Additional defendants: Sanford Hendricks and James P. Priestly. Mary E. Cording, mother of named defendant and mother-in-law of Hendricks and Priestly, conveyed to them jointly some land. In consideration of the conveyance, defendants promised to pay existing debts of Mary Cording, and to support her for the remainder of her life (1858). Plaintiff brought this action in 1868 asking the court to decide whether his debtor, Hendricks, owned the land alone or jointly with Cording and Priestly.