Paine’s Farm part II, his New Rochelle connection
by Suzanne Tanswell, Chairperson Museum Affairs
Thomas Paine became a landowner in New Rochelle on June 16, 1784 and a full time residence in 1804 after his return from France. The 277 acre farm had a large manor house on site and good fertile ground. Al though the farm gave Paine the income he needed, he was not thrilled with the idea of becoming a farmer. He rented out the farm and left for England in 1787; there he wrote the best-seller Rights of Man. In it, his strong critique of the Monarchy almost landed him in an English prison. Luckily, Paine escaped to France.
The French welcomed him and made Paine an honorary citizen. He was elected to the French National Convention and helped form their new republic. He hoped the idea of world democracy would flourish and free all from tyranny. Paine did not believe in violent revenge and voted against the execution of King Louie, XVI. This vote classified him as an enemy of the Revolution and he was sentenced to death. His pleas to Washington to help with his release went unanswered. While imprisoned, Paine completed the Age of Reason his widely read work examining organized religion. He narrowly escaped the guillotine and was finally released due to the efforts of American minister to France, James Monroe. Paine remained in France at the home of the Bonneville’s until 1802. He returned to America on the invitation of President Jefferson.
You may be asking, “Great information but what does all this have to do with Paine’s time in New Rochelle?” Quite a bit. The author of Common Sense, the pamphlet that sparked the American Revolution and American Crisis that inspired the common man to keep up the good fight was not welcomed back by the majority of Americans. His criticism of George Washington and his work Age of Reason made him wildly unpopular.
Unfortunately, his New Rochelle neighbors felt the same. A warm greeting into the community was not waiting for him, the manor house had burned several years prior and all that remained to move into was a small cottage. Paine's neighbors whispered Madame Bonneville, who returned to America with Paine, her sons in tow, was his mistress. Christmas Eve 1805, a disgruntled farm-worker fired a shot through the window of Paine's cottage, narrowly missing him. In 1806, Paine went to vote. Elisha Ward, an Election Inspector of New Rochelle denied him on grounds he was not an American citizen. The elector claimed that Paine forfeited his citizenship by taking a seat in the French National Convention. Despite Paine’s appeals to Jefferson, Madison and Vice President Clinton, he was ultimately kept from voting. Paine left New Rochelle in 1806, moved to Greenwich Village where he died on June 8, 1809. After being denied burial in a Quaker cemetery, he was buried on his farm June 10th. Only 6 people attended, Madame Bonneville and her son were two of the six.
New Rochelle may not have been kind to Paine in his later life but New Rochelleans have always been able to correct the wrongs of her past. In 1839, the first monument erected to a founding father was dedicated to Paine. It stands to this day at the top of Paine and North Avenue. 1925 the Thomas Paine National Historical Association, the oldest Association dedicated to the teachings of Paine, built their headquarters at 983 North Avenue. The building was newly land-marked by the City in 2020.
In 1908 the landscape of New Rochelle was changing. When homes were being built on what was once Paine's farm, the Huguenot Association of New Rochelle, now the Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association, saved the modest cottage Paine resided in from demolition. Our Association restored the Cottage and opened it as an historic home Museum on July 14, 1910. It was originally opened as the Huguenot House, former home of Thomas Paine. It eventually became known as the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum.
“The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” Thomas Paine
by Suzanne Tanswell, Chairperson Museum Affairs
Thomas Paine became a landowner in New Rochelle on June 16, 1784 and a full time residence in 1804 after his return from France. The 277 acre farm had a large manor house on site and good fertile ground. Al though the farm gave Paine the income he needed, he was not thrilled with the idea of becoming a farmer. He rented out the farm and left for England in 1787; there he wrote the best-seller Rights of Man. In it, his strong critique of the Monarchy almost landed him in an English prison. Luckily, Paine escaped to France.
The French welcomed him and made Paine an honorary citizen. He was elected to the French National Convention and helped form their new republic. He hoped the idea of world democracy would flourish and free all from tyranny. Paine did not believe in violent revenge and voted against the execution of King Louie, XVI. This vote classified him as an enemy of the Revolution and he was sentenced to death. His pleas to Washington to help with his release went unanswered. While imprisoned, Paine completed the Age of Reason his widely read work examining organized religion. He narrowly escaped the guillotine and was finally released due to the efforts of American minister to France, James Monroe. Paine remained in France at the home of the Bonneville’s until 1802. He returned to America on the invitation of President Jefferson.
You may be asking, “Great information but what does all this have to do with Paine’s time in New Rochelle?” Quite a bit. The author of Common Sense, the pamphlet that sparked the American Revolution and American Crisis that inspired the common man to keep up the good fight was not welcomed back by the majority of Americans. His criticism of George Washington and his work Age of Reason made him wildly unpopular.
Unfortunately, his New Rochelle neighbors felt the same. A warm greeting into the community was not waiting for him, the manor house had burned several years prior and all that remained to move into was a small cottage. Paine's neighbors whispered Madame Bonneville, who returned to America with Paine, her sons in tow, was his mistress. Christmas Eve 1805, a disgruntled farm-worker fired a shot through the window of Paine's cottage, narrowly missing him. In 1806, Paine went to vote. Elisha Ward, an Election Inspector of New Rochelle denied him on grounds he was not an American citizen. The elector claimed that Paine forfeited his citizenship by taking a seat in the French National Convention. Despite Paine’s appeals to Jefferson, Madison and Vice President Clinton, he was ultimately kept from voting. Paine left New Rochelle in 1806, moved to Greenwich Village where he died on June 8, 1809. After being denied burial in a Quaker cemetery, he was buried on his farm June 10th. Only 6 people attended, Madame Bonneville and her son were two of the six.
New Rochelle may not have been kind to Paine in his later life but New Rochelleans have always been able to correct the wrongs of her past. In 1839, the first monument erected to a founding father was dedicated to Paine. It stands to this day at the top of Paine and North Avenue. 1925 the Thomas Paine National Historical Association, the oldest Association dedicated to the teachings of Paine, built their headquarters at 983 North Avenue. The building was newly land-marked by the City in 2020.
In 1908 the landscape of New Rochelle was changing. When homes were being built on what was once Paine's farm, the Huguenot Association of New Rochelle, now the Huguenot & New Rochelle Historical Association, saved the modest cottage Paine resided in from demolition. Our Association restored the Cottage and opened it as an historic home Museum on July 14, 1910. It was originally opened as the Huguenot House, former home of Thomas Paine. It eventually became known as the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum.
“The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” Thomas Paine