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. In 1821, the schooner USS Enterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte from the Gulf. Jan 25, 2007. For the first time, it was made available for research. Lafitte visited in March 1817. The story may have begun because Pierre Lafittes mistress owned a building on St. Phillip Street across from todays Blacksmith Shop. I a month there. This article provides images of newspapers from 1921, and one column in particular that talks about Lafittes treasure. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) . [73] Aury returned to Galveston several months later, but he left in July when he realized that the men were unwilling to revolt. A number of details about Jean Lafitte's early life remain obscure and often sources contradict each other. In the popular Japanese manga/anime series, Jean Laffite is a character in the historical fiction novels, Jean Lafitte is a character in the (2014) science-fiction, mystery novel, Tom Cooper uses Lafitte's and treasure in his novel. he found that there had already been a small colony established, founded by Spaniard . He was a reserved man and remained largely . New Orleans issued six such letters, primarily to smugglers who worked with Lafitte at Barataria. (He was actually more of a land based businessman than a privateer or pirate at sea.) Families with the surname Lafitte have been found in Louisiana documents from 1765. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. The brothers stripped down their original ship and used its guns to outfit the new one. A smuggler of epic proportions, Jean Lafitte had an army of privateers with as many as 1,000 men ultimately making him an invaluable asset for America in the War of 1812. Jean Lafitte was a French pirate and privateer who operated from New Orleans, Louisiana. . What: Lecture and book signing. One of Lafitte's men testified that the Baratarians had never intended to fight the US but had prepared their vessels to flee. that the treasure was on board one of Lafittes vessels and sank to the ocean In later years, he was described as having "a more accurate knowledge of every inlet from the Gulf than any other man". He was born in Port-au-Prince on the Caribbean island now known as Haiti, where his father was a tanner who made a comfortable enough living to educate his sons well. . This story was told to me several years ago by a man in his 80 s Back in 1940 or 41 two men hired to clean up around what is said to be Lafittes red house disapeared after a few days. Like Barataria, Galveston was a seaward island that protected a large inland bay. So next time you're walking past the . most well-known buried treasure mystery still to this day is the unfound It also mentions reports of larger sums of the treasure being buried in the appropriately-named small town of Lafitte, Louisiana. The captured schooner was not considered useful for piracy and so after they had unloaded its cargo, the Lafittes returned the ship to its former captain and crew. This article is about the privateer. The Barataria chief then had 1100 men under his . He was accompanied by a Royal Marine infantry captain, John McWilliam,[45][46] who had been given a package to deliver to Lafitte. You can see a small door that was covered. Lafitte's ship is called "The Pride," but that's something they've already found. The judge ruled that Patterson should get the customary share of profits from the goods that had already been sold, but he did not settle the ownership of the ships. States officials granted him legal authority to pirate and capture British [17], Based in New Orleans, Pierre Lafitte served as a silent partner, looking after their interests in the city. During the battle Lafitte fought well. They had 3 children together: Jean Antoine Lafitte, Lucien Jean Lafitte, and Denise Jeanette Lafitte. In 1814, the U.S. sent a naval force to invade Lafittes fleet and was mostly successful, seizing many of Lafittes comrades and ships. He is best known for his role in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Some accounts say By 1810, their new port had become very successful; the Laffites had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy. In the summer of 1814, Pierre was arrested and jailed in New Orleans, but he escaped from jail under mysterious circumstances in September. To the north of Tatum, in the middle of the forest, lies Lake Hendrix. Jean Lafitte was a French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. On September 13, 1814, Commodore Daniel Patterson set sail aboard the USSCarolina for Barataria. Jean Lafitte was likely born in 1782, although he was not baptized until 1786. [116] Many researchers noticed a similarity between John Laflin's handwriting and the writing in the journal. [63] On land and sea, the former pirate gunners earned praise as the battle continued. SS Jean Lafitte (1942) (MC hull number 475), transferred to the United States Navy as Sumter-class attack transport USS Warren (APA-53); sold for commercial use in 1947; converted to container ship in 1965; scrapped in 1977 SS Jean Lafitte (1943) (MC hull number . - Advance Reservations Suggested - - Please check website for specific information and ticket pricing - Learn more about Jean Laffitte Pirate Dinner Cruise by visiting their . He was evidently able to speak English reasonably well and most likely had a working knowledge of Spanish. 3 and 4. Jean had taken the helm of a band of pirates when the U.S. found itself at war with . Annual income reached more than $2 million ($35.4million in today's terms) in stolen currency and goods. What was the name of Lafitte's pirate ship? [83] Two weeks after setting sail, they captured a Spanish ship, which they sent to Galveston, hoping the Longs would smuggle the goods to New Orleans. . His men burned the Maison Rouge, fortress, and settlement. Dissatisfied with their role as brokers, in October 1812 the Lafitte brothers purchased a schooner and hired Captain Trey Cook to sail it. (Ramsay (1996), pp. The United States made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Baratarias swamps and bayous stretched south of New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico. If you study your info you will be lost. Within a short period, Lafitte's men abandoned their ships, set several on fire, and fled the area. [44], McWilliam brought two letters in his packet for Lafitte: one, under the seal of King George III, offered Lafitte and his forces British citizenship and land grants in the British colonies in the Americas (by then, these consisted of islands in the Caribbean and territory in Upper and Lower Canada). A mysterious shipwreck is capturing imaginations as a team of researchers sift through the remnants of an early 19th-century vessel located 150 miles off the Galveston Island coast.. Believing that the Americans would eventually prevail in the war against Britain, Lafitte thought he could more easily defeat the US revenue officers than he could the British Navy. He suggested that the line be extended to a nearby swamp, and Jackson ordered it done. Its off 435 about 12 miles from where he fled imprisonment to the Pearl River. 5, 7. An attorney representing Lafitte argued that the captured ships had flown the flag of Cartagena, an area at peace with the United States. But the gold and diamond jewl was the confirmation I needed. The fleet anchored off Grande Terre and the gunboats attacked. [99] In 1843, Mirabeau B. Lamar investigated many of the Lafitte stories and concluded that, while there were no authentic records of death, Lafitte was likely dead. Within two days of his offer, handbills were posted all over New Orleans offering a similar award for the arrest of the governor. [3], Lafitte and his brother Pierre also claimed to have been born in Bayonne. Most who plied that area back then kept what they found close to the vest, and today that area is all open water, though many locals can still point out to you exactly where the Temple was. In 1966, Louisiana authorized a state park to be established at the present site of the Barataria Preserve. Woodblock print of the death of Jean Lafitte from The Pirates Own Book, published in 1837. Guests could've been able to enter Laffite's crypt near the Haunted Mansion. Jean Lafitte became labeled by some as a [18] Seamen flocked to the island, working on the docks or at the warehouses until they were chosen as crew for one of the privateers.[19]. Several times customs officials and soldiers tried to capture Lafi tte in the swamps, but they were usually captured, wounded, or killed by the Baratarians. [101] In 1909, a man was given a six-year prison sentence for fraud after swindling thousands of dollars from people, by claiming that he knew where the Lafitte treasure was buried and taking their money for the promise to find it.[103]. A family in Baytown, Texas tell their story as they believe they found one of Lafittes sunken ships. Following Lafitte's departure from the Texas coast in 1821, James and Mary Campbell remained in the region, ultimately settling on a plot of about 1500 acres at Campbell's Bayou (Articles, 1998). Christina died after the birth of their daughter. My grandfather never got to look for the treasure s. Ive heard he would sometimes slip into Mobile Bay. [11] This was the last year that Napoleon failed to regain control of Saint-Domingue. [118][Note 4], Lafitte is paid tribute at Disneyland by a ship anchor monument with an accompanying plaque found in New Orleans Square. wrong move on Lafittes mason rouge. The smuggler became the lawful owner of the slaves and could resell them in New Orleans, or transport them for sale in other parts of the Deep South, which was the major slave market of the time. He sold those at his location The Temple. The money that he sold them for was Spanish Coin, Reales usually in 2,4,8 denominations, minted in Mexico. These Letters of Marque would give the Captains and Crew permission to capture and steal the ship and cargo of the issuing government's enemies. the Texas Gulf Coast. [85] Almost half of the combined crew refused to sail as pirates; Lafitte allowed them to leave aboard his largest ship, the brig General Victoria. A representative of the smuggler would purchase the slaves at the ensuing auction, and the smuggler would be given half of the purchase price. In 1812, several Baratarians including both Pierre and Jean Lafitte were captured but jumped bail. [91] When Lafitte and other pirates operating in the area began attacking merchant ships carrying legal goods to Cuba, they angered Cuban officials. The fortune is said to have been stolen from the Spanish by Jean Lafitte. Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in multiple [101] Lafitte is rumored to have buried treasure at many locations, including Galveston and sites along coastal Louisiana, such as Contraband Bayou in Lake Charles. An archivist for Bexar County, Texas, declared the papers to be authentic. [24] They outfitted it with 12 fourteen-pounder cannons. There are many stories about famed pirate Jean Lafitte, but one places his lost buried treasure at the bottom of a lake right here in East Texas. The state of Merchants and planters were eager to buy the goods and slaves Lafitte smuggled into south Louisiana. In 1978, Congress created Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, combining Chalmette National Historical Park (established in 1938) with the Louisiana state park and authorizing a visitor center in the French Quarter. Could it be [83] Lafitte's men buried some of the cargo on the island and ran the captured vessel aground, but an American patrol spotted the ship and, after investigating, discovered the buried cargo. The second item was a personal note to Lafitte from McWilliam's superior, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls, urging him to accept the offer.[47]. hidden treasures have been told time and time again in childrens books, video [60] Lafitte realized that the American line of defense was so short as to potentially allow the British to encircle the American troops. One of the pirate's captains had attacked an American merchant ship. According to one account, published in 1885, The Historical Guide to New Orleans, Jean Lafitte died of sickness on the island of Mugeres, off the Yucatan, in 1826. Lafitte possibly took an assumed name, John Lafflin, and may have given that surname to his younger two sons. Details: $10; galvestonhistory.org. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; Jean Lafitte was likely one of them. Back in 1915, a city worker in New Orleans found a chest that was filled with over 1,500 . Over the next few months, the British Navy increased patrols in the Gulf of Mexico, and by August they had established a base at Pensacola. [116], In 1980, the manuscript was donated to the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Texas. The following day, Lafitte took command of the island and appointed his own officers. Around the same time it became illegal to bring slaves from Africa into Louisiana; it later became illegal to import slaves into the rest of the United States. [31], As the smuggling operations reduced the amount of revenue collected by customs offices, American authorities were determined to halt business at Barataria. locations along the Gulf Coast. It was stuck in the crack of the stairs. (In English documents, his last name was often spelled Lafitte, but Laffite was the spelling used by Jean and his brother Pierre.) Let us know in the comments Jean Lafitte, a one-time resident of Louisiana and privateer, is believed by some to have buried a large cache of treasure somewhere in the bayous of Louisiana. that is. Due to escalating violence from the Haitian Revolution, in early 1803 Pierre boarded a refugee ship for New Orleans.Davis (2005), pp. Is his last name spelled Lafi tte or Laffi te? parties, as the Mystery of Jean Lafittes Unfound Treasure seems to be a voyage "[98] No American newspaper published an obituary of him. Quick Facts. The Spanish ships were heavily armed privateers or warships and returned heavy fire. that the treasure is in a different location now than where it was buried? Registration for Pierre Lafitte's ship Goelette la Dilidente,a 136 ton schooner, captained by . These questions The most notorious New Orleans smuggler and gentleman pirate was Jean Lafitte. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. Within weeks, Dorada captured a schooner loaded with goods valued at more than $9,000. He refused to allow anyone else to see the original documents until 1969, when he sold them to a professional document dealer. Laflin said he himself was a descendant of Jean Lafitte and had found the book in a trunk he had inherited. Although the handbills were made in Lafitte's name, Ramsay believes "it is unlikely [the handbills] originated with him". He withdrew his battered troops and ended French involvement in North America, selling the US what became known as the Louisiana Purchase in 1803: French-claimed lands west of the Mississippi River. It was specifically intended to prohibit trade with the United Kingdom, as tensions were increasing between the two countries. residents of Texas have claimed that the treasure was buried somewhere along . Jean's brother Pierre Lafitte died on the way to Dzilam and he was buried in Dzilam in an old cemetery, which later eroded into the sea. [8], Biographer William C. Davis suggests a different childhood for Lafitte. Many of the city's merchants were unhappy with this auction, because it allowed their customers to buy goods directly from Lafitte at a lower price than the merchants could charge in the city. In 1818, the Campeche colony suffered hardships. By 1810, the island had become a booming port. Lafitte knew that his new business outfit was hidden well enough that U.S. officials wouldnt be able to find him. Officials released the smugglers after they posted bail, and they disappeared and refused to return for a trial. Lafittes image changed from pirate to patriot during the War of 1812. Others formed three artillery companies. on Grand Terre. Their patrols and interventions reduced the number of active pirates in the region. "[33] Three days later, 40 soldiers were sent to ambush the Baratarians and captured Lafitte, his brother Pierre, and 25 unarmed smugglers on November 16, and confiscated several thousand dollars of contraband. Metal detector companies may be the only satisfied [16] Barataria was far from the US naval base, and ships could easily smuggle in goods without being noticed by customs officials. Woodblock print of the death of Jean Lafitte from The Pirates Own Book, published in 1837. Several of Lafitte's men were arrested and convicted of piracy. Founded in 1805 by the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte, the legendary Lafitte Trading Company is dedicated to preserving New Orleans' rich pirate history, culture & traditions. I always wondered why the searchers were only local, and that an organized big search never happened but it never did. This has become the common spelling in the United States, including places named after him.[1]. treasure of Jean Lafitte. Many of the Baratarians settled in New Orleans or in the Barataria area and some of their descendants still live there today. Lafitte's ship grounded in shallow water where the larger British . Josh Gates investigates the legends swirling around the storied life and death of French pirate Jean Lafitte who is reputed to have buried treasure at sites in coastal Louisiana. [81]. "It started for us with this family story," Cody Hix said. Is the image on this article what the actual chest looked like? Lafitte then was supposed to have buried Napoleon in the town of Lafittes Perrin Cemetery; later Jones and Lafitte himself supposedly were buried there. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. well as the fortunes left on the merchant ships that he captured. Jean Laffite was a French pirate and privateer born circa 1780. But remember Lafittes black dogs are still around dont go a hunting unless you are prepared to suffer the consequences. On September 3, 1814, the British ship HMS Sophie fired on a pirate ship returning to Barataria. Thousands of miles away, and two centuries later, from where Laffite made his name, in Lincolnton, North Carolina, people continue to visit . [50], Lafitte committed himself and his men for any defensive measures needed by New Orleans. Key to remember is that Lafitte was a business man, who turned merchandise that he acquired into money. He brought all captured goods to Barataria. Lafitte and several of his men rowed to meet them halfway. Sale of the slaves and additional cargo generated $18,000 in profits. [30] The US built warships to operate on the Great Lakes but in other areas supplemented its navy by offering letters of marque to privately-owned armed vessels. It was cloudy with low visibility. Britain maintained a powerful navy, but the United States had little naval power. [72] Ships operating from Galveston flew the flag of Mexico, but they did not participate in the revolution. Modern Day Depiction of the Baratarian Pirate and Brother of Jean Lafitte . storytelling? The brothers adapted the captured ship for use in piracy and named it Dorada. Despite Laffite warning the other Baratarians of a possible military attack on their base, a US naval force successfully invaded in September 1814 and captured most of his fleet. 2001-11-18 04:00:00 PDT Wallisville, Texas -- Using a machete, Anahuac Jack hacks through branches . [25] Dorada captured a fourth ship, a schooner they renamed Petit Milan. (Davis (2005), p. 436). His warnings were not believed at fi rst and the U.S. Army and Navy went ahead with a planned attack on Lafittes base at Grand Terre. Lafitte escaped. On this occasion Lafitte's ship had been in dire danger of attack as he prepared to enter the Calcasieu Pass, for he found that the New Orleans revenue cutter "Lynx" was engaged in antislaving patrols between him and the mouth of . His treasure . [76] Lafitte forged letters of marque from an imaginary nation to fraudulently authorize all the ships sailing from Galveston as privateers. Could it be that there were multiple burial locations 1776 - ca. [6] According to Ramsay, Lafitte's widowed mother migrated with her two sons, the elder Pierre and Jean, from Saint-Domingue to New Orleans in the 1780s. The Historic New Orleans Collection, 1983.123.8. [42], Following the charges of November 10, 1812, and subsequent arrest and jailing of his brother Pierre, Jean Lafitte operated the piracy and smuggling business. [93], In June 1822, Lafitte approached the officials in the Great Colombia, whose government under General Simn Bolvar had begun commissioning former privateers as officers in its new navy. Jean Lafitte is thought to have died in 1823, whilst attacking a Spanish ship. The city of Cartagena in present-day Colombia had rebelled against Spain and gave permission through letters of marque for privateers, including Lafittes men, to capture Spanish ships and the goods and slaves on board. So, where could Josh Gates is on a mission to find the hidden treasure of Jean Lafitte, the French pirate and privateer, this week on Expedition Unknown. In the early 1800s, Lafitte makes a fortune in treasure by raiding ships in the Gulf of Mexico . After Jean Lafitte and his Baratarian crew finished fighting in New Orleans, and received their promised pardon, Lafitte could not maintain a simple private life for long, so he returned to life on the high seas. Located on Bourbon Street, it is associated with Lafitte, who may have spent time there in his earlier years. His knowledge of the swamps helped him to make quick getaways. In September 1814, British military officials sought Lafittes help in their campaign to attack the U.S. from the Gulf of Mexico. He and his older brother Pierre spelled their last name Laffite, but English language documents of the time used "Lafitte".This has become the common spelling in the United States, including places named after him. Walk in the footsteps of the men who fought at 1815's Battle of New Orleans. [52], Following the custom of the times, Patterson filed a legal claim for the profits from the confiscated ships and merchandise. Jack C. Ramsay, who published a 1996 biography of Lafitte, says, "this was a convenient time to be a native of France, a claim that provided protection from the enforcement of American law". Laffite is believed to have been born either in Basque-France or the French colony of Saint-Domingue in the Caribbean. Jean Lafitte : biography 1780 - 1826 Davis places Lafitte's brother Pierre in Saint-Domingue in the late 1790s and the early 19th century. On February 13, he escaped, likely with outside help. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. Jean Pierre, her son with Jean Lafitte, died at 17 during a cholera epidemic in New Orleans in October 1832. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! This would later be used to his great advantage. [84][Note 1], The remainder of the crew rejoined Lafitte, who finally acknowledged that he did not have a valid commission. Little is known of Laffite's early life, but by 1809 he and his brother Pierre apparently had established in New Orleans a blacksmith shop that reportedly served as . Legends of the Gulf Coast museum on the Strand. and its inlets. They feared that Lafitte and his men might side with the British. Do you have [87] The congressional delegation in Louisiana began to demand that the federal government do something to halt the smuggling, and more US Navy ships were sent to the Gulf. Later, in return for a legal pardon, Laffite and his fleet helped General Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans to defend the city during the War of 1812. In late 1815 and early 1816, the Lafitte brothers agreed to act as spies for Spain, which was embroiled in the Mexican War of Independence. In the 1938 and 1958 films The Buccaneer, Lafitte claims he never attacked an American ship. She placed Pierre to be raised by extended family elsewhere in Louisiana. [49] He sent a message to the Americans that few of his men favored helping the British but said he needed 15 days to review their offer. A $27 million treasure supposedly lies buried on Pelican Island. [He] is supposed to have captured one hundred vessels of all nations, and certainly murdered the crews of all that he took, for no one has ever escaped him. Lafittes final resting place is unknown. Lafitte eventually returned to smuggling at Galveston Island in Spanish Texas until he was forced out by the U.S. Navy in 1820. . Lafitte, a one-time resident of Louisiana and privateer, is believed by some to because Lafittes treasure was thought to be underwater there. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. [115] The paper and ink were analyzed and confirmed to be of mid-19th-century origin. Jean Lafitte's fabeled ship, The Pride, sunk well over a hundred years ago. [77], At its peak the colony had more than two thousand inhabitants and 120 separate structures. [92] By the end of 1822, Cuba had banned all forms of sea raiding. Located 25 minutes from downtown New Orleans, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours has been operating daily bayou tours since the 1980s.