Monday 30 March 2015

Bankruptcy, Arrears and Auction Sales


When hard times hit, many people could not pay their land taxes and their properties were seized and sold. Past and present, towns list for sale the properties for which the taxes have not been paid. There are also lists of properties for sale for non payment of mortgages.



In the US the Journal of the Common Council for different cities may hold a Delinquent Tax List.  This one is from Detroit Michigan for 1876.



Search "Journal of Common Council" at google books, HathiTrust or Internet Archives.

When my 4th great grandfather, Cement King (miller of Loddiswell, Devon) died he left the mill to his oldest son, Thomas, who in turn left it to his only son, John Clement King. In 1867 Henry Steer, baker and grocer of Dodbrooke went bankrupt. John King, miller of Loddiswell, and James Hannaford, grocer of Kingsbridge, were appointed Trustees. Their responsibilities were to protect the rights of the creditors and investigate the affairs of the debtor.



These notices can be found in local newspapers, also  publications like the London Gazette and the Canada Gazette.

My daughter once worked for a company that went bankrupt.  They owed her over $3000, and when the smoke cleared SIX years later she received a check for $33. I wonder if that included interest? *sigh

Another search you can do is for Auction Sales, a good indication the person has either moved or died.  When I moved west, I sold my house and then had a 2 day auction sale, selling everything except what I packed of my life in 16 small boxes. This notice is from Stanstead, Quebec in 1919...




Following are some lists of sales. Also check at the local town hall. At Newspaper archives or Archive websites and Internet Archive (search “unpaid taxes” “rate arrears” “bankrupt”, "auction sale household", "insolvent" etc). For Scotland search "cessio bonorum".


Relevant Links

Lands: returned for sale by the treasurer of the United Counties of Huron, Perth and Bruce (Ont) for arrears of tax, to the 1st January 1850

Niagara District fall assizes - 1844 (names at back of book)

List of lands to be sold in Jan 1826 for arrears of taxes - NY

List of lands to be sold in April 1830 for arrears of taxes - NY

List of lands in county of Henry, Illinois on which the taxes remain due or unpaid 1843

List of lands to be sold for arrears of taxes 1840's to 1860's at City of Albany

List of land in Putnam Count, Illinois to be sold for unpaid taxes 1837

List of land in Vermilion County, Illinois to be sold for unpaid taxes 1836

List of land in Randolph County, Illinois to be sold for unpaid taxes 1838

District of Columbia read estate tax sale... arrears of taxes for 1887

Sales laws of Bengal India: being the law of sale for arrears of revenue, Patni rents and public demand 1905

Bundaberg Council, AU - auction; sale of land for rates arrears

List of property for sale by MSB Putnam, Hamilton, Ontario - mortgage sale

North Chicago; its advantages, resources, and probable future: including a sketch of its outlying suburbs, and a map showing the relative price of residence property in the north and south divisions  1973

Prospectus; terms and conditions for the sale of 755 lots in the twelfth ward of NY- 1829

The Auctioneer's, Land Agents', Valuers' & Estate Agent's Directory UK 1880

Legal document granting a license to sell property at a public auction to Melissa D Buck, 1897 November 9

Scottish Forfeited Estate papers; 1715-1745

Canada - list of Trustees under Bankruptcy Act appointed up to Mar 1921





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