Thomas Paine was granted a farm in 1794 by the New York State Legislature amounting to 320 acres in New Rochelle, Westchester just six miles from New York City. He was awarded the land as reward for his service in the Revolutionary War after the land had been confiscated from a British loyalist. Ever since, New Rochelle has been a center for admirers of Paine and his legacy.
A map of the farm granted to Thomas Paine in 1794. The New York State Legislature awarded Paine 320 acres in New Rochelle for his service in the Revolutionary War after confiscating the land from a British loyalist. The map was created by New Rochelle native Walter Beach HumphreyThe Thomas Paine New Rochelle Monument is a 12-foot marble column that originally marked his burial site although it was moved by the city a dozen or so yards away from the actual burial. In 1837, Gilbert Vale, editor of the New York Beacon, started a subscription for the purpose of erecting a monument that was succesfully erected and dedicated on May 30th, 1881. Sculptor William Macdonald created the bronze bust that was placed upon the monument on May 30th, 1899 – FlickrA sketch of Paine’s New Rochelle gravesite before the monument was installed in 1881 showing a hickory tree growing from the grave. The image was taken from a newspaper clipping from The Jennings daily record (Jennings, La.), June 19, 1902 – Library of CongressA lithograph of the Thomas Paine New Rochelle Monument by H. R. Robinson – American Philosophical SocietyAn engraving of the Thomas Paine New Rochelle Monument before it was moved to its current location and before the bust of Paine was placed – Westchester County Historical SocietyThis picture of the Thomas Paine New Rochelle Monument was printed in Gilbert Vale’s journal “The Beacon”, an influential social and political publication in the mid-19th century. The Thomas Paine National Historical Association relaunched The Beacon in 2021 as our main publication 170 years after the last Vale edition – Thomas Paine National Historical AssociationThe bronze bust of Paine surmounting the Thomas Paine New Rochelle Monument was modeled by sculptor James Wilson Alexander MacDonald. It was presented to the Thomas Paine Historical Association, and was placed on the capstone of the monument early in 1899A sign was erected in 2025 detailing the information inscribed on the 1839 Thomas Paine Monument in New Rochelle and was installed with collaboration of City historian Barbara Davis, New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer, and the City of New Rochelle.The Thomas Paine Memorial Building in 1925 – Photo courtesy of the Thomas Paine Cottage MuseumThe Thomas Paine Memorial Building in a 1925 sketch by Robert Emmett Owen with permission from the Westchester County Historical SocietyA sketch of the Thomas Paine Memorial Building by Robert Emmett Owen – American Philosophical SocietyThe Thomas Paine Memorial Building in winter of 2024The Thomas Paine Memorial Building in 2025An inside look at the Thomas Paine Memorial Building during a public event.The Thomas Paine historical marker in New RochelleThe Thomas Paine Cottage Museum sign – Photo courtesy of the Thomas Paine Cottage MuseumThe Thomas Paine Cottage in New Rochelle, New York. The New York State Legislature awarded Paine 320 acres in New Rochelle in 1784 for his service in the Revolutionary War after confiscating the land from a British loyalist. Paine lived in this cottage from 1802 to 1806 – US National Park ServiceThe Thomas Paine Cottage Museum in 2020 – Photo courtesy of the Thomas Paine Cottage MuseumA 1937 oil painting of the Thomas Paine Cottage by Henry Orne Ryder – Boston Public LibraryAn engraving of the Thomas Paine Cottage by Robert Emmett Owen – Photo courtesy of the Thomas Paine Cottage MuseumA Franklin Stove reproduction honoring the time its inventor Benjamin Franklin presented an original to Thomas Paine. The reproduction is now at the Thomas Paine Cottage – American Philosophical SocietyA plaque on a stone wall near the Thomas Paine New Rochelle Monument – Photo courtesy of the Thomas Paine Cottage MuseumPaine AvenueThe 2.7 acre Paine Lake in winterThe Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona University.A display at a 2025 event at the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona University.The City of New Rochelle has made Paine Day a permanent annual commemoration held on June 8th, the day of Paine’s death in 1809.An image from a 1909 pamphlet promoting the memorial celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the death of Thomas Paine at the Paine Monument – Thomas Paine Historical AssociationIn 1925, the Thomas Paine Memorial Building construction began as inventor Thomas Alva Edison wields the shovelDouglas Cooper, a distinguished New Rochelle lawyer who served for 10 years as the President of the Thomas Paine Historical Association stands at the Paine Cottage – Westchester County Historical SocietyRededication of the Paine Monument and Assignment of Its Custody to the City of New Rochelle on Saturday, October 14th, 1905. New Rochelle Mayor, the Honorable Henry S. Clark (mayor from 1902 to 1907) accepted the Monument in behalf of the City of New Rochelle – Photo by James B. ElliottAmerican writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher Elbert Hubbard at the Paine Centenary Celebration in New Rochelle, NY on June 5, 1909 – Photo by James B. Elliott
The Thomas Paine Historical Association is proud to be headquartered at the Thomas Paine Memorial Building, constructed in 1925 and located at 983 North Avenue in New Rochelle, New York. The building acts as a museum and meeting space to honor Paine and his legacy. As a sneak peak at our offerings, you can take a look at some of our favorite exhibits at this link. The museum is open every Saturday from 1 to 4pm.
