Opinion

Den on Demise of the University of North Carolina v. Brown

  • 23 N.C. 387
Court
Supreme Court of North Carolina
Filed
Jun 5, 1841
Status
Published
Author
Daniel
On the bench
Daniel
Cited by
0 cases

The opinion

Daniel, J.

Mrs. Cocke acquired the land by devise ; she is therefore to be considered as the first purchaser. On her death, the inheritance descended to her only child, Elizabeth. On the death of Elizabeth, it descended to her only child, Margaret, who died intestate and without issue, leaving a brother and two sisters (by the name of Peter) of the half blood

ex parte paterna.

The question submitted was, whether the land had escheated to the University. It is enacted by Rule 5th in the Canons of Descent,

Rev. iSt. c.

38, that “ on failure of lineal descendants, where the inheritance lias

not

been transmitted by descent or derived from an ancestor (as mentioned in the 4th rule,) or where, if so transmitted or derived, the blood of such ancestor is extinct, the inheritance shall descend to the next collateral relations of the person last seized, whether of the paternal or maternal line.” In this case, the land had been transmitted by descent from an ancestor to Margaret, the person last seized ; but the blood of Mrs. Cocke, the ancestor, has become extinct. On this event happening, the inheritance descended, according to the aforesaid rule, to the next collateral relations of the paternal line of Margaret, the person last seized. These persons are her brother and sisters of the half blood, the children of her father, John Peter.

We are of the opinion that the lands mentioned did not escheat. The judgment must be affirmed.

Per Curiam, Judgment affirmed.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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