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PAINE, Thomas

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[E_Cole5H17.GED]

[Cole5H17.GED]

DC0260
Note: "Eastham had been settled but a very few years when Thomas Paine became a resident. He was born in England, but the particular place is not known with certainty. Credible traditionary accounts that came down several branches of the family, and committed to writing before and soonafter the commencement of the present century, have it that he came over when a lad of about ten years of age, with his father, Thomas, and married Mary Snow and settled in Eastham. But as to the father, Thomas, beyond that he settled in Plymouth Colony, tradition is silent. It has been supposed the father was the Thomas Paine who settled in Yarmouth, and the first representative to the Colony court in 1639, but the evidence to establish the fact is yet wanting [as of 1916]. It has also been supposed that the lad, the subject of this article, was the Yarmouth Thomas, and that he removed to Eastham from that town. Of this there is noevidence. If he were that man he must have reached a great age at his death in 1706. That Thomas Paine, the lad, did marry Mary Snow and settle in Eastham, as tradition has it and accepted by his descendants, the records clearly show.
"His name first appears upon the records as a constable of Eastham in 1653. He was in that town in 1655, and is mentioned as one of the nineteen men then townsmen. He was propounded at the Colony court at Ploymouth in 1658, and June 1, that year was admitted as freeman. In 1662 he was appointed, with Nicholas Snow, Jonathan Sparrow and Giles Hopkins, toview and lay out the meadow between Namskaket and Silver Springs, thenwithin the limits of Eastham, to those of the inhabitants that were entitled to the same; and the same year, with Giles Hopkins, was selecteda surveyor of highways. In 1664, for the first time he was chosen deputy to the Plymouth Colony court, and a juryman. In 1667, with eleven others, he was called to investigate the causes of deaths of Robert Chappell, James Nichols and James Pidell, of Captain John Allen's company, who were put ashore at Cape Cod. The same year he was allowed by the Colonial court to select a tract of land for his use, and in June, 1669, he was allowed, with Experience Michell, Henry Sampson and Thomas Little, to purchase land at Namasket, now Middleboro. With these persons, July 20, the same year, he purchased of Tuscaquin, the Black Sachem, and his son William for ú10 sterling, their right to the grant. This land adjoined John Alden's tract, at the famous Assawamsett pond. IN 1670, with Jonathan Sparrow, he was appointed an inspector of the ordinaries in town, to see that there was no excessive drinking; and the same year, one of the Grand Inquest.
"In 1670, Mr. Paine became interested in purchasing land in what is nowTruro, of the proprietors. His first purchase was made of fob. Prence of Plymouth, May 2, 1670, of his 'half share' lying between 'Bound Brook' and 'Eastern Harbor,' or 'Lovell's Creek,' paying the sum of ú20. This tract some twenty years after, he sold to his eldest son, Thomas, forthe same sum, together with the tract he had bought of Jabez Howland in 1673, in the same vicinity for the same amount. IN 1670, he was appointed to the office of 'bayle by land & water,' an officer created to 'demand and receive for the Colony's use' the fines of those who disregarded the laws regulating the fishing at the head of the Cape, now Provincetown, and the territory adjacent, now Truro. This office he held manyyears, giving entire satisfaction. While acting as bailee, he resided during the fishing season in that region. In 1671, he represented Eastham in the Colony court at Plymouth; also in 1672, '73, '76, '78, '80, '81 and '90. He was selectman of Eastham in 1671 and several years afterwards. In 1676, he was one of the committee to collect a debt of Sandwich and to superintend the building of the meetinghouse in Eastham. This meetinghouse was the second one built there and stood near the ancient burying ground. The first one was thatched roof and stood nearby, and had been erected many years. It was now considered unsuitable for the congregation of their minister, Mr. Samuel Treat, who was now regularly settled. Mr. Paine was clerk and treasurer of Eastham, it is understood; but how many years in service is not clear from the record. Mr. Pratt says he was treasurer of the town for nineteen years, and Mr. Freeman says twenty-four years. The sources from which they derive the informationthe writer cannot find. The early records of the town, covering the years of his active public life, certainly give us but little as to the clerks and treasurers of the town. Mr. Paine was many years a 'rate maker' or assessor. In 1685, with Rev. Samuel Treat, Captain Jonathan Sparrow, John Mayo, Sen., and Jabez Snow, he was chosen by the town 'to hearand determine the difference between those called the purchasers of the town,' respecting land within the limits of Eastham."3
/DC0260

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