Town of Chesterfield v. Hart
Superior Court of New Hampshire
This was an action of assumpsit, to recover the moneys expended by the plaintiffs for the maintenance of Mary Hart, grandmother of the defendant, under § 7 of the act of Feb. 15, 1791, for the punishment of idle and disorderly persons and for the support and maintenance pf the poor.
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This was an action of assumpsit, to recover the moneys expended by the plaintiffs for the maintenance of Mary Hart, grandmother of the defendant, under § 7 of the act of Feb. 15, 1791, for the punishment of idle and disorderly persons and for the support and maintenance pf the poor. The parties agreed on a statement of facts, on which two questions only were submitted. 1. Whether the defendant was liable, she [though having sufficient property] being under the age of twenty-one when the relief was administered and the expense incurred, and being still a minor. And, 2. Whether Phinehas Fisk…
1Opinion of the CourtSmith, C. J.
The second question is easily disposed of.
By the English statute of 43 Elizabeth, the word “ grandchildren ” is omitted, and it seems ,.not judicially determined whether the word “ children ” extends to them. 3 Bum, 563. In respect to “ father,” “ mother,” &c., the language of the English statute and our own is alike, and no doubt tbe same construction should be put on ours which, at the time of enacting our statute, had been put on the English. At first it was holden that, after the death of the wife, who was liable for maintenance of her poor relation, the husband was not liable ; but,…
2Cases cited2 opinions
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