Robert Treat Paine - Family and Legacy

Family and Legacy

Paine married Sally Cobb, the daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Leonard) Cobb and a sister of General David Cobb, on March 15, 1770. She was born May 15, 1744, died June 6, 1816. They were the parents of eight children:

• Robert Paine, b. May 14, 1770; d. July 28, 1798, unmarried. graduate of Harvard College, 1789.
• Sally Paine, b. March 7, 1772; d. Jan. 26, 1823, unmarried.
• Thomas Paine, b. Dec. 9, 1773 ; name changed by law in 1801 to Robert Treat Paine, Jr.; d. Nov. 13, 1811. graduate of Harvard College, 1792.
• Charles Paine, b. Aug. 30, 1775; d. Feb. 15, 1810. graduate of Harvard College, 1793.
• Henry Paine, b. Oct. 20, 1777; d. June 8, 1814; m. Olive Lyman, daughter of Theodore Lyman (1755–1839). Issue.
• Mary Paine, b. Feb. 9, 1780 ; d. Feb. 27, 1842 ; m. Rev. Elisha Clap. No issue,
• Maria Antoinetta Paine, b. Dec. 2, 1782; d. March 26, 1842; m. Deacon Samuel Greele. No issue
• Lucretia Paine, b. April 30, 1785; d. Aug. 27, 1823, unmarried.

Some of his notable descendants include;

• Charles Jackson Paine
• John Paine
• Robert Treat Paine, Jr.
• Robert Treat Paine Storer
• Eli Paine Pier
• Robert Treat Paine Storer, Jr.
• Robert Treat Paine, owner of the The Robert Treat Paine Estate, known as Stonehurst
• Lyman Paine He married, in 1926, Ruth Forbes of the distinguished Forbes family and a great-granddaughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Sumner Paine
• Michael Paine, husband of Ruth Paine

Paine is featured in the 2008 miniseries John Adams. In episode one, Paine (played by Brennan Brown) prosecutes the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. After losing in court, Paine and some colleagues visit Adams at home and attempt to enlist his support and use his credibility as an impartial party in taking a stand against the British. Paine admires Adams' ability to be impartial even while he detests the British stationed in Boston.