Scope and Content: The Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands was created by the General Court to oversee the management and sale of public lands in the District of Maine.  As part of the process, the legislature commissioned a land lottery in 1786.  Once the lottery was held and the allotment of land completed, some recipients of land found their parcels scattered over a wide area.  To facilitate consolidation, the General Court acted to permit holders of prize lots to exchange their holdings for other land more suitable to their needs (St 1788, c 17).  Individuals desiring to exchange lots with the Commonwealth for other land were granted six months in which to make application.  Acting for the Commonwealth, the Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands was authorized to receive applications for exchange of lots.  This series comprises the applications made by lottery land holders in response to this legislative allowance.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by date of application
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