There was an old common law personal action for the recovery of an annuity.

An annuity strictly speaking was an annual sum of money granted to another in fee for life or years, and chargeable only against the person of the grantor, and against his heirs when they were bound by the language of the grant. The grant had to be by deed, by words of express grant, in order to furnish the right of action at law.8

This action is now obsolete.