J. Gibson - Romill - Cler - Thomso - W. Murra - J. A. Murray v. Sir Wm. Forbes - Giffor - Warre - Walker [1821] UKHL 1_Shaw_27b

UKHL

J. Gibson - Romill - Cler - Thomso - W. Murra - J. A. Murray v. Sir Wm. Forbes - Giffor - Warre - Walker

[1821] UKHL 1_Shaw_27b

Held (affirming the judgment of the Court of Session,) that it was not competent for a court of freeholders to entertain an objection, that the lands on which a claim for enrolment was made held burgage, and to verify which, it was necessary to revert to the titles anterior to those founded on by the claimant.

On the 7th of December 1814, the Magistrates and Town Council of Edinburgh granted to Sir William Forbes a disposition of certain lands, and particularly of those of Greenhill, forming part of the Burrow or Common muir belonging to the City of Edinburgh. In virtue of the procuratory of resignation in this disposition, Sir William obtained a charter under the Great Seal from the Barons of Exchequer, the dispositive clause of which, so far as related to Greenhill, was in these terms:

“Totas et integras illas partes et portiones postea descript. terrarum vulgo vocat. the Burrow muir, alias the Common muir, ad civitatem Edinburgensem pertinen. viz. Totam et integram villam et terras de Greenhill,”

&c. “jacen. infra parochiam de St. Cuthberts, et

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The tenendas clause was thus expressed:

“Tenend. et habend. dictas terras aliaque, cum pertinen. suprascript., per dict. Dominum Gulielmum Forbes, ejusque prædict., de nobis nostrisque regiis successoribus, immediatis legitimis superioribus earundem, ut sequitur; viz. prædict. partes et portiones de lie the Burrow muir, seu Common muir, vocat. Greenhill, cum pertinentiis, in libera alba firma,”

&c.

The reddendo was in these terms:

“Reddendo inde annuatim dicto Domino Gulielmo Forbes, ejusque prædict., nobis nostrisque regiis successoribus, immediatis superioribus earundem, respectivas divorias subsequen.; viz. pro dictis partibus et portionibus de lie the Burrow muir, seu Common muir, vocat. Greenhill, cum pertinen., summam unius denarii monetæ Scoticæ super fundum dict. terrarum de Greenhill, apud terminum Pentacostes annuatim, nomine albæ firmæ, si petatur tantum, cum talibus ulterioribus seu alteris divoriis (si tales sint) in cartis in favorem Præpositi Magistratuum et communitatis civitatis Edinburgensis content.”

Sir William Forbes, after being duly infeft, claimed to be enrolled as a freeholder of the county of Edinburgh; in support of which he produced the above charter, his sasine, and a certificate from the cess-books of the county, that the lands of Greenhill were valued at £103. 16s., and that the other lands conveyed to him made up the requisite valuation. Mr. Gibson, one of the freeholders, objected to the enrolment, on the ground that the lands of Greenhill held burgage, and that therefore Sir William had not the proper qualification. The freeholders having repelled the objection and enrolled Sir William, Mr. Gibson presented a petition and complaint to the Court of Session, praying to have Sir William's name expunged from the roll. To this Sir William objected

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Appellant's Authorities. —Dunbar, Feb. 26. 1745, (8844, and Elch. No. 36. M. P.); Scott, Mar. 3. 1753, (8627); Campbell, Feb. 5. 1760, (7783, Aff.); Stewart, July

Footnote

* See Fac. Coll. 1815–1819, No. 144, where it is stated that the Judges, with one exception, held that any inquiry into the nature of the holding in this shape was incompetent.

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Solicitors: J. Campbell,— Spottiswoode and Robertson,—Solicitors.