This case involved the executors and trustees of Robert Porterfield, deceased, who were suing Meriwether L. Clark, William P. Clark, George R. H. Clark and Jefferson R. Clark (a minor with his guardian). The dispute was over a tract of land that had been owned by Robert Porterfield in Virginia before he died without leaving a will or any other instructions regarding its disposition after his death. The Supreme Court ruled that the heirs of Robert Porterfield should receive title to the property as tenants-in-common according to their respective shares under Virginia law since there was no evidence indicating how it should be distributed otherwise; thus affirming the decision made by lower courts on this matter prior to appeal at the Supreme Court level..

In this case, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a deed of trust executed by Robert Porterfield in 1837 was valid. The majority opinion held that the deed was invalid because it did not contain an express declaration that it would be binding upon his heirs and representatives. However, Justice McLean dissented from this ruling. He argued that there were sufficient facts present which showed an intention on behalf of Porterfield to bind himself and his heirs with respect to the property conveyed in the deed. Furthermore, he noted that such intent should be inferred when a person conveys their land for valuable consideration without any reservation or condition as to its use or enjoyment after death. Therefore, Justice McLean concluded that under these circumstances, no further declarations were necessary for the validity of such deeds and thus disagreed with the majority's decision holding otherwise