City Council correspondence relating to the Sale of Eastern Township Land owned by City of Boston in Maine

In 1794, the state granted to the Town of Boston a township of land in what later became the state of Maine. The grant was six miles square, with certain acreage reserved for schools and the ministry, and under the proviso that twenty families be settled there within five years. This period was extended several times by the legislature. Full power was given to the Selectmen to manage or sell the property in such a way as to best promote the erection and establishment of a hospital in Boston.

In 1829, having recently received inquiries from Maine about the property, the Mayor was authorized by the Aldermen “to employ some person to ascertain its value”. The firm of Hill & Starrett in Bangor acted as agent for the City of Boston in valuation and sales negotiations.

In 1833, when the Eastern Lands were considered to be in greater demand, the Aldermen declined to accept an offer of $3000, and recommended instead that a public auction be held. The property does not appear in the listing of Real and Personal Property of the City of Boston listed in the 1834 Annual Report of the Office of the Audi tor.