in the will. Nor is the case of Lippincott v. Ridgway, above cited, in anywise opposed to this view. There the power was to dispose of the trust funds by will among the donee's brothers and sisters, and their children, in such proportions as the donee might think fit. The court, indeed, did not recognize the right of the children to participate except in substitution for deceased parents, but it will be seen by reference to the will by which the power was conferred, and which will be found in Lippincott v. Stokes, 6 N. J. Eq. 122, that it appeared from the context that the gift to the children was merely substitutionary.
The appointment being invalid, it follows, of course, that the executors have no power to sell the property.