[2][3] He was born at Inca on the Island of Majorca, son of Pere Antoni Paieres and Gerònima Borràs[4] and joined the Franciscan order.
During the same period, Father Payéras held the office of vicario foraneo of the Bishop of Sonora, to whose jurisdiction California belonged.
The zealous prelate also headed various expeditions to the tribal-controlled lands of California for the purpose of finding suitable sites for new missions.
Six months before his death he accompanied an expedition to the Russian settlements in the wilds of Sonoma County, and thereby most probably hastened his demise.
He had extraordinary business ability, was a clear and forcible, as well as voluminous writer, and withal a man of great strength of mind and firmness of character."