Jackson ex dem. M'Crackin v. Wright — 14 Johns. 193

Majority

p. 193

Jackson, ex dem. M'Crackin, against S. Wright. Same, ex dem. The Same, against S. Wright, Jun.

NEW YORK,

May, 1817.

Headnote

Where a.,ají». dier in theM»*» fore line,during without ty, granted the is.uSfnvufAntik tenvatds by an Mure, passed in died acres oE land were reete^ to ba a gratuity/ol r£iSioJ"y of wh5s,u* §3“” grlntee^unác was not entitled the deed oW to which a. was the concurrent *bNc?stftíe,urD¿t> ty"eedWof baK coniaín which case it to'Ltoppeü16 °

THIS was an action of eiectment, brought to recover 200 acres J 7 o of land, on the west side of lot No. 60, in the town of Sterling, The cause was tried before Mr. Justice Yates, at the Cayuga tfMrnnif in Ifilft 111 ldib, ,

Peter Boise, by deed poll, dated the 5th of July, 1794, and which was recorded on the 12th of June, 1807, wherein he described as late private in the first New-York regiment, in consideración of forty pounds, granted, bargained, sold, and quit-claimed to the lessor of the plaintiff, in fee, “ all that military * * or parcel of land, granted to him as bounty lands, for his services in the regiment iforesaid, during the late war.” The deed contained no covenants or warrantry.

On the 2d of April, 1800, an act was passed by the legislature of this state, entitled, “-An act, for the relief of Peter Boise, and others,” by which it was enacted, “ that it shall and may be lawful for the commissioners of the land office, and they are hereby required, to grant letters patent to Peter Boise, late a soldier in the first New-York regiment, commanded by Colonel Goose Van Sch'aick, in the line of the army of the United States, and his heirs and assigns forever, for the quantity of two hundred acres of land, in the tract set apart for the use of the line of this state, serving in the army of the United States, as a gratuity for his services and sufferings in the late revolutionary war, provided that the grant shall be to the said Peter Boise, during his life only, and, afterwards, to his heirs in fee.” In pursuance of this act, letters patent, bearing date the 20th of November, 1806, for the premises in question were issued to Peter Boise^ under the great se^l of the state.

p. 194

The judge ruled, that the act of the legislature above men* tioned, was a private act, and that the deed from Boise to the lessor of the plaintiff, being prior in date to the patent, did not entitle him to recover. A verdict was accordingly rendered for the defendant.

The plaintiff moved for a new trial, and the case was submitted to the court without argument.

delivered the opinion of the court. The decision of the judge at the circuit, was correct, on two grounds :

1. The grant, under the private act of the 2d of April, 1806, to Peter Boise, of 200 acres of land, part of lot 60, in Sterling, cannot, in any point of view, be considered as lands coming within the description and intention of the parties, as manifested by the deed from Boise to the lessor of the plaintiff. The deed grants the military right, or parcel of land granted as bounty lands for services during the revolutionary war, and is dated in July, 1794. The lands in question were not granted as bounty land; 1st. Because it is declared to be a gratuity for services, and sufferings : 2d. The bounty lands referred to in the deed were such as had been promised by the state, under the concurrent resolutions of the legislature, and would have comprehended 500 acres. (2d Greenl. ed. Laws, 332.)

2. The deed from Boise to M'Crackin is a bargain and sale, and quit claim, and he had then no title to convey in the premises ; and no title, not then in esse, would pass, unless there was a warranty in the deed; in which last case, it would operate as an estoppel, for avoiding circuity of action. (Co. Lit. sect. 446. 265. a. and b. 3 Johns. Rep. 366 .)

It is a mistake to suppose the deed operative under the act, (2d Greenl. ed, Laws, 332.,) for the conveyances rendered valid under the fifth section of that act, are such only as were given for lands granted under that act.

Motion denied.