Tom Paine's Bones and the 4th Custom House.

[dazza]

Who was Tom Paine?

Thomas Paine, (February 9, 1737 – June 8, 1809) was an author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Born in Thetford, Norfolk, Paine emigrated to the British American colonies in 1774 in time to participate in the American Revolution. He was the author of Common Sense, and The Rights of Man.


10 years after his death and burial in New York.

On Sunday, 21st November, 1819 William Cobbett arrived at Liverpool from America on board the ship Hercules. And following a short period of quarantine on Wednesday, 24th November, 1819, he made his way across to the Custom House, at the head of the old dock, where he was then directed to the yard behind. Then, in front of the custom officials he proceeded to open one of his trunks. His words:

"There, gentlemen, are the mortal remains of the immortal Thomas Paine."

John Lewis [Liverpool One] now occupies the site of the 4th Custom House & yard.






[Attached below, The Times, Wed, 24th Nov. 1819 and Sat, 27th Nov, 1819]