Mass. Land Sales/Records for research

[GaBnn3]

I'm about to embark on a search for a treasure originally cached on an abandoned farm in Massachusetts during the mid 1800's. The treasure was cached by a broker/investor, who learned of the farm from his business contacts. The treasure was ignored and abandoned after the broker split from his wife and became a recluse. He never bought the farm. The farm was reportedly abandoned for a number of years, at least 15, at first glance. So, I have a couple of obvious questions. First, how would abandoned farms have been advertized for sale among brokers, so that a broker could learn of it's availability. I'm looking for a means to locate and identify this farm since I don't know exactly where it is. Second, if the farm lay abandoned for so long, would it have likely been seized for taxes by the town where it was located, thus giving me a starting point. Any help would be appreciated since this is my first treasure hunt requiring such research. Thanks.