Details: $10; galvestonhistory.org. There are many accounts that say Lafitte settled in [52], Following the custom of the times, Patterson filed a legal claim for the profits from the confiscated ships and merchandise. Lafitte visited in March 1817. chagrin of the locals that helped drain the swamp, there was no trace of the The silver that Lafitte accumulated from selling captured slaves, cotton, and other goods was stored in wooden kegs or casks. He was said to use it as a base for arranging the transfer of smuggled goods. What books would you recommend about this pirate? Those looking for Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry etc wont find it. [37] The following month, the governor offered a $500 reward for Lafitte's capture. [51], On September 23, Patterson and his fleet, including the eight captured ships, began the return trip to New Orleans. His knowledge of the swamps helped him to make quick getaways. On September 3, 1814, the British ship HMS Sophie fired on a pirate ship returning to Barataria. [59] With Lafitte's encouragement, many of his men joined the New Orleans militia or as sailors to man the ships. So, where could Throughout Lafittes Within two days of Lafitte's notes, Pierre "escaped" from jail. Modern Day Depiction of the Baratarian Pirate and Brother of Jean Lafitte . By 1810 he was in Louisiana with his older brother Pierre. The Spanish ships were heavily armed privateers or warships and returned heavy fire. Only six houses survived as habitable.[80]. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. [22] The Lafittes gained a reputation for treating captive crew members well and often returned captured ships to their original crew. Most historians doubt the authenticity of these claims but have not been able to disprove them. locations along the Gulf Coast. 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. Jean [72] Ships operating from Galveston flew the flag of Mexico, but they did not participate in the revolution. The expert cannon fire of Jacksons troops, including Lafi ttes Baratarians, contributed to the American victories during the New Orleans campaign that culminated with the Battle of New Orleans on January 8,1815. Is the image on this article what the actual chest looked like? After Napoleons exile to St. Helena by the English in 1815, the story says Lafitte put a double in his place and smuggled him into the United States, but that Napoleon died on the trip. Jean Lafitte Enslaved Africans there gained their independence from France in 1804 and renamed this territory as Haiti. Ramsay believes that Lafitte died of a fever in 1826 or 1827 on, Ramsay believes the documents were written by Laflin's ancestor, Matthew Laflin (18031854), who may have convinced his descendants that he was Jean Lafitte. LINCOLNTON, N.C. (WBTV) - In the 1820s, pirate Jean Laffite, a smuggler from the Gulf Coast area in Louisiana, allegedly faked his death. [7] It was specifically intended to prohibit trade with the United Kingdom, as tensions were increasing between the two countries. Numerous novels and stories refer to Lafitte's exploits. (Davis (2005), p. 436). Could it be Jean had taken the helm of a band of pirates when the U.S. found itself at war with . on Grand Terre. Lafitte's ship grounded in shallow water where the larger British . In Jean Lafitte's day, silver and gold filled a pirate's treasure chest, but today's treasures are people, places, and memories. 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. Like a little wooden barrel. It was, at least initially, relatively free of scrutiny from any of the governments in the region. Annual income reached more than $2 million ($35.4million in today's terms) in stolen currency and goods. He was probably born in the early 1780s in either France or the French colony of St. Domingue (now Haiti) in the Caribbean. 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. From there, he raided foreign ships in the Gulf of Mexico. He and his older brother Pierre spelled their last name Laffite, but English language documents of the time used "Lafitte". In 1953 several fishermen in the area landed about $625,000 of the treasure using their fishing nets. Lafitte and several of his men rowed to meet them halfway. Jean Pierre, her son with Jean Lafitte, died at 17 during a cholera epidemic in New Orleans in October 1832. 70130, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Registration for Pierre Lafitte's ship Goelette la Dilidente,a 136 ton schooner, captained by . Lafitte was later This story first appeared in a local newspaper in the 1920s from an unnamed source and has no basis in fact. They had 3 children together: Jean Antoine Lafitte, Lucien Jean Lafitte, and Denise Jeanette Lafitte. treasure of Jean Lafitte. The United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807 as tensions built with the United Kingdom by prohibiting trade. In 1817, Jean founded a new colony on Galveston Island named Campeche. Walk in the footsteps of the men who fought at 1815's Battle of New Orleans. Constructed in the 1720s, the structure stands today as possibly the oldest building in the United States housing a bar (Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar).[105][106]. The park was named after Lafitte because of his smuggling operations in the area. Located 25 minutes from downtown New Orleans, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours has been operating daily bayou tours since the 1980s. I studied it very well and found a hidden marking on a wall beside the stairs and a solid wall pit with a hole in the top. Very old 3 x 3 nches by 2 inches. . They were held in port under custody of the United States Marshal. "It started for us with this family story," Cody Hix said. 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. 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. Lafitte agreed to leave the island without a fight, and on May 7, 1821 departed on The Pride. . By midmorning, 10 armed pirate ships formed a battle line in the bay. [5][12] He was known to adopt more aristocratic mannerisms and dress than most of his fellow privateers. This information begs the question, though, How did Jean Lafitte have treasure in the first place, and if he did, why would he leave it behind?. This article provides images of newspapers from 1921, and one column in particular that talks about Lafittes treasure. [32] Because the US Navy did not have enough ships to act against the Baratarian smugglers, the government turned to the courts. [4][5] In the late 18th century, adult children of the French planters in Saint-Domingue often resettled along the Mississippi River in La Louisiane, especially in its largest city of New Orleans. "[64] Jackson named Jean and Pierre Lafitte for having "exhibited the same courage and fidelity". [38] Following the reward offer, Lafitte wrote Claiborne a note denying the charges of piracy. Lost Gold Of Jean Lafitte is the 4th episode in Season 5 of Expedition Unknown. Was he a pirate, a patriot, or both? [57], In mid-December, Jackson met with Lafitte, who offered to serve if the US would pardon those of his men who agreed to defend the city. By 1805 he is believed to have been running a warehouse in New Orleans and possibly a store on Royal Street. Jean Laffite, Laffite also spelled Lafitte, (born 1780?, Francedied 1825? What: Lecture and book signing. In the 1938 and 1958 films The Buccaneer, Lafitte claims he never attacked an American ship. Experts with . In 1814, the U.S. sent a naval force to invade Lafittes fleet and was mostly successful, seizing many of Lafittes comrades and ships. [50], Lafitte committed himself and his men for any defensive measures needed by New Orleans. that is. [74], In less than a year, Lafitte's colony grew to 100200 men and several women. Pierre was to inform about the situation in New Orleans. His maternal grandfather had been executed by the Inquisition for "Judaizing". [9], Acknowledging that details of Lafitte's first twenty years are sparse, Davis speculates that Lafitte spent much time at sea as a child, probably aboard ships owned by his father, a known trader. [10], Sources indicate that Lafitte was sharp and resourceful, but also handsome and friendly, enjoying drinking, gambling, and women. hidden treasures have been told time and time again in childrens books, video Its well known about the boat company started with silver found near Lake Salvador. Rumors abounded that he had changed his name after leaving Galveston and disappeared, that he was killed by his own men shortly after leaving Galveston, or that he had rescued Napoleon and that both had died in Louisiana. You will see it gets its name from the treasure being buried there. a legend in his own time, after his patriotic actions in the Battle of New Orleans. Exactly where he was from remains a bit clouded, You'll need to arrive by 5:30pm and bring your ID plus there is a $3.00 USD boarding fee. Merchants and planters came to Barataria for auctions, which Lafitte held outside New Orleans to avoid the law. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . Jean Lafitte in 1813. They married and had two sons together, Jules Jean and Glenn Henri. [94] For the first time, Lafitte was legally authorized to take Spanish ships. In 1958, Laflin self-published an English translation of the journal. The brothers adapted the captured ship for use in piracy and named it Dorada. Governor Claiborne of Louisiana once offered a $500 reward to anyone who captured Jean Laffite; Laffitte offered a counter reward of $5,000 to anyone who captured the governor. 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. Christina died after the birth of their daughter. He and another treasure hunter named Dan Beckingham found 4.5 million dollars worth of gold in the shallow waters of Florida. 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. (Spain had become an ally of the British against the French.) If you were thoroughly acquainted with the nature of my offenses, I should appear to you much less guilty, and still worthy to discharge the duties of a good citizen. In later years, he was described as having "a more accurate knowledge of every inlet from the Gulf than any other man". These men were pardoned after testifying that they had deserted from Lafitte's ship in Galveston when they discovered that it did not have a valid privateering commission. Some accounts say A $27 million treasure supposedly lies buried on Pelican Island. Josh Gates is on a mission to find the hidden treasure of Jean Lafitte, the French pirate and privateer, this week on Expedition Unknown. Lafitte was granted a commission and given a new ship, a 43-ton schooner named General Santander in honor to Vice-President General Francisco de Paula Santander. On November 10, 1812, United States District Attorney John R. Grymes charged Lafitte with "violation of the revenue law. Yet, Lafitte's strong connections to historical figures suggests that he was the culprit of this incident. When a giant storm hit the region, the raft was washed away and destroyed. "[55], When General Andrew Jackson arrived in New Orleans on December 1, 1814, he discovered the city had not created any defenses. Most of Jean Lafitte's life remains shrouded in mystery, including his name. He said his ships would sail as pirates. They were tried for piracy, and found guilty. A grand jury indicted Pierre Lafitte after hearing testimony against him by one of the city's leading merchants. The old 1938 cross marked "Jean Lafitte, Re-exhumado, 1938" was made to mark the burial site of a bone that was found washed up on the beach where the old cemetery eroded into the sea. He was nursed back to health by Emma Hortense Mortimer. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) . [10] Davis places Lafitte's brother Pierre in Saint-Domingue by the late 1790s and the early 19th century. The brothers stripped down their original ship and used its guns to outfit the new one. They sailed three ships, which Davis described as likely "one of the largest privately owned corsair fleets operating on the coast, and the most versatile. Others formed three artillery companies. Guests could've been able to enter Laffite's crypt near the Haunted Mansion. Most of these battles took place at or near Chalmette Plantation, now Chalmette Battlefield and part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. His maternal grandmother and mother, both Conversos, fled Spain for France in 1765. He brought all captured goods to Barataria. Jean Lafitte was a Privateer Captain in the early 19th century. Lafitte decided to warn American authorities and offered to help defend New Orleans in exchange for a pardon for his men. Although the handbills were made in Lafitte's name, Ramsay believes "it is unlikely [the handbills] originated with him". In 1821, the schooner USS Enterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte from the Gulf. It also mentions reports of larger sums of the treasure being buried in the appropriately-named small town of Lafitte, Louisiana. [73] Aury returned to Galveston several months later, but he left in July when he realized that the men were unwilling to revolt. The law left several loopholes, giving permission to any ship to capture a slave ship, regardless of the country of origin. into these uncharted waters, we need to know more about who Lafitte was. . Lafitte then was supposed to have buried Napoleon in the town of Lafittes Perrin Cemetery; later Jones and Lafitte himself supposedly were buried there. that will never end. The buccaneer Jean Lafitte and other pirates sailed the Gulf to . [33], Although under indictment, in March 1813 Lafitte registered as captain of Le Brig Goelette la Diligente for a supposed journey to New York. 3 and 4. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! . Britain and the United States declared war in June 1812, but until 1814, most of the fighting took place on the east coast or northern border of the United States. One of the pirate's captains had attacked an American merchant ship. To the north of Tatum, in the middle of the forest, lies Lake Hendrix. One of the pirate's captains had attacked an American merchant ship. 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. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, A family in Baytown, Texas tell their story. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . Louisiana's most well-known buried treasure mystery still to this day is the unfound treasure of Jean Lafitte. [34] Biographer Jack Ramsay speculates that the voyage was intended to "establish [Lafitte] as a privateering captain". By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. Thankful for their help with the American victory, in February 1815 President James Madison offered pardons to the Baratarians for any crimes committed against the United States. [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]. Its off 435 about 12 miles from where he fled imprisonment to the Pearl River. pardoned by General Andrew Jackson in praise of his efforts and accomplishments "Finding out who Lafitte really was," Cody Hix said. because Lafittes treasure was thought to be underwater there. One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. According to Ramsay, Lafitte, his elder brother Pierre, and his widowed mother migrated from Saint-Domingue to New Orleans in the 1780s. , [60], On December 23, advance units of the British fleet reached the Mississippi River. He was accompanied by a Royal Marine infantry captain, John McWilliam,[45][46] who had been given a package to deliver to Lafitte. He is considered something of a historic anti-hero in Louisiana and around the Gulf of Mexico, having engaged in smuggling and piracy for a number of years yet - during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 - helped defend the city from the . 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 . JEAN LAFITTE (1778 DEC 27 - 1823 . Jackson agreed to do so. Nice little interesting overview but the bit many accounts say lafitte settled in Galveston casts unnecessary doubt, The settlement in Galveston (Campeche) is firmly established in the history, theres even a museum there about it. Smith believes he found a sunken ship on Google Earth in 2006 in Refugio, just north of Corpus Christi. The bay was located beyond a narrow passage between the barrier islands of Grand Terre and Grande Isle. [95], Lafitte continued to patrol the shipping lanes around Cuba. [38] Officials tried to break up this auction by force. Who was Jean Laffite? The family thinks this could be a clue as to where the actual treasure is. They feared that Lafitte and his men might side with the British. His treasure Lafitte became very familiar with, and eventually mastered, an illegal smuggling profession, which translated into an extremely lucrative career for him. [82] Maison Rouge is believed to have stood at 1417 Harborside Drive near the Galveston wharf, but the foundations there have been dated to the 1870s. Captain Campbell became a farmer and remained so until his death in 1856. However, the United States did not recognize the government of Cartagena as a legal one and U.S. offi cials suspected Lafittes men of attacking any ships they saw, and so the U.S. government charged Lafitte and his crew with piracy. Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! [67] By early 1817, other revolutionaries had begun to congregate at Galveston, hoping to make it their base to wrest Mexico from Spanish control. and the fear of being captured, Lafitte allegedly buried his treasure with the Here, there would be lots of different activities for the kids. THE LEGACY OF JEAN LAFITTE IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA By W. T. Block Reprinted from TRUE WEST, Dec., 1979, p. 26ff; . "[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. Switching gears back to Louisiana, this Jean Lafitte tale quotes a former student of Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans stating that the treasure is buried near an oak tree on the schools campus. 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 . Jean Lafitte proves to be an aberration as he acted as patriot to the United States during the War of 1812. It was also the location that US Forces attacked, causing his band to make a hasty retreat. I'm proud of them for digging into it," Tony Hix said. I was living in high island Texas .mostly driving the beach further east to sea rim. There were also those who considered him a hero. [86][Note 2], Lafitte and his men continued to take Spanish ships in the Gulf of Mexico and often returned to Galveston or the barrier islands near New Orleans to unload cargo or take on supplies arranged by Pierre. [48] He had also been told in August that American officials were planning an assault on Barataria with forces under the command of Commodore Daniel Patterson. The Sabin, a ship belonging to Robert Kleberg and Van Roeder, is said to have sunk with valuables off Galveston Island. that the treasure is in a different location now than where it was buried? [117] Laflin had been previously accused of forging letters purportedly from Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, and Davy Crockett. Merchants in New Orleans began to run out of goods to sell. The smuggling operations of the well-known privateer eventually came to a screeching halt, though, when the United States began enforcing the embargo in New Orleans city limits some time after the act passed. Even the date and place of his birth and death are unknown. Jean Lafitte : biography 1780 - 1826 Davis places Lafitte's brother Pierre in Saint-Domingue in the late 1790s and the early 19th century. Lafitte tried to convince the Americans that they had nothing to fear from him. A number of details about Jean Lafitte's early life remain obscure and often sources contradict each other. In January 1808, the government began to enforce the Embargo Act of 1807, which barred American ships from docking at any foreign port and imposed an embargo on goods imported into the US. #1. Stories of His reading and writing abilities, therefore, remain unclear. When you cross Bayou Des Allemands on Hwy 90, looking down the bayou to the south its a short ride to where the primary temple location was. [7] Lafitte likely helped his brother to sell or trade the captured merchandise. Yes I visited his home the Mason rouge in Campeche Galveston tx. Inside a tunnel stylized as pirate's cattacombs would've led to Laffite's old hideout, a capsized ship in Sawyer's island. On February 13, he escaped, likely with outside help. [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 brother Pierre Lafitte was a blacksmith. Dissatisfied with their role as brokers, in October 1812 the Lafitte brothers purchased a schooner and hired Captain Trey Cook to sail it. [123][124], There were also plans to connect the Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion attraction and Tom Sawyer's island using Laffite. His men tore down the existing houses and built 200 new, sturdier structures. Jean Lafitte was a Franco-American privateer captain and pirate of the Caribbean sea who operated off of Baratia Bay, Louisiana in the early 19th century. Louisiana State University alumnus (Geaux Tigers), fanatic of all things sports, pugs, and Star Wars, and teller of the occasional dad joke. With his business carrying on and continuing to grow, so did his wealth. According to his 2005 book, Lafitte was born in or near Pauillac, France, the son of Pierre Lafitte and his second wife, Marguerite Desteil. [41] The legislature appointed a committee to study the matter but, as most of their constituents benefitted by the smuggling, they never authorized the militia. [48] Lafitte had copies of the letters sent to Jean Blanque, a member of the state legislature who had invested in the Barataria operation. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name Laffite, but English-language documents of the time used "Lafitte", and this is the commonly seen spelling in the United States, including for places named for him. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; Jean Lafitte was likely one of them. Quick Facts. When Patterson's men went ashore, they met no resistance. [4] He notes that still other contemporary accounts claim that Lafitte was born in Ordua, Spain, or in Westchester County, New York, north of Manhattan. consisted of the currency he would receive in exchange for his foreign goods as ), Nicolas, p. 277. states that he held a local (acting) rank of Captain of Royal Marines, R.L. He vowed his intention to make indiscriminate war upon all God . However, due to a combination of the enhantments that were cast on the ship, the fanatical loyalty of her crew, the ledgentary will of Jean Lafitte, and decades of personification by powerful beings, a spirit was bornkniting together the souls of the . Merchants and planters were eager to buy the goods and slaves Lafitte smuggled into south Louisiana. Lafitte named his colony Campeche, after a Mexican outpost further south along the Gulf Coast. Date of Birth - Death c. 1780-unknown. After his three children were grown, Lafitte fell sick in his 50s. Found a mamouth tooth a a tiny brick made of shell it has letters P on it and the other I cant make out. Britain maintained a powerful navy, but the United States had little naval power. any leads as to where Lafittes treasure might be? The story claimed that American Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones was the uncle of Jean Lafitte and Napoleon Bonaparte and that the two were cousins. Jean was sent to Galveston Island, a part of Spanish Texas that served as the home base of Louis-Michel Aury, a French privateer who claimed to be a Mexican revolutionary. The story may have begun because Pierre Lafittes mistress owned a building on St. Phillip Street across from todays Blacksmith Shop. 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 . Jean Lafitte (ca. [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. Lafitte knew that his new business outfit was hidden well enough that U.S. officials wouldnt be able to find him. It's not known who her father was. He was accompanied by six gunboats and a tender. during the Battle of New Orleans. [116], In 1980, the manuscript was donated to the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Texas. I always heard that an area Boat Company Owner started his business with a 5 gallon bucket of silver taken from that area.