There is a letter from Thomas Paine to John Hustler, 12 July 1789
going to auction this Thursday, 17 December 2009, at Sothebys in
London, U.K. Click on the link below and wait a bit -- it takes a
while to load and then look at the fourth lot counted from the
upper left.
http://catalogue.sothebys.com/auctions/L09777/auction.html
The only mention I can find in the standard literature on Paine
is in Keane at p.587 and it appears, moreover, that this letter is
not included in any of the standard Paine collections. Your
comments solicited. Another big thanks to the ever alert Alaine Lowell
for spotting and sharing this.
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In the letter Thomas Paine writes: "My Grandmother’s maiden name was Hustler. She intermarried with Mr. Cocke an Attorney and Deputy recorder of the Borough of Thetford [Paine’s birthplace] in Norfolk. – my Mother, who is still living, and Mr. Devereux Hustler of Hessett near Bury St. Edmunds, in Suffolk were Brother’s & Sister’s Children".
ReplyDeleteI live in a Suffolk farm house once owned by Devereux Hustler's grandson, Thomas Devereux Hustler. As far as I can see Paine's maternal grandmother is unknown and I think I have now discovered who she is. Paine's Hustler ancestors were significant figures in local politics of Bury St Edmunds in the late 1600s.
I can amplify if this is of interest.
Clive Boyce, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.
Mr. Boyce, thanks very much for your comment. Yes, I would like to communicate in more depth. Will try to contact you directly (email, post, etc) but if you see this message, you may contact me directly at (email typed out in full) paineite at gmail dot com.
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