Bingham Purchase facts for kids
The Bingham Purchase was a huge area of land in the U.S. state of Maine. It was once owned by a very rich banker named William Bingham. This land deal happened a long time ago, in the late 1700s.
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What Was the Bingham Purchase?
The Bingham Purchase wasn't just one piece of land. It was actually several large areas that William Bingham bought. These lands were located in what is now the state of Maine. At that time, Maine was still part of Massachusetts.
How Did William Bingham Get the Land?
William Bingham bought these lands in a few different ways. It was a big deal because he ended up owning a huge amount of territory.
The Waldo Patent and Early Land Grants
Before Bingham, some of these lands were given to early settlers in the 1630s. These grants later became part of something called the Waldo Patent. A "patent" was like an official document that gave someone ownership of a large area of land. The Waldo Patent was named after Samuel Waldo, who got control of these land grants in 1720.
The Massachusetts Land Lottery
In 1786, Massachusetts decided to sell off many unsettled lands in Maine. They did this using a special kind of lottery. It wasn't like a regular lottery where you win money. Instead, people could "draw" or win the right to buy large sections of land.
William Bingham, who was a very wealthy banker from Philadelphia, participated in this lottery. He won the right to buy several areas, which were called "townships." He also bought other lands directly. In total, he acquired about one million acres (4,000 km2) of land in southeastern Maine.
Henry Knox's Role
Another important person involved was General Henry Knox. He had planned to buy another one million acres (4,000 km2) of land in western Maine. However, General Knox was busy with his job as the United States Secretary of War. This important role meant he didn't have time to develop the land he wanted to buy. So, William Bingham ended up taking over that land deal as well.
Where Were These Lands Located?
The lands that made up the Bingham Purchase covered a vast area. They included most of the undeveloped land between Penobscot Bay and Passamaquoddy Bay. Passamaquoddy Bay is an important body of water that forms part of the border between Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The purchase also included land along the Kennebec River.
What Happened to the Bingham Purchase Lands Today?
Today, the lands that were once part of the Bingham Purchase are under the control of the State of Maine. While the term "Bingham Purchase" isn't used every day, people sometimes still use it to talk about the general area where these historic land deals took place. It's a reminder of how Maine's landscape was shaped long ago.
