Most probably he was working at his father's trade, which was that of a carpenter.

It does not appear that he had any school education, and the probability is, that he could not write, for his parents were extremely poor, as appears from their not being able to pay for a bed when he was born.

[NOTE: One of the few errors traceable to Paine's not having a Bible at hand while writing Part I.There is no indication that the family was poor, but the reverse may in fact be inferred .-- Editor.] It is somewhat curious that the three persons whose names are the most universally recorded were of very obscure parentage.

Moses was a foundling; Jesus Christ was born in a stable; and Mahomet was a mule driver.

The first and the last of these men were founders of different systems of religion; but Jesus Christ founded no new system.