One of Rhode Island 's most notorious pirates that turned hero and pillar of society was Thomas Paine (1632-1715). He lived on the island of Jamestown and was a friend and confidant of the infamous Captain William Kidd. Paine began his adventure-filled life at sea as early as 1647. By the late 1660s, he had become notorious as the captain of a pirate ship and he took part in a number of raids on ships and ports in the Caribbean Sea . For a number of years, Paine claimed to be a privateer rather than a pirate.
 
Because Great Britain and other European countries were at war so often during the 17th and 18th centuries, they looked for a way to increase their naval power with as little expense as possible. This was a time when there was very little difference between merchant ships and military vessels. The result was that many countries encouraged their sea-faring colonists to add armaments to their ships and prey upon the enemy. To encourage this practice, those who participated were allowed to keep most of the spoils of war that resulted from their actions. This was called privateering. As privateers did so well,   many captains sought to continue raiding long after the wars were over and became pirates.
 
In 1683, one of these alleged pirates, Captain Thomas Paine, boldly sailed into Newport harbor with a prize he had captured, claiming it was legal as he had a commission as a privateer form Jamaica . According to Samuel Greene Arnold, one of Rhode Island 's excellent 19th century historians, Paine's papers were forged. The British Tax Collector in Boston , and probably many others, knew this and asked Rhode Island Governor William Coddington to seize the vessel. The governor refused, saying the papers were in order and Paine profited from the episode. By 1687 Paine had many of the powerful politicians and merchants, as well as retired pirates, as friends and became well respected. Historian David Stapleton tells us that in that year he married Mercy Carr, the daughter of Caleb Carr, a prominent political figure, and settled in Jamestown .
 
During King William's War (1689-97) Block Island was attacked by French privateers. Paine's reputation as an able captain and fighter was responsible for his being asked to drive the enemy out of the area. With just two sloops and 90 men in his fleet, Paine attacked the five French vessels and 200 men. Arnold tells us that after a bloody two and a half hours of fighting, the French under their Captain Pekar, who knew Paine from his pirate days, fled. The French lost 100 men killed and wounded while Paine's casualties were one man killed and six wounded. Historian Arnold says, It was the first victory of Rhode Island on the open ocean, and a worthy harbinger of many daring deeds.
 
Paine, now a hero to Rhode Islanders, is said to have been host to a number of buccaneers and perhaps helped them to dispose of their treasures. One of these visitors was his good friend, the infamous Captain William Kidd, a known pirate. In 1699, when Kidd was lured into turning himself in to the authorities in Boston , with the promise of a pardon, he stopped first at Jamestown to see Captain Paine. Kidd, now in his mid-forties hoped to retire from piracy as the 67-year-old Paine had done a number of years earlier. Many historians believe that Kidd left a great deal of the booty he had accumulated in his pirating years with Captain Paine, whom he admired and trusted implicitly. Kidd, of course, was never pardoned but imprisoned in Boston . While there, Kidd's wife Sarah, who was also imprisoned, sent a letter to Paine on July 18, 1699 asking him for 28 ounces of gold to help them in their time of need and also said that Paine should keep all ye rest you have in yer custody. Paine sent the money to help the Kidds. Unfortunately for Captain Kidd, it was to no avail as Kidd was sent to London and hanged in 1701. The British Lord Bellomont, who was one of those who actively sought Kidd's death and hoped to find his treasure, believed Paine had the pirate's gold but could never prove it.
 
There have been a number of attempts to find Kidd's treasure in and around Paine's house and in Jamestown , but except for a few coins, none was ever found. Paine by the early 18th century had become a well-respected citizen and was one of those who petitioned for the Church of England to be established in Rhode Island , which resulted in the building of Trinity Church in Newport .
 
Despite his advanced years, in 1706 Paine, then 74 years of age, was given command of two ships during Queen Anne's War and captured a French privateer. He spent the remaining years with friends and family at his home in Jamestown , which was called Cajacet.