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Hoping to realize the economic prosperity they believed would be part of victory in the Revolution, many ordinary Americans had invested in real estate for themselves and their offspring. Defaults on these sorts of parcels were common during the post-war recession, particularly in Massachusetts due to extremely heavy taxes. When real estate taxes on a piece of land were not paid, the town was allowed to advertise for potential buyers. Anyone who paid the taxes and accrued interest could take over ownership of the land. When Conway advertised unpaid real estate taxes 1787, it only advertised the land of people who did not live in town. It is likely that many homeowners were in the position of having unpaid taxes as well. Hard currency was extremely difficult to get, and unlike other states, Massachusetts insisted that taxes be paid in gold or silver.

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