Ferran v. Taylor and Massie

• Decision Date: 01 February 1806
• Parties: M'FERRAN v. TAYLOR AND MASSIE
• Court: U.S. Supreme Court

7 U.S. 270

3 Cranch 270

2 L.Ed. 436

M'FERRAN v. TAYLOR AND MASSIE.

February Term, 1806

ERROR, to a decree of the district court of the district of Kentucky, in chancery.

M'Ferran in his bill alleged that on the 19th of March, 1784, the defendant, Taylor, for a valuable consideration, executed his bond to the complainant, for the conveyance of 200 acres of land out of 1,000 acres located by him on Hingston, or out of 5,000 acres which Taylor then had for location. The condition of the bond was as follows: 'that if the said Richard Taylor, his heirs &c. shall well and truly make, or cause to be made, to the said Martin M'Ferran, his heirs or assigns, a good sufficient title in fee simple to two hundred acres of land in the county of Kentucky, out of 1,000 acre tract, located by the said Richard Taylor on Hingston's fork of Licking; or 200 acres out of 5,000, which the said Taylor has now for location, provided he obtain the same, at such part or place thereof, as the said M'Ferran shall choose, not to exceed more than twice the breadth in length thereof, so soon as the lands can, in any degree of safety, be surveyed then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.'

The bill further alleged, that on the 25th of September, in the same year, the defendant, Taylor, executed another bond to the complainant for 300 acres of land adjoining the former tract of 200 acres.

That the said 5,000 acres of land alluded to by the bonds, was granted to Taylor, for his military services, by a warrant numbered 1,734, which issued for 6,000 acres; but that Taylor did not inform the complainant that it contained more than 5,000 acres. That 1,000 acres of the 6,000 have been located on Paint Creek, and 2,000 on Brush Creek, in the north-western territory, and 3,000 on the Green River, in the district of Kentucky. That Taylor had not any lands on Hingston, so that the complainant cannot make his choice there, where he avers the general quality of the land is equal to any in Kentucky, and is worth from 8 to 10 dollars an acre. That Taylor has sold the 1,000 acres on Paint Creek to the defendant, Massie, who, before he paid for the land, and obtained a title from Taylor, had notice of the complainant's claim to 500 acres from Taylor, as before stated.

That before the sale to Massie, Taylor had sold the 2,000 acres on Brush Creek to Abraham Buford, or to some one else, and in consequence thereof, assigned the certificate of survey to John Brown. That in 1796, the complainant applied to Taylor to show him his lands, that he might make his choice, but Taylor neglected and refused to show them. That the complainant chooses to have the 500 acres laid off, and conveyed to him from the land on Paint Creek, and has given notice of his choice to Taylor, who refuses to convey the same from out of that tract, and refuses to accompany the complainant to have the same laid off; and that Massie also refuses to convey.

The bill concludes with a prayer, that the complainant may be permitted to make choice of 500 acres of land out of the 1,000 acres on Paint Creek; that the defendants may be compelled to convey the same; and that the court would grant general relief, &c.

The answer of the defendant, Taylor, admitted the bonds, and that the 500 acres were to be laid off in one tract. It alleged, that the consideration of the first bond was two horses, sold to him by the complainant, at the price of 40l. Virginia currency for both; and that the consideration of the other bond was another horse, valued at 48l. It refers to the entry for the 1,000 acres upon the waters of Licking, dated June 15th, 1780, which is in these words: 'Colonel Richard Taylor enters one thousand acres on treasury-warrants, adjoining an entry of Major Thompson's, on a buffaloe road leading from Hingston's fork to the sweet licks, beginning at his south-east corner, thence north along said Thompson's line 600 poles, thence east for quantity.' The answer then avers, that the mentioning of Hingston's fork of Licking in the bond, was not a description of locality, but of tract; and that the mentioning Hingston was no greater recommendation of the land than if another fork of Licking had been named; because both parties were unacquainted with it, and Taylor had understood that his said entry was on Hingston. That the provision in the bond for a choice out of 5,000 acres was an alternative; and it was not intended that the complainant should have his choice out of the 6,000 acre warrant; and it was intended, and understood by both parties, that Taylor should hold 1,000 acres thereof, unincumbered, and not liable to the complainant's choice. It avers further, that these 1,000 acres were located on the shares on Paint Creek; that Taylor held part, and Kenton and Helm another part, as locators; that he sold his part to Massie, but he does not recollect the quantity. Of the remaining 5,000 acres he exchanged 2,000 with Colonel Abraham Buford, for two entries of 1,000 acres each, because there was a greater probability of getting good land upon small entries than upon large. That these 2,000 acres were located on the south side of Green River. That the other lot of 2,000 acres, part of the 5,000, was located on the north fork of Paint Creek, but understanding the land was not good, he had 1,500 acres withdrawn, and finally located on some of the waters of Paint Creek, as he is informed; but he is so much unacquainted with that country, that he cannot point it out particularly. The remaining 1,000 acres are located and patented south of Green River. That he has offered the complainant a choice of any of those lands, except the 1,000 acres held by Massie, Kenton, and Helm, which he has refused. That the 500 acres on the north fork of Paint Creek, are inferior to the other lands, as he has been informed and believes; and the complainant having positively refused them, Taylor has sold them. But the 1,500 acres on the waters of Paint Creek, which were originally part of the 2,000 acre lot, and the three tracts of 1,000 acres each, south of Green River, are yet held by him ready for the choice of the complainant. That Taylor informed the complainant, before the commencement of this suit, fully of the exchange with Buford, and has been always ready and willing to let him have his 500 acres as aforesaid. That Taylor informed the complainant of his said military warrant; and that it was for 6,000 acres; and that he reserved 1,000 acres thereof, which it was then possible he might want to live on, and that the complainant's right of choice was only to extend to the remaining 5,000 acres. That since Taylor discovered, that the first mentioned 1,000 acres laid on Slate Creek, a branch of Licking, and not on Hingston, a branch of Licking, he informed the complainant thereof, and also that he had no lands on Hingston.

The answer of Massie denied, that previous to his paying the consideration of the land to Taylor, and the issuing of the patent, he has any notice that the complainant had any claim to that land, and averred that he was a bona fide purchaser, for a valuable consideration, without notice.

The jury (who, by the practice of Kentucky, are called to ascertain facts in chancery suits) found the following facts:

1. That the defendant executed the bonds.

2. That at that time he had no lands on Hingston's fork of Licking.

3. That on the 29th of August, 1795, he assigned to John Brown, the plot and certificate of survey, &c. (the 2,000 acres before mentioned) which survey was made by virtue of a military warrant, No. 1,734.

4. That on the 31st of July, 1797, he assigned to Massie, &c. the 1,000 acres before mentioned, being a survey of part of the same warrant.

5. That the complainant demanded of Taylor 500 acres, in virtue of the said bonds, before the commencement of this suit; but it does not appear that any lands have been conveyed in compliance with that demand; neither does it appear that any particular piece of land was pointed out by the complainant, when the said demand was made, except that he had made his election to have 500 acres out of the survey assigned to Massie, and gave notice thereof to Taylor, who refused to convey it.

6. That 500 acres might be laid off in that survey worth five dollars an acre, in the form called for in the bonds.

7. That the 5,000 acres mentioned in the bonds, were part of the warrant No. 1,734, for 6,000 acres, granted to Taylor for his own services.

8. That Taylor had the entry of 1,000 acres of June 15th, 1780.

9. That when the bonds were executed, Taylor had a military warrant for 6,000 acres, 1,000 whereof were intered on Paint Creek, in partnership with the locators, and since assigned to Massie; 2,000 were exchanged with Abraham Buford, for other 2,000 acres of military warrants, in separate entries of 1,000 each, because Taylor deemed it more probable that he should get good land on small entries than on large ones.

10. That 1,000 acres of the said 5,000 were entered on the south side of Green River.

11. That the remainder of the 5,000 acres is located on Paint Creek, or its waters.

12. That Taylor is willing that the complainant should make his choice out of any of the three tracts of 1,000 acres each, south of Green River, or out of the 1,000 acres on the waters of Licking, or out of the 500 acres, or the 1,500 acres, on the waters of Paint Creek.

13. That the average price of lands on Hingston is three and a half dollars per acre, and on Slate two dollars per acre.

14. The 1,000 acres adjoining Thompson are worth two dollars per acre.

15. The land transferred from Taylor to Buford is worth one dollar and fifty cents per acre.

16. The land transferred by Buford to Taylor is worth two dollars per acre.

The decree of the district court, upon the bill, answers, and facts found, was, in substance,

That the complainant should, on or before the 1st of September then next, make choice of his 500...