Waldo Patent facts for kids

The Waldo Patent was an important paper that gave someone the right to own a large piece of land. This land was about 36 square miles (93 square kilometers) in what is now the state of Maine in the United States.

It was also called the Muscongus Patent or the Lincolnshire Patent. The patent got its name from Samuel Waldo, a businessman who later owned most of it. It was also named after the Muscongus River, which was one of the borders of the land.

History of the Waldo Patent

In March 1630, two men named John Beauchamp and Thomas Leverett received a special land grant. They got this grant from a company that had permission from the English government.

The Muscongus Patent Begins

This land grant was first known as the Muscongus Patent. It was named after the Muscongus River, which formed part of its western edge. The land stretched from the seacoast northwards. It was located between Penobscot Bay and the Penobscot River on the east. On the west, it was bordered by the Muscongus River.

The northern border of this land is now the southern edge of towns like Hampden, Newburgh, and Dixmont.

Early Trade and Conflict

This special paper, or patent, first gave the owners the right to trade only with the Native American people. These people were likely the Penobscot or Abenaki tribes.

To help with trade, a trading house was built. It was filled with items needed for fair exchanges. Trade continued peacefully for 45 years. Both the European-American settlers and the Native Americans benefited.

However, this peaceful trade ended in 1675. That's when the first Indian Wars began. After these wars, the land grant was not used for a long time.

Samuel Waldo Takes Control

The patent became important again in 1719. John Leverett, a great-grandson of the original Thomas Leverett, brought the old claim back to life. He was the President of Harvard College at the time.

He created a group called the Lincolnshire Proprietors. They were also known as the Ten Proprietors because they divided the land into ten shares.

In 1729, Samuel Waldo, a businessman from Boston, bought most of the shares. From then on, the land became known as the Waldo Patent.

General Samuel Waldo became the main owner of the Waldo Patent. He reportedly traveled to Europe to encourage German immigrants to settle on his land. His grant was huge, covering about 576,000 acres (2,331 square kilometers).

This land included parts of what are now Waldo, Penobscot, and Lincoln counties. It also included all of Knox County, Maine, plus islands within three miles of its border.

Waldo's Death and New Owners

In 1759, Samuel Waldo joined the governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Thomas Pownall. They traveled with 400 men to help set up a new site. To open the Penobscot River area for more settlers, the governor chose Fort Point in Stockton Springs.

There, they built a small fort and a blockhouse. This fort was called Fort Pownall and also included a trading post.

Sadly, Samuel Waldo died on May 23 while exploring the northern parts of his property. He passed away near what is now Bangor. He was buried without a monument at Fort Point.

After Waldo's death, ownership of the Waldo Patent went to his family. This included the Fluckers of Boston. Lucy Flucker, one of the heirs, married Henry Knox. Henry Knox was a general in the American Revolutionary War.

Eventually, the Knox family gained control of most of the patent. Much of their land was later sold to William Bingham. These lands then became known as the Bingham Purchase.