Walking Purchase

Territory obtained by White settlers in eastern Pennsylvania following an agreement made in 1682 between William Penn and his associates and the indigenous Delaware people who owned the land. The Delaware agreed to cede for the purchase price as much land as could be covered on foot by the buyers in a space of three days.

The land in question lay between the Delaware River (to the east) and Neshaminy Creek (to the west). Penn and companions walked northwards across this tract of land for half their allotted time. When they had reached the area around Wrightstown, near Newtown in Bucks County, they declared that they had obtained enough land for present needs. In 1737, Penn's successors announced they would walk the remaining day and a half; but to do so, they hired professional runners and woodsmen, who moved so quickly that they reached Broad Mount, some 45 km/28 mi northwest of Allentown. The Delaware protested, but were powerless to prevent occupation of their land.