^ie 13^ October 1807, Baker, executor of Gordon, by virtue of a power to that effect in the will of his testator, sold the lot in controversy to M‘Tyre, it being agreed, that for the balance of the purchase money not then paid, the purchaser, who was to receive a conveyance, was, as a cotemporaneous act, to give his bonds, as also a deed of trust on the lot, to secure the payment. The deed from Baker to him was accordingly executed, and on the same day two bonds were given by JSTTyre, without surety, for the residue of the purchase money, specifying that they were for the purchase money of the lot aforesaid! and he also, at the same time, executed a deed of trust to secure the payment of the debts due by those bonds. At this time, it is said, M‘Tyre was indebted to the intestate of the appellees, who afterwards, namely, on the 9th July 1810, obtained a decree in Chesterfield county court, against him for 191Í. 8s. with interest from the first of Jannary 1804, on which decree they sued out an elegit on the 7th day of May 1816.
The deed from Baker to M‘Tyre, was acknowledged and ordered to be recorded, on the 12th Sept. 1808. The deed of trust was never recorded! Baker not being able to procure the attendance of the witnesses, or the acknowledgment of M‘Tyre, who had removed out of the state. On the 13th of June 1808, however, it was taken into court and proved by one witness.
When the purchase money became due, Baker, instead of going into a court of Chancery, to have his original equitable lien on the land for the purchase money in-forced! and the trust executed in the same manner as it might have been, had he not by accident been deprived of the benefit of having the deed recorded, applied to the trustees to sell the property, who accordingly did so! and he, as the highest bidder became the purchaser,' and the trustees by their deed dated the 15th July 1809, re
At this time M‘Tyre, could have resold and conveyed to Baker for the payment of this debt, or in any other bona fide way, notwithstanding the suit then depending against him by the appellee; and if he had done so, and joined with the trustees in a deed, as well the legal title in them, as the equity of redemption in him, would have passed to Baker. But if the sale by the trustees was such, as‘to bar his equity, and if nothing was done in this case, except what in equity ought to have been done, and what a court of equity would have decreed and confirmed, it might be a question, whether the title being thus passed by his agents, shall not avail as much, as if made by himself together with them.
But waiving this for the present, and supposing no .such sale and conveyance to have been made, M‘Tyre, after the lapse of twelve months from the date of the decree aforesaid, supposing it to affect the land in the same manner as a judgment at law, but concerning which, perhaps, there may be some doubt, could have sold and conveyed, bona fide, as aforesaid, and a subsequent elegif could not have overreached this mesne act. Baker then, might have procured him and the trustees to make a fair sale and conveyance for this purpose; and situated as ho was, he had a right, in equity, to demand it; and a court of equity would have decreed it; and he was not bound to call on any or all of M‘Tyre’s other creditors to intercept him, by inforcing any legal liens they may have acquired; they were to look to their own legal remedies, if they had any. He does in effect bring such suit. He asserts in his bill, his original lien and' contract, to have the purchase money secured on the land; his failure by fraud, or accident, to have the deed recorded; the sale by the trustees, &c. And on the 29th June 1812, the Chancellor by his decree confirms the sale made by the
For these reasons I am of opinion, that the decree of the Chancery court is erroneous, aud must be reversed with costs; and a decree entered that the injunction be made perpetual.
Admitting but not deciding, that the legal estate was vested in M‘Tyre by means of the deed from Baker to him, the deed of trust made by him did not pass that title in prejudice of his (M'Tyre’s) creditors, for w ant of being recorded according to the provisions of the statute. Nevertheless (under the same admission,) however the case might be at law, in equity the degii of the appellees ought not to be inforccd. The