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Primary sourceArtifact18th century

Thomas Paine Cottage

18th century

The New Rochelle farmhouse where Thomas Paine lived from 1802 to 1806, given to him by New York State for his revolutionary service.

Paine's home from 1802 to 1806, granted to him by New York for his revolutionary service.

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Photo of a white clapboard two-story cottage with a central front porch, white columns, a dark shingled roof, and brick chimneys, surrounded by green trees, shrubs, and a flagstone walkway.
The Thomas Paine Cottage, New Rochelle, New York. Photographed in 2015.

About this source

What it is

This white clapboard cottage in New Rochelle, New York, was Thomas Paine's home from 1802 to 1806. It stands on land that New York State granted him in recognition of his service to the American Revolution. The cottage is kept today by the Huguenot and Historical Association of New Rochelle.

Why it matters

After decades of political writing that helped shape revolutions in America and France, Paine spent his last years in modest circumstances. This cottage shows how the new United States tried to repay him with land, even as his reputation had become controversial because of his later religious writings.

Look closer

  • What does the simple, modest design of the house suggest about Paine's life after the Revolution?
  • Why might a government reward a writer with land rather than money?
  • What does the building alone not tell you about how people viewed Paine at this time?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Thomas Paine on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Thomas Paine sources

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Title page of the 1776 Philadelphia pamphlet Common Sense, addressed to the Inhabitants of America, printed by R. Bell in Third Street. Handwritten annotations include a name in the top corner and Thomas Paine's name near the bottom.Book

Primary source

Common Sense

Thomas Paine · 10 January 1776

Photograph of the first page of a printed 1776 pamphlet titled The American Crisis, Number I, by Thomas Paine, with handwritten annotations at the top reading 'by Thomas Paine' and 'published in the Penn. Journal' and 'June 1776'. The printed text begins 'These are the times that try men's souls.'Book

Primary source

The American Crisis

Thomas Paine · 1776-1783

Title page of Rights of Man, reading 'Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke's Attack on the French Revolution, by Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Congress in the American War, and Author of the Work Intitled Common Sense. London: Printed for J. S. Jordan, No. 166, Fleet-Street. MDCCXCI.' Handwritten ink marks appear in the upper right corner.Book

Primary source

Rights of Man

Thomas Paine · 1791-1792

Title page of The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine. Text reads: 'The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology. By Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Congress in the American War, and author of the works entitled Common Sense, and Rights of Man, &c. Paris: Printed by Barrois. London: Sold by D. I. Eaton, at the Cock and Swine, No. 74, Newgate-street. 1794. Price two shillings.'Book

Primary source

The Age of Reason

Thomas Paine · 1794-1807

Scan of the engrossed Declaration of Independence on aged parchment. Heading reads 'In Congress, July 4, 1776' with the title 'The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America' below. Dense handwritten text fills the page; signatures appear at the bottom.Document

Primary source

Declaration of Independence

Continental Congress (drafted by Thomas Jefferson) · 1776

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