It has been generally accepted that the only office Thomas Paine was elected to by public vote was a seat in the French Convention. Now thanks to research undertaken by Leslie Davey of Lewes it is now known that Paine was at one time a member of Lewes Town Council. 

News of the discovery was made public for the first time at the Annual General Meeting of the Thomas Paine Society. Mr. Davey, on examining the Lowes Town Book, a manuscript work commenced in 1741 and containing details of the meetings of the Council of Twelve, as the Town Council was known, members of the Council added their signatures after each report found that seven reports had Paine’s signature among the others. The first signature being for September 15th., 1769 and the last, October 10th. 1772. 

The book also contains the signature of Samuel Ollive, Paine’s father-in-law, in 1745 he signed as one of the two Headboroughs and in 1752 as one of the two Constables. Members of the Society inspected the book when they visited Lewes Town Hall at the invitation of the Mayor. 

We extend our congratulations to Christopher Hill on his election as Master of Balliol. Mr. Hill, a well known historian, is a member of the T.P.S. 

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From the Sussex Express & County Herald – 12/6/64

A statue of Thomas Paine, the 18th century revolutionary was and writer, was unveiled in the Norfolk town of Thetford, on Sunday, and the ceremony attended by a representative gathering despite some local protests. Councillor J. G. Hoile, of Priory Street. Lewes,a member of the council of the Thomas Paine Society, had hoped to attend the ceremony but was prevented owing to the illness of his wife. 

A member of the Thetford Council has resigned over the decision to erect the 7ft. high statue, but the guests who accepted an invitation to attend included Sir Charles Wheeler, President of the Royal Academy, who made the statue for the Thomas Paine Foundation of America to present to Thetford: Mr. Joseph “Lewis, secretary of the Foundation; representatives from the French and American embassies and members of the Thomas Paine Society tu this country, 

The annual meeting of the Society will probably be held in Lewes this year.

IN DEFENCE OF THOMAS PAINE

From the Thetford and Watton Times – October 4th, 1964

IT WAS strange that a man of such historical importance as Thomas Paine had not been commemorated in a way people of lesser importance had been and the erection of a statue at his birthplace, Thetford, meant that justice was now being done, Thelford Rotarians were told on Tuesday by a member of the Thomas Paine Society. 

Mr. A. A. Rudling, of Norwich, said that the Society had been formed as a counterpart to the American organisation which was providing the statue, to try to rehabilitate the reputation of Paine in this country. 

The statue to Paine would attract many people to Thetford, and would add lustre to the town. 

He refuted charges made quite recently that Paine was a traitor. His American supporters in the American War of Independence were almost all * of them of English origin. The American war was based upon the idea that people had the right to representation as long as they were being taxed. This was in an English tradition which went! back over centuries of English history, he said, and Paine and his friends were continuing the actions of their ancestors. 

‘NO TRAITOR’ 

Paine was no traitor to England, nor English tradition. A great deal of blame for the whole affair, Mr. Rudling said, rested with George III and his Ministers and the English Government bore a big responsibility for the loss of the American Colonies. 

Referring to the French Revolution, Mr. Rudling said that many people in England supported it and only opposed the movement when it became dictatorial. Paine at that time regarded himself as an American citizen and it was a moot point whether someone American who regarded himself could be called a traitor to Britain. 

“It was easy to throw accusations about Paine which are less than just,” he said. 

Whatever Paine’s views on religion his beliefs were neither unethical nor immoral, Mr. Rudling said. He was far in advance of his time in social think- ing and advocated free universal educa- tion, maternity benefits, national assistance as a social right and old age pen- sions. 

He was the first man to suggest international arbitration between nations, and visualised not merely the United States but the United States of Europe: He was an advocate of social and political attitudes and institutions which today were taken for granted. 

Mr. Rudling added that recent suggestions that Paine was ever tried in ‘his absence for treason were nonsense. Legal proceedings were started against him for seditious libel after the publi- cation of “The Rights of Man”, but he sought protection by going to France.

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Lewes, Sussex. Saturday, November 14th. 1964. 

The historic first A.G.M. of the Thomas Paine Society took place in the Sussex town of Lewes on Saturday, November 14th. It was a fitting conclusion to a very active year’s work and fittingly held in a town with many Paine associations. 

Welcoming members and visitors to the meeting held in the Unitarian Church Hall, the Chairman, Christopher Brunel, drew attention to Paine’s connections with the town. Paine, Mr. Brunel pointed out, was an excise man, hardly a profession to make him popular. But popular he was. 

Following the Chairman, the Mayor of Lewes, Coun. A.C. Barber, welcomed the Society to the town. He told us how delighted he was to hear that the meeting would be held in Lewes and he welcomed the members both as Mayor of Lewes and a member of the Society. Paine had received his political apprenticeship in the town, The Mayor stated. Before concluding Councillor Barber told of the Paine discovery (reported on another page) and invited those present to visit the Mayor’s Parlour at the Town Hall during the tour of the town in the afternoon. 

The Chairman thanked the Mayor and then the business meeting commenced. Apologies were read from the President, Michael Foot, M.P., Mr. R. Sorenson, M.P. (Now Lord Sorenson), Earl Russell at this point the Chairman rose to point out that at a meeting held in connection with Paine at Lewes in 1904, a Lord Russell had sent apologies for not being able to attend, Mr.Blaydon, Mr. Cutner and Coun.Francis. 

The Secretary then presented the Annual Report. This detailed the work undertaken from the foundation of the Society and the Secretary stated that while much had been achieved, the aims of the Society were far from being accomplished. 

The national press had given the Society fair coverage as had many papers of a more local character. Society speakers had taken part in television programmes while others addressed meetings in a number of places. The Society published during the year a Bulletin and two leaflets. 

We received enquiries from individuals engaged in research work, information and material was supplied dealing with Paine, Hardy and the London Corresponding Society, the Society having traced a copy of the rare Moral and Philosophical Magazine of the London Correspond- ing Society. 

In concluding, the Secretary dealt with future activities. We hoped to hold many more meetings in areas were we had few if any members. We wanted closer co-operation with other bodies and he instanced that which had developed between us and the Labour, Co-operative, Trade Union and Democratic History Society. 

Following the Report the financial statement was given and then came the election of Officials and Council. This was followed by a full discussion on past activities, future policy and finance. Many interesting suggestions were advanced which will be locked into by the Council. 

After lunch members went on a conducted tour of Lewes, the highlight of which was a visit to the Town Hall to see the Paine signatures. In the evening a meeting was held at which Mr. Amphlett Micklewright delivered a stimulating address, this is available on tape, cost for three days loan being 5/-. The meeting brought to a close a very interesting day, one that members will long remember. 

TAILPIECE 

Ex-Councillor Mayes of Thetford, he resigned his Council seat over the erection of the Paine statue, failed in a bid for nomination to his former seat. 

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LONDON, SATURDAY OCTOBER 31st 1964 

As mentioned in the A.G.M. Report the Society is co-operating with the Trade Union, Labour, Co-operative and Democratic History Society (TULC). This body organised a conference in London on October 31st. at which the Thomas Paine Society was officially represented. 

Including our representatives there were 26 people present. The Secretary of T.U.L.C. commenced the meeting by giving an address in which certain proposals were advanced, these were to urge the formation of a National History Centre and Museum; to promote a travelling exhibition in three sections; to stage a major exhibition in London in 1967 commemorating the 1867 Reform Act. 

The meeting was then thrown open for contributions from those present and among those who took part was the Secretary of the T.P.S., Mr. R.W. Morrell. He supported the proposals and drew attention to the continual loss of important material from deliberate destruction and sale abroad. Following the morning session Mr. Morrell presented, through tho T.P.S., a number of items from his own collection on permanent loan to T.U.L.C., these included Chartist material, posters, photographs, newspapers, badges and original letters from G.J. Holyoake and Robert Blatchford. 

The afternoon session was chaired by Christopher Brunel, Chairman of the T.P.S. also Vice-Chairman of T.U.L.C., who gave a short talk on the T.P.S. Later the motion to hold the London exhibition and appeal for financial aid was moved and carried. 

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