Thomas Paine (privateer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Paine was a colonial American privateer
who, during the late 17th century, raided several Spanish settlements, including his raid with Jan Willems
who together looted Rio de la Hacha in 1680 as well as driving the French out of Block Island
. Although a subject of Great Britain, he was associated with many prominent Dutch privateers of the day including Jan Corneliszoon.
A resident of Jamestown
, Rhode Island
, he had received a commission from Jamaica's governor Sir Thomas Lynch
which instructed him to “seize, kill, and destroy pirates” however, in 1683, he joined the privateers John Markham
, Jan Corneliszoon, Conway Woolley and a French Captain Bréhal in a raid against the Spanish town of Saint Augustine, Florida
in March 1683. In command of an 8-gun bark, the Pearl, Thomas Paine led his crew of sixty men under the command of Captain Bréhal who possessed a French privateering commission, obtained from Jacques Nepveu, sieur de Pouanéay and governor of Saint Domingue.
As did the others, Paine sailed under a French flag as the fleet arrived off the Florida coast. However, finding the Spanish had prepared for their arrival in advance, they were forced to withdraw eventually abandoning their raid after looting the surrounding area (although they did release several captive before their departure) .
Returning with Bréhal and Markham to New Providence
, they were reportedly wanted by governor Robert Lilburne
who wanted to detain both Markham and Paine for violating England's peace agreement with Spain however he was unable to do so “for want of a force” and they eventually left the Bahamas to join Corneliszoon and Woolley who were working to salvage the wrecked Spanish treasure galleon, the Nuestra Seiiora de las Maravillas.
Their efforts apparently met little success and he and Bréal sailed north to resupply at Rhode Island. Although New England was traditionally friendly towards privateers, the two were arrested on orders by visiting governor Edward Cranfield
who charged Paine with carrying a counterfeit commission. Paine was eventually cleared and Brehal allowed to leave.
Paine stayed in Rhode Island and eventually went into semi-retirement becoming involved in the cargo and resaling for local pirates including Captain William Kidd
who visited Paine in 1699.
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
who, during the late 17th century, raided several Spanish settlements, including his raid with Jan Willems
Jan Willems
Jan Willems , also known as Janke or Yankey Willems, was a 17th century Dutch buccaneer. Based out of Petit-Goâve, Willems participated in a number of expeditions against the Spanish during the early to-mid 1680s with other well-known privateers including Michiel Andrieszoon, Thomas Paine, Laurens...
who together looted Rio de la Hacha in 1680 as well as driving the French out of Block Island
Block Island
Block Island is part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately south of the coast of Rhode Island, east of Montauk Point on Long Island, and is separated from the Rhode Island mainland by Block Island Sound. The United States Census Bureau defines Block...
. Although a subject of Great Britain, he was associated with many prominent Dutch privateers of the day including Jan Corneliszoon.
A resident of Jamestown
Jamestown, Rhode Island
Jamestown is a town located in Newport County, Rhode Island, in the United States. The population was 5,405 at the 2010 census. Jamestown is situated almost entirely on Conanicut Island, the second largest island in Narragansett Bay.-History:...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, he had received a commission from Jamaica's governor Sir Thomas Lynch
Thomas Lynch (governor)
Sir Thomas Lynch was English governor of Jamaica on three separate occasions in the 17th century.He originally came from Galway, and was known as "Buckra Lynch". He was also chief justice of Jamaica for a time.His rival was Henry Morgan....
which instructed him to “seize, kill, and destroy pirates” however, in 1683, he joined the privateers John Markham
John Markham
Sir John Markham was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench-Origins:Markham was the son of John Markham, a judge of the Common Pleas, by either his first or second wife...
, Jan Corneliszoon, Conway Woolley and a French Captain Bréhal in a raid against the Spanish town of Saint Augustine, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in March 1683. In command of an 8-gun bark, the Pearl, Thomas Paine led his crew of sixty men under the command of Captain Bréhal who possessed a French privateering commission, obtained from Jacques Nepveu, sieur de Pouanéay and governor of Saint Domingue.
As did the others, Paine sailed under a French flag as the fleet arrived off the Florida coast. However, finding the Spanish had prepared for their arrival in advance, they were forced to withdraw eventually abandoning their raid after looting the surrounding area (although they did release several captive before their departure) .
Returning with Bréhal and Markham to New Providence
New Providence
New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas, containing more than 70% of the total population. It also houses the national capital city, Nassau.The island was originally under Spanish control following Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World, but the Spanish government showed...
, they were reportedly wanted by governor Robert Lilburne
Robert Lilburne
thumb|right|Robert LilburneColonel Robert Lilburne was the older brother of John Lilburne, the well known Leveller, but unlike his brother who severed his relationship with Oliver Cromwell, Robert Lilburne remained in the army...
who wanted to detain both Markham and Paine for violating England's peace agreement with Spain however he was unable to do so “for want of a force” and they eventually left the Bahamas to join Corneliszoon and Woolley who were working to salvage the wrecked Spanish treasure galleon, the Nuestra Seiiora de las Maravillas.
Their efforts apparently met little success and he and Bréal sailed north to resupply at Rhode Island. Although New England was traditionally friendly towards privateers, the two were arrested on orders by visiting governor Edward Cranfield
Edward Cranfield
Edward Cranfield was an English colonial administrator. He was governor of the Province of New Hampshire from 1682 to 1685, in an administration that was marked by hostility between Cranfield and the colonists. He left New Hampshire in 1685 for Barbados, where he was appointed commissioner of...
who charged Paine with carrying a counterfeit commission. Paine was eventually cleared and Brehal allowed to leave.
Paine stayed in Rhode Island and eventually went into semi-retirement becoming involved in the cargo and resaling for local pirates including Captain William Kidd
William Kidd
William "Captain" Kidd was a Scottish sailor remembered for his trial and execution for piracy after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean. Some modern historians deem his piratical reputation unjust, as there is evidence that Kidd acted only as a privateer...
who visited Paine in 1699.
Further reading
- Clifford, Barry and Kenneth Kinkor. The Lost Fleet: The Discovery of a Sunken Armada from the Golden Age of Piracy. Harper Paperbacks, 2003. ISBN 0060957794
- Field, Edward, Henry Perry Smith, Charles Value Chapin, Daniel Goodwin, Robert Grieve, William Eaton Foster, George Grafton Wilson, Howard Kemble Stokes, James Hill Nutting, Clarence Saunders Brigham, Edward C. Stiness and Josiah Browne Bowditch. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the End of the Century. Mason Publishing and Printing Co., 1902.
- Zacks, Richard. The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd. New York: Hyperion, 2003. ISBN 0-7868-8451-7