Jean Murray, otherwise Carlyle, of Locharthur, and Husband v. George Carlyle, Son of the deceased Thomas Carlyle, in Travala, in Wales [1770] UKHL 6

UKHL
Jean Murray, otherwise Carlyle, of Locharthur, and Husband v. George Carlyle, Son of the deceased Thomas Carlyle, in Travala, in Wales
[1770] UKHL 6 · 1770-02-21
A marriage-contract, although absurd, and inconsistent in some of its clauses, yet, as it was clear in the destination clause, it was sustained.The estate of Locharthur, lying in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, in Scotland, was originally an unlimited fee devised to heirs-general.In 1736, an ante-nuptial contract of marriage was entered into between William Carlyle, the then proprietor, and Agnes Maxwell, whereby she was provided with a certain jointure. And it was specially provided and declared, “That in case there shall be heirs male procreated and existing of the said future marriage at the dissolution thereof, they shall succeed to the said William Carlyle, in his four merkland of Locharthur, and lands of Halmyre; and failing thereof, the eldest heir female of the said future marriage, with this express provision, that she marry legally with the lawful next in blood and kindred of the name of Carlyle; and failing heirs female, the heirs male of Michael Carlyle, in Boreland, his brother-german; which failing, the said Michael Carlyle, his heirs female, with the foresaid express provision in the case of heirs female in this future marriage; and failing thereof the said William Carlyle, his own sisters-german, and their children; all which failing, the said William Carlyle, his own nearest heirs and assignees whatsoever.”In 1743, William Carlyle made the following settlement, after making provision for his wife:both sides, as will consist with the state and standing of the family: Farther, failing heirs, both male and female of this present marriage that is here appointed legally to succeed the eldest heir male of Michael Carlyle, in Boreland, of Southwick, his brother-german, and his heirs; which failing, the said Michael Carlyle, his heir male then is hereby appointed to succeed his heir female with the foresaid express provision above-mentioned in the case of heirs female; all which failing, the said William Carlyle and his said brother, in above-mentioned manner, then therefore legally succeed, and by these presents are ordered and appointed lawfully to succeed, the said William Carlyle, his own next and nearest heirs male in blood and kindred of the name of Carlyle, with the express restrictions, provisions, and limitations, to them and their heirs male and female only, in above-mentioned and underwritten way, and the manner of succeeding, and no otherwise, for divine duties sake, and for conservation of what worldly estate and interest is or may be in the family, still with the lawful next in blood and kindred into the name and family of Carlyle: And, moreover, without prejudice to the above provisions and conditions, it is hereby expressly provided and appointed, that whichsoever of the foresaid heirs it shall happen to succeed, by virtue of the foresaid order and substitution, shall be of pure and true Presbyterial principle and practice, according to the Word of God, and purest Reformation of the truly Covenanted Presbyterial Church of Christ in Scotland, and no otherwise, who upon their failing to be, or not continuing such in principle and practice, were it in his own son, then therefore the next in blood and kindred of the name of Carlyle, who is of pure and true Presbyterial principle and practice, shall succeed by their destination; wherefore all are hereby declared, who are not of the said pure and true Presbyterial principle and practice, eo ipso , to lose and forfeit the benefit of the above-mentioned succession, and the same is appointed to devolve on the next heir substitute that is of such pure and true Presbyterial. principle and practice, who is there-upon hereby authorised immediately after such failure, to serve heir, and to enter into the possession foresaid, and that without being liable for the debts or deeds of the person so failing and contravening.”
“Moreover the said William Carlyle hereby binds and obliges himself and his heirs whatsomever, to provide and secure the four-merk land of Locharthur, lying in the parish of Newabbey, and stewartry of Kirkcudbright, and the foresaid lands of Halmyre, in favour of the eldest heir male, to be procreate of this present marriage, and his heirs; which failing, the eldest heir female thereof, and her heirs, with this express provision, that she marry legally with the lawful next in blood and kindred of the name of Carlyle; which failing in the eldest, then the second, if any be, or any succeeding daughter of this present marriage, is hereby appointed to succeed, such always being obliged to marry in the above-mentioned manner; if otherwise, they are hereby debarred from the succession, and appointed to receive only such suitable and competent portions, determined by friends on

Page: 781 ↓

William Carlyle never had any issue of this marriage. His brother Michael had a son, who was treated as the heir, and

Page: 782 ↓

Michael possessed the estate until 1763, when he died, and the deceased's estate was then taken possession of by the appellant as an heir female, until the respondent came forward and laid claim to the estates as nearest heir male of William Carlyle.Jan. 28, 1768.June 26, 1768.July 26, 1768.Having brought his action of declarator, claiming the estates as nearest heir male, decree in absence was allowed to go out by default. On representation, the Lord Ordinary adhered, and of this date, he found that the succession of the lands of Locharthur devolved “upon the pursuer (respondent), as nearest heir male and of provision to the deceased William Carlyle of Locharthur in virtue of the contract of marriage, dated 21st Oct. 1743.”In a reclaiming petition to the Court, the appellant contended, 1st, That the deed claimed upon by the respondent, was irrational, and in many of the articles, impossible to be carried into execution, and, therefore, ought to be totally disregarded. That it was, in many respects, unintelligible, absurd, and impossible to be carried into execution, because the granter obliged himself to infeft his wife for life in Halmyre, and in another part of the deed he immediately conveys these lands of Halmyre to his heirs male. 2d, The deed contained a limitation to the heirs of the marriage, and their heirs—remainder to the heirs of Michael Carlyle. By these limitations, if William Carlyle, the granter, had a child surviving him, and dying without issue, Michael Carlyle would have taken the succession, as heir to such child, but if William, the granter, had died without any child, then Michael himself was excluded by his own child, who would have taken under the second limitation.Dec. 3, 1768.The Court adhered.Against these interlocutors the present appeal was brought to the House of Lords.After hearing counsel,It was ordered and adjudged that the interlocutors complained of be, and the same are, hereby affirmed.Counsel: For the Appellants, Al. Wedderburn, Tho. Lockhart. For the Respondents, J. Montgomery, H. Dalrymple.