New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Thomas Paine
(1737 - 1809)
"These are the times that try men's souls"
| | New Rochelle Walk of Fame | |
Thomas Paine, was the voice of the American Revolution. His pamphlet Common Sense, advocating colonial America's independence from Great Britain, was so influential in spurring on the Revolutionary War that John Adams reportedly said, "Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain." Paine also published The Crisis pamphlet series to boost the spirits of the American troops in their battles against the British arm.
In 1791, Paine wrote the Rights of Man, which in part was a defense of the French Revolution. He became notorious for his book The Age of Reason, which promoted freethinking and argued against institutional religion.
Born in Thetford England, Thomas Paine was encouraged by Benjamin Franklin to emigrate to Philadelphia in 1774. In 1784, he was awarded a 320-acre farm in New Rochelle by the State of New York for his service to his country. The original stone house was destroyed by fire in 1793 but was replaced with a cottage that still stands today. Located just off North Avenue on Sicard Avenue, it is now known as the Thomas Paine Cottage and is owned
this page online
In 1809, Paine was buried near the current location of the house after dying in Greenwich Village. A Quaker by birth, he wanted to be buried in a Quaker cemetery but, due to his writings, this request was refused. His friends walked his body to New Rochelle and buried him on his property. In 1819, the English radial William Cobbett removed Paine's remains to England to build a larger memorial, but he died before succeeding and the remains were lost.
Erected by City of New Rochelle, NY; New Rochelle Downtown Business District.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1791.
Location. 40° 54.624′ N, 73° 46.982′ W. Marker is in New Rochelle, New York, in Westchester County. It is at the intersection of Library Plaza and Huguenot Street (U.S. 1) on Library Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Library Plaza, New
Regionally, this marker is in the Hudson Valley and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Robert Merrill (here, next to this marker); Carrie Chapman Catt (here, next to this marker); Frederic Remington (here, next to this marker); J.C. Leyendecker (here, next to this marker); Walter Lantz (here, next to this marker); Lou Gehrig (here, next to this marker); John Stephenson (a few steps from this marker); Elizabeth Ann Seton (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Rochelle.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 181 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 23, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
