Tom Paine was born in Thetford, England on January 29, 1734. His parents were Joseph and Frances Pain (he later added the E)_. His father made corsets, which he would do later in life. A corset maker was a low-income trade.

He lived in a stone row house. The house was on Bridge Street. The house had 2 rooms upstairs and 2 down stairs. They had a yard to grow their own food. Tom was lucky to go to school.

As a child he liked school. He went until he was 13. After school he tried to runaway to sea but is father got him to come home.