Paine’s Farm part 1, the Huguenots
by Suzanne Tanswell, Chairperson Museum Affairs
Almost every east coast state, city or town has a Revolutionary War era historical site and I felt as if my 4th grade teacher made me learn about each and every one of them. But not many could claim a founding father lived on site; New Rochelle, NY can. Every June 16th, the Paine Cottage celebrates the date in 1784 when New York State awarded Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense & the American Crisis, 277 acres of farmland. The land covered what are now parts of New Rochelle, Larchmont and Mamaroneck; thus beginning Paine’s connection to the Queen City of the Sound. But how did New York State take possession of the land?
We begin our story with the DeVeaux family. The DeVeaux’s were French Protestant Huguenots. France during the 1600s, life was not pleasant for the Huguenots. In fact, it was horrible. In 1685 King Louis XIV made Protestantism illegal by enacting the Edict of Fontainebleau. Heavy bloodshed resulted and fleeing for their lives, more than 200,000 Huguenots escaped to other countries. Our hometown of New Rochelle was founded by Huguenots fleeing LaRochelle, France; yes, that is why our football team is called the Huguenots and the fleur-de-lis is found all over New Rochelle. The DeVeaux’s took part in the exodus but by way of Germany, via England to Harlem, New York.
In 1718 & 19, Patriarch Frederick DeVeaux purchased two large farms in New Rochelle. The purchase would ultimately become the Paine farm - but why?
Following the Edict of Fontainebleau, England welcomed the thousands of escaping Huguenot refugees. The families that eventually immigrated to North America never forgot the kindness. Many New Rochelle Huguenot families remained loyalists during the Revolutionary War. The DeVeaux family was one of them. Third generation, Frederick DeVeaux was indicted for treason in 1780 and a judgment was signed on July 5, 1783. The Commissioners of Forfeiture confiscated Frederick's farm and in 1784 the New York State Legislature presented the farm to Thomas Paine for services rendered during the Revolutionary War. So began Paine’s connection to New Rochelle.
Next, Paine’s farm part II, his New Rochelle connection & the opening of the Paine Cottage Museum…..
by Suzanne Tanswell, Chairperson Museum Affairs
Almost every east coast state, city or town has a Revolutionary War era historical site and I felt as if my 4th grade teacher made me learn about each and every one of them. But not many could claim a founding father lived on site; New Rochelle, NY can. Every June 16th, the Paine Cottage celebrates the date in 1784 when New York State awarded Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense & the American Crisis, 277 acres of farmland. The land covered what are now parts of New Rochelle, Larchmont and Mamaroneck; thus beginning Paine’s connection to the Queen City of the Sound. But how did New York State take possession of the land?
We begin our story with the DeVeaux family. The DeVeaux’s were French Protestant Huguenots. France during the 1600s, life was not pleasant for the Huguenots. In fact, it was horrible. In 1685 King Louis XIV made Protestantism illegal by enacting the Edict of Fontainebleau. Heavy bloodshed resulted and fleeing for their lives, more than 200,000 Huguenots escaped to other countries. Our hometown of New Rochelle was founded by Huguenots fleeing LaRochelle, France; yes, that is why our football team is called the Huguenots and the fleur-de-lis is found all over New Rochelle. The DeVeaux’s took part in the exodus but by way of Germany, via England to Harlem, New York.
In 1718 & 19, Patriarch Frederick DeVeaux purchased two large farms in New Rochelle. The purchase would ultimately become the Paine farm - but why?
Following the Edict of Fontainebleau, England welcomed the thousands of escaping Huguenot refugees. The families that eventually immigrated to North America never forgot the kindness. Many New Rochelle Huguenot families remained loyalists during the Revolutionary War. The DeVeaux family was one of them. Third generation, Frederick DeVeaux was indicted for treason in 1780 and a judgment was signed on July 5, 1783. The Commissioners of Forfeiture confiscated Frederick's farm and in 1784 the New York State Legislature presented the farm to Thomas Paine for services rendered during the Revolutionary War. So began Paine’s connection to New Rochelle.
Next, Paine’s farm part II, his New Rochelle connection & the opening of the Paine Cottage Museum…..