Rother v. Trustees of Sharp Street Station of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Citations

• 85 Md. 528
• 37 A. 24
• 1897 Md. LEXIS 50

Syllabus

<p>Adverse Possession — Religious Societies — Marketable Title.</p> <p>Land was conveyed to trustees for certain charitable and religious uses by two grantors in 1802 and 1811. The plaintiff, a religious corporation which was incorporated in 1832, took possession of this property in that year and has since held it in opposition to the trusts set forth in the original deeds and under claim of right. Plaintiff’s charter provided that the corporation should have power to dispose of its property with the consent of two-thirds of the male members of the church. Defendant agreed to lend a sum of money to be secured by mortgage upon this property. Upon a bill of specific performance of this contract, the heirs of the grantors in the original deeds to the trustees were made parties by summons or publication. Held, that the plaintiff’s adverse possession of the'land having continued for more than twenty years was sufficient to constitute a good and marketable title.</p>