Scope and Content: St 1780, c 25 (Mar. 7, 1781) required all Massachusetts auctioneers to post bond with the state treasurer, in the amount of one thousand pounds with two sureties. After periodic renewals, the act’s provisions were repealed by St 1789, c 59 (Mar. 9, 1790), which instituted certificates of approbation, such to be obtained by each auctioneer from town selectmen and submitted to the state treasurer for a license.  (Licensing was reduced to a municipal function per St 1795, c 8 (June 16, 1795).)  Series consist of signed and sealed bonds (Mar. 1781-Mar. 1790) stating the legal obligation to pay the amount of bond if the act’s requirements (including a one per cent semi-annual tax on auction proceeds) were not fulfilled.
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