 In June of the same year, Paine joined forces with Michel de Grammont and a captain named Wright at Blanquilla Island.Together with 50 men they successfully raided the town of Cumana although it was defended by 2,000 Spanish soldiers.A resident of Jamestown, Rhode Island, Paine had received a commission from Jamaica's governor Sir Thomas Lynch which instructed him to "seize, kill, and destroy pirates"; however, in March 1683, he joined the privateers John Markham, Jan Corneliszoon, Conway Woolley and a French Captain "Bréhal" (actually a nickname of Michiel Andrieszoon) in a raid against the Spanish town of Saint Augustine, Florida.