Bingham Purchase
Encyclopedia
The Bingham Purchase refers to several tracts of land in the U.S. state of Maine
, formerly owned by William Bingham
.
These lands were granted to early colonizers in the 1630s, and became part of the larger Waldo Patent
, named after Samuel Waldo, who acquired the land grants in 1720. In 1786, when Massachusetts
(which then included Maine), disposed of large tracts of unsettled lands in Maine by lottery
, William Bingham
, a wealthy Philadelphia banker, drew several townships and purchased others, with a total area of one million acres (4,000 km²). This first tract was in the south-east of Maine. General Henry Knox
had signed a contract to buy another 1000000 acres (4,046.9 km²) tract, in the west, but his duties as Secretary of War
prevented his developing it, and Bingham took that over as well. The territory covered by these grants includes most of the then-undeveloped land between Penobscot Bay
and Passamaquoddy Bay
(which forms part of the boundary between Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick
), and land along the Kennebec River
.
Today, these lands are under the jurisdiction of the State of Maine. The term "the Bingham Purchase" is still occasionally used to refer to the geographical area where the lands were once situated.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, formerly owned by William Bingham
William Bingham
William Bingham was an American statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788 and served in the United States Senate from 1795 to 1801...
.
These lands were granted to early colonizers in the 1630s, and became part of the larger Waldo Patent
Waldo Patent
The Waldo Patent, a letters patent also known as the Muscongus Patent or the Lincolnshire Patent, was an area of land 36 miles square in what is now the U.S...
, named after Samuel Waldo, who acquired the land grants in 1720. In 1786, when Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
(which then included Maine), disposed of large tracts of unsettled lands in Maine by lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
, William Bingham
William Bingham
William Bingham was an American statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788 and served in the United States Senate from 1795 to 1801...
, a wealthy Philadelphia banker, drew several townships and purchased others, with a total area of one million acres (4,000 km²). This first tract was in the south-east of Maine. General Henry Knox
Henry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
had signed a contract to buy another 1000000 acres (4,046.9 km²) tract, in the west, but his duties as Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
prevented his developing it, and Bingham took that over as well. The territory covered by these grants includes most of the then-undeveloped land between Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay originates from the mouth of Maine's Penobscot River. There are many islands in this bay, and on them, some of the country's most well-known summer colonies. The bay served as portal for the one time "lumber capital of the world," namely; the city of Bangor...
and Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, between the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick, at the mouth of the St. Croix River. Most of the bay lies within Canada, with its western shore bounded by Washington County, Maine. The southernmost point is formed by...
(which forms part of the boundary between Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
), and land along the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
.
Today, these lands are under the jurisdiction of the State of Maine. The term "the Bingham Purchase" is still occasionally used to refer to the geographical area where the lands were once situated.