I have searched and searched looking for Thomas 1) PAINE - he came from England to America in 1774 - he was the author of the Patriot Pamphlete published in January 1776 called "Common Sense" "Thomas PAINE was a tempestuous, restless man, he became involved in the histories of three nations - his native England, France and especially, America. After losing a position as office of the excise because he had written a fiery pamphlet about the corruption in the service resulting from poor salaries, he met Benjamin FRANKLIN, who sent him to America. Thomas PAINE arrived in late 1774 and became an editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine in Philadelphia. As soon as the Revolution broke out he began advocating separation from Briton. In 1787 Thomas PAINE returned to England after writing "The Rights of Man" a defense of the French Revolution which urged the England to overthrow their monarchy, he was forced to flee France. There he was elected to national office and ultimately got into trouble for voting against the execution of the deposed King Louis XVI. His age of Reason, a deistic treatise opposing organized religion, alienated many of this friends. Thomas returned to America in 1802, dying in 1809." Do any of you know about him, or where I can find information on him? I am interested in his brother John [who my aunt says we come thru] and his parents. Thanks a bunch Wilma Fleming Haynes gencon@harborside.com