Record 5130/5355 Catalog Record Archives Exhibit Page Home Search Description  A New York Times magazine containing an article (page 18) written by William Safire on Language. It is titled Paine in the Neck or Who beat ol' Tom to our country's Greatest Coinage? Safire's New Political Dictionary asserted that the phrase "United States of America," was attributed to pamphleteer Thomas Paine." Paine's prediction (Common Sense) was published on Jan. 13, 1777. The first recorded use was from Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776 Lastly, Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts member of the Continental Congress, (from Marblehead), wrote a letter to Gen. Horatio Gates, regarding capital punishment, and the letter was dated by Gerry in Philadelphia on June 25, 1776. Was the coiner Jefferson? Gerry? Or Republicus, whoever that was? The controversy is yet to be resolved. + .

Ten New York Times Magazine Paine in the Neck -Archives Catalog -Copyright Marblehead Historical Commission New York Times Magazine COPYRIGHT INFORMATION ~ Contact the Marblehead Historical Commission for rights to use this image.

Rev. 2.0 2/2013 Contact the Historical Commission at 781-639-3425 or e-mail us (please include the "Object ID" number, not the Record Number)     historic@marblehead.org
Last modified on: February 22, 2013