Morristown in Morris County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Thomas Paine

1737 – 1809

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 22, 2008

1. Thomas Paine Marker

It is claimed that Paine started writing "The Crisis" during his stay in Morristown, but that same claim has been made of other towns in the state of New Jersey.

Inscription.

Thomas Paine. 1737 – 1809. English by birth French citizen by decree American by adoption, Author of The American Crisis Rights of Man The Age of Reason. Your presence may remind Congress (and the people) of your past services to this country. , George Washington, Left side of monument: Washington’s sword would have been wielded in vain had it not been supported by the pen of Paine. History is to ascribe the American Revolution to Thomas Paine. , John Adams, The citizens of the United States cannot look back upon the time of their own Revolution without recollecting among the names of their most distinguished patriots that of Thomas Paine. , James Monroe, America is indebted to few characters more than you. , General Nathaniel Greene, Be assured my dear friend that instead of repenting that I was your introducer in America, I value myself on the share I had in procuring for it the acquisition of so useful and valuable a citizen. , Benjamin Franklin, Free American without her Thomas Paine is unthinkable. , Lafayette, Back of monument: Presented to the people of Morristown, NJ during the administrations of Mayors Clyde Potts and Edward K. Mills, Jr. by the Thomas Paine Memorial Committee Joseph Lewis – Secretary --- Georg Lober – sculptor Dedicated July 4th 1950 in the 174th year of American Independence., Right side of monument: Independence is my happiness and I view things as they are without regard to place or person. My country is the world and my religion is to do good. Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it. It is folly to argue against determined hardness eloquence may strike the ear and the language of sorrow draw forth the tear of compassion, but nothing can reach the heart that is steeled with prejudice. We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the Earth for honest men to live in it is an affront to truth to treat falsehood with complaisance. , Thomas Paine

English by birth
French citizen by decree
American by adoption

Author of
The American Crisis
Rights of Man
The Age of Reason
Your presence may remind Congress (and the people) of your past services to this country.
—George Washington

Left side of monument:
Washington’s sword would have been wielded in vain had it not been supported by the pen of Paine. History is to ascribe the American Revolution to Thomas Paine.
—John Adams

The citizens of the United States cannot look back upon the time of their own Revolution without recollecting among the names of their most distinguished patriots that of Thomas Paine.
—James Monroe

America is indebted to few characters more than you.
—General Nathaniel Greene

Be assured my dear friend that instead of repenting that I was your introducer in America, I value myself on the share I had in procuring for it the acquisition of so useful and valuable a citizen.
—Benjamin Franklin

Free American without her Thomas Paine is unthinkable.
—Lafayette

Back of monument:
Presented to the people of Morristown, NJ
during the administrations of Mayors Clyde Potts and Edward K. Mills, Jr.
by the Thomas Paine Memorial

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Committee
Joseph Lewis – Secretary --- Georg Lober – sculptor
Dedicated July 4th 1950 in the 174th year of American Independence.

Right side of monument:
Independence is my happiness and I view things as they are without regard to place or person. My country is the world and my religion is to do good.
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.
It is folly to argue against determined hardness eloquence may strike the ear and the language of sorrow draw forth the tear of compassion, but nothing can reach the heart that is steeled with prejudice.
We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the Earth for honest men to live in it is an affront to truth to treat falsehood with complaisance.
—Thomas Paine

Erected 1950 by Thomas Paine Memorial Committee.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #02 John Adams, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #05 James Monroe series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1824.

Location. 40° 48.037′ N, 74° 29.585′ W. Marker

Front of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 22, 2008

2. Front of Monument

is in Morristown, New Jersey, in Morris County. Marker is on Washington Street (County Route 510), on the left when traveling west. Marker is located in Burnham Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Morristown NJ 07960, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Morristown Military Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Continental Army Encampment (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Timothy Mills House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Park of Artillery (approx. ¼ mile away); Continental Army Encampment at Morristown (approx. ¼ mile away); Iron (approx. half a mile away); The Upper Redoubt (approx. half a mile away); Fort Nonsense (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morristown.

Also see . . . Thomas Paine. Biography and works of Thomas Paine. (Submitted on June 25, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Left Side of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 22, 2008

3. Left Side of Monument

The left of the monument describes the importance of Thomas Paine to the country, as told by some of it's earliest leaders.

Back of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 22, 2008

4. Back of Monument

Dedication information can be found on the back of the monument.

Right Side of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 22, 2008

5. Right Side of Monument

The right of the monument contains samples of the work of Thomas Paine.

Closeup of Thomas Paine Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 22, 2008

6. Closeup of Thomas Paine Statue

Thomas Paine is depicted with his pen in hand, but also with a flintlock on his lap.

Thomas Paine Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 22, 2008

7. Thomas Paine Statue

The Thomas Paine statue is located on the site where Gen. Henry Knox's made his artillery park during the 1779-80 winter encampment.

Burnham Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 22, 2008

8. Burnham Park

The Thomas Pain statue is located in Morristown's Burnham Park on Washington Street.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) image. Click for full size.

Oil by Auguste Millière, circa 1876

9. Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

After an engraving by William Sharp, after George Romney, circa 1792

Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,582 times since then and 114 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week December 28, 2014. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 25, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 9. submitted on December 28, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.