Thomas Paine to Anthony Taylor expressing devastation at the death of Joseph Kirkbride - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC04281
From Archive Folder	Documents Relating to 1803
Title	Thomas Paine to Anthony Taylor expressing devastation at the death of Joseph Kirkbride
Date	20 November 1803
Author	Paine, Thomas (1737-1809)
Recipient	Taylor, Anthony
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Says he just arrived in New Rochelle. Received Taylor's letter with the news of the death of Colonel Joseph Kirkbride. Claims he has lost "my best friend." Paine befriended Kirkbride, a well-known patriot and fellow Quaker, when he lived in Bordentown, New Jersey 1777-1778, 1785-1786, and 1803. When he saw a letter from Bordentown not in Kirkbride's handwriting he suspected he had died. Says he is feels more grief because if Kirkbride had lived he would have rejoiced at "the triumphant success of the last elections" - Democrats had gained a majority in the New Jersey state legislature and Joseph Bloomfield won the governorship. Says he hasn't seen newspapers lately but has been told that the New Jersey Assembly has appointed a committee to enquire into the cause of the riots at Trenton. Wants to be kept informed of the committee's work. Postscript says Taylor's letter took three weeks to arrive because it was addressed to him at New Haven. Kirkbride's support of Paine in 1803 might have hastened his death. Paine had recently published "The Age of Reason," which was highly unpopular in America. When Kirkbride defended Paine, it has been said that the sudden unpopularity hastened an illness that lead to his death.
Subjects	Quaker Death Friendship Election Politics Democratic Party Mobs and Riots Government and Civics Literature and Language Arts
People	Paine, Thomas (1737-1809)
Place written	New Rochelle, New York
Theme	Government & Politics; Religion; Arts & Literature
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide State of N. York New Rochelle Novr. 20 1803 Dear Friend I am just arrived here. I received your friendly but afflicting letter announcing the death of Col. Kirkbride in whom Bordenton has lost its Patron and I my best friend. When I saw a letter from Bordenton not in Col. Kirkbride's handwriting I supposed the cause of it. Had I known that his last moments were approaching I would have come to have paid to him my last respects. I feel the more grief at his death because he died at the moment when, had he lived, he would have rejoiced at the triumphant success of the last elections I am told, for I have been out of the way of seeing news-papers, that your assembly have appointed a committee to enquire into the cause of the riots at Trenton and report thereon. I will be obliged to you to inform me what is done upon that subject. Remember me in friendship to Mrs. Kirkbride and Mrs. Wharton, and to your Father and family. Yours in sincerely Thomas Paine P.S Your letter being directed to me at N. Haven did not come to hand did not come to hand till 3 weeks after date. [address leaf] New Rochelle } Nov 21st } Anthony Taylor Bordenton N. Jersey [Pr] Mail

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