Thomas Paine
1737-1809
Author-Soldier
“Common Sense” “American Crisis”
January 10, 1776 December 19, 1776
Thomas Paine volunteered for the Continental Army. He marched to Amboy, New Jersey, located off the tip of Staten Island where the British began the invasion of New York. He arrived before the first 9,3000 Redcoats landed and stayed until the fighting went north. Paine then went to Fort Lee where General Nathaniel Greene appointed him as one of his aides. While stationed at Fort Lee, he authored “The American Crisis” pamphlet which contained the famous quote “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Fort Lee (Monument Park area) is the site where this most influential writing was conceived. Paine’s passion and writings about freedom had a great influence on many of the delegates that created the Declaration of Independence.
Marker is at the intersection of Palisade Avenue and Angioletti Place, on the left when traveling south on Palisade Avenue.
Courtesy hmdb.org
