Simms v. Baker

• Decision Date: 01 January 1812
• Citation: 3 Tenn. 146
• Court: Tennessee Circuit Court
• Parties: SIMMS v. BAKER.

3 Tenn. 146

SIMMS

v.BAKER.

Circuit Court, D. Tennessee.²

1812.

This was an action of ejectment [by Simms' lessee against Baker] brought to recover possession of a tract of land. The plaintiff produced a grant, dated the 15th of July, 1793, from the state of North Carolina, calling for five thousand acres of land, ‘lying on both sides of the south fork of Duck river, beginning on the north bank of the river, where the lower line of a survey made for John G. Blount and Thomas Blount crosses the same.’ The survey of the Blounts was made on the 25th day of August, 1792, calling for five thousand acres of land, ‘on both sides of the two main forks of Duck river, beginning opposite the mouth of the Wartrace fork, at a black walnut, plum tree and hickory; running thence west eight hundred and ninety-four poles to a hackberry; thence south eight hundred and ninety-four poles to a stake, crossing the river; thence east eight hundred and ninety-four poles to a stake; thence north eight hundred and ninety-four poles, crossing the south fork of Duck river, to the beginning.’ The beginning corner to the survey of the Blounts was well established, but no actual survey ever had been made; nor had there been an actual survey of the land claimed by the plaintiff. The line, in the survey of John G. Blount and Thomas Blount, calling to run south eight hundred and ninety-four poles to a stake, crossing the river, by actual survey stops one mile and eight poles short of the river. The grant of the plaintiff calls to begin where this line crosses the river. The material question before the court was, whether John G. and Thomas Blount had a right to extend their south line beyond the distance called for to the river?

Dickinson, Whiteside & Hayes, for plaintiff.

Grundy & Cooke, for defendant.

McNAIRY, District Judge (TODD, Circuit Justice, absent).

The cases produced by the plaintiff have not been answered particularly by the counsel for the defendant. They seem to rely more upon the reason of the case than upon authority. It is not necessary for me to say what would be my opinion, were this a case res integra. It is sufficient that the question has been long settled, both in this state and North Carolina. If the calls in an entry or grant are for a given course and distance, this course and distance must be pursued; but if there be also a call for a marked tree, or a natural boundary, the party must go to the tree, or natural boundary, although it may...