New Orleans issued six such letters, primarily to smugglers who worked with Lafitte at Barataria. Small but made like a brick. Back in 1915, a city worker in New Orleans found a chest that was filled with over 1,500 . [21] In January 1813, they took their first prize, a Spanish hermaphrodite brig loaded with 77slaves. He suggested that the line be extended to a nearby swamp, and Jackson ordered it done. And whether it's a pirate's ship or not, they hope it's a clue to their ultimate treasure. On September 13, 1814, Commodore Daniel Patterson set sail aboard the USSCarolina for Barataria. , . Book Claims Sword Proves Pirate Jean Lafitte Faked Death and Lived in After securing victory, Jackson paid tribute in despatches to the Laffite brothers' efforts, as well as those of their fellow privateers. Catiche became pregnant and gave birth to their son, Jean Pierre, on November 4, 1815. 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. 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. Lafitte wanted to avoid a Spanish invasion. There are many accounts that say Lafitte settled in Where: 1859 Ashton Villa, 2328 Broadway Ave. J, Galveston. Merchants in New Orleans began to run out of goods to sell. Jean Lafitte was likely born in 1782, although he was not baptized until 1786. Beyond Oak Island: 50 MILLION DOLLAR PIRATE TREASURE *Jean Lafitte's Laffite is believed to have been born either in Basque-France or the French colony of Saint-Domingue in the Caribbean. Hendrick's Lake treasure is focus of Houston historian's upcoming book The Baratarians invited the British officers to row to their island. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is named after him. SS Jean Lafitte - Wikipedia [68] Two weeks into his stay, the two leaders of the revolutionaries left the island. The United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807 as tensions built with the United Kingdom by prohibiting trade. any leads as to where Lafittes treasure might be? instead of just one? For the Hix boys, the legend of Jean Lafitte was always their family's little secret. By 1810 he was in Louisiana with his older brother Pierre. Jean Lafitte - Buried Treasures of the Notorious Pirate of the Gulf Another site near Niblett's Bluff, 40 Gums, had previously been searched. [11] This was the last year that Napoleon failed to regain control of Saint-Domingue. Lafitte was horribly excited by the result of this trial. But why? His treasure Jean Lafitte | the Pirate King | Authorized Biography They had his only known son, Jean Pierre Lafitte (d. 1832). For the first time, it was made available for research. 2001-11-18 04:00:00 PDT Wallisville, Texas -- Using a machete, Anahuac Jack hacks through branches . [59] With Lafitte's encouragement, many of his men joined the New Orleans militia or as sailors to man the ships. Discover New Orleans' rich cultural mix. After Jean's reported death in the mid-1820s, the widowed Catiche took up with Feliciano Ramos. [56] It had approximately 1,000 unseasoned troops and two ships for its use. [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). [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. parties, as the Mystery of Jean Lafittes Unfound Treasure seems to be a voyage [48] Lafitte had copies of the letters sent to Jean Blanque, a member of the state legislature who had invested in the Barataria operation. [7] Lafitte likely helped his brother to sell or trade the captured merchandise. In 1966, Louisiana authorized a state park to be established at the present site of the Barataria Preserve. His game was spread far and wide and there were those who feared and hated him. A pirate gets his due - The Current Its in the concrete shell stairs. Officials released the smugglers after they posted bail, and they disappeared and refused to return for a trial. Podcast: Jean Lafitte, The Texas Pirate in Galveston, Texas 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. 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. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. because Lafittes treasure was thought to be underwater there. goal to once again evade U.S. seizure and to come back to it later. Baytown cousins believe they found missing pirate ship Why the pirate Jean Lafitte was known as The Terror of the Gulf of [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. In April 1818, the United States passed a law prohibiting the import of slaves into any port in the United States. [116], In 1980, the manuscript was donated to the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Texas. As JeanLafitte.net explains, in 1948, a man named John Andrechyne Laflin went to the Missouri Historical Society with a document called The Journal of Jean Lafitte, which he claimed was the authentic memoir and scrapbook of the famed pirate. The silver that Lafitte accumulated from selling captured slaves, cotton, and other goods was stored in wooden kegs or casks. The brothers adapted the captured ship for use in piracy and named it Dorada. Expedition Unknown exclusive clip: Finding Jean Lafitte's treasure Lafitte decided to warn American authorities and offered to help defend New Orleans in exchange for a pardon for his men. I'm proud of them for digging into it," Tony Hix said. [27], Governor William C.C. Another account says Lafitte married Christina Levine at the age of seventeen. hidden treasures have been told time and time again in childrens books, video Lafitte's ship is called "The Pride," but that's something they've already found. [34] Biographer Jack Ramsay speculates that the voyage was intended to "establish [Lafitte] as a privateering captain". In exchange, the king asked for Lafitte and his forces to promise to assist in the naval fight against the United States and to return any recent property that had been captured from Spanish ships. unclear why Lafitte had to bury his treasure or even where he was last seen. [15] The Lafitte brothers began to look for another port from which they could smuggle goods to local merchants. At its height, the colonists and privateers earned millions of dollars annually from stolen or smuggled coin and goods. Lafitte agreed to leave the island without a fight, and on May 7, 1821, departed on The Pride. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! April 23, 2022. 5 , Mexican outpost further south along the Gulf Coast, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, List of people pardoned or granted clemency by the president of the United States, "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: GENERAL QUESTIONS", "Jean Laffite as a Father | Historia Obscura", "The Legend of Jean LaFoote Advertising Week 360 AW360", "Cinnamon Crunch (Cap'n Crunch) Cereal | MrBreakfast.com", "Then and Now: Lafitte's Anchor at Disneyland Park", "20 Things You May Not Know About Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean Ride", "History and a Behind the Scenes Look at the Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction in Disneyland", "Why is the Name Jean Lafitte Everywhere at Disneyland", History of the second war between the United States of America and Great Britain: declared by act of Congress, the 18th of June, 1812, and concluded by peace, the 15th of February, 1815, Jean Lafitte: Gentleman Pirate of New Orleans, "Jean LaFitte's piratical topsail schooner", History, photos and movies about Jean Lafitte, Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law, Jim Hawkins and the Curse of Treasure Island, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jean_Lafitte&oldid=1142807831, Recipients of American presidential pardons, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from July 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, pirate, privateer, spy, naval artillery officer, slave trader. 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]. Jean Lafitte in 1813. The building was surrounded by a moat and painted red; it became known as Maison Rouge. Legend said it was a ship Lafitte sunk or said he sunk in the Old Sabine River while being pursued by a federal gunboat. 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. [13] He was educated with his brother at a military academy on Saint Kitts. Jean Laffite's treasure in the Sabine River - Lone star treasure Lafitte conducted most of his business aboard his ship, The Pride, where he also lived. . [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. In the Journal de Jean Lafitte, the authenticity of which is contested, Lafitte claims to have been born in Bordeaux, France, in 1780 to Sephardic Jewish parents. . During the battle Lafitte fought well. Lafitte's ship is called "The Pride," but that's something they've already found. I always wondered why the searchers were only local, and that an organized big search never happened but it never did. Mysterious shipwreck off Galveston is full of surprises: A great The Sabin, a ship belonging to Robert Kleberg and Van Roeder, is said to have sunk with valuables off Galveston Island. Was it buried underground or lost under water? United States no choice but to pursue his arrest. Like Barataria, Galveston was a seaward island that protected a large inland bay. By 1810, the island had become a booming port. [61] The British began advancing upon the American lines on December 28, but were repulsed by an artillery crew manned by two of Lafitte's former lieutenants, Renato Beluche and Dominique Youx. Long-lost pirate ship may lie in Texas lake / Historical - SFGATE Louisiana is not exclusive to rumors of the treasures whereabouts too, as Forced to leave the city, Lafitte decided to set up shop on a small island in Barataria Bay, about 40 miles south of New Orleans, to continue his smuggling ways. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Jean lists his age as 32 and his birthplace as . The bay was located beyond a narrow passage between the barrier islands of Grand Terre and Grande Isle. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; Jean Lafitte was likely one of them. Due to escalating violence from the Haitian Revolution, in early 1803 Pierre boarded a refugee ship for New Orleans. JEAN LAFITTE (1778 DEC 27 - 1823 . Found bones of mamouth and Indian tools. [24] They outfitted it with 12 fourteen-pounder cannons. Widely publicized, the raid was hailed by the Niles' Weekly Register as "a major conquest for the United States". By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; [] It reads that a cache of ancient gold coins was found near Jefferson island. [82] Lafitte reportedly took immense amounts of treasure with him, and was accompanied by his mulatta mistress[who?] 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. Very old 3 x 3 nches by 2 inches. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . Details: $10; galvestonhistory.org. They took 80 people captive, but Lafitte escaped safely. Located 25 minutes from downtown New Orleans, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours has been operating daily bayou tours since the 1980s. 'Jean Laffite Revealed' unearths notorious Gulf pirate's second act Lafitte escaped. jean lafitte ship the pride 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. She placed Pierre to be raised by extended family elsewhere in Louisiana. There were also those who considered him a hero. This has become the common spelling in the United States, including places named after him.[1]. Do you have THE LEGACY OF JEAN LAFITTE IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA By W. T. Block Reprinted from TRUE WEST, Dec., 1979, p. 26ff; . He and another treasure hunter named Dan Beckingham found 4.5 million dollars worth of gold in the shallow waters of Florida. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte Lafitte's Treasure Links Jean Lafitte's fabeled ship, The Pride, sunk well over a hundred years ago. [44], Captain Nicholas Lockyer, the commander of the Sophie, had been ordered to contact the "Commandant at Barataria". According to Ramsay, Lafitte, his elder brother Pierre, and his widowed mother migrated from Saint-Domingue to New Orleans in the 1780s. In 1953 several fishermen in the area landed about $625,000 of the treasure using their fishing nets. 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. . On September 3, 1814, the British ship HMS Sophie fired on a pirate ship returning to Barataria. games, shows, and moviesbut what if they werent made up just for the sake of [19] When Claiborne returned to office, he was relatively quiet on the subject. residents of Texas have claimed that the treasure was buried somewhere along [77], At its peak the colony had more than two thousand inhabitants and 120 separate structures. [55] Jackson responded, "I ask you, Louisianans, can we place any confidence in the honor of men who have courted an alliance with pirates and robbers? he was in his early twenties. floor after a shipwreck. [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. Jean Lafitte (also spelt Laffite, c. 1780 to c. 1820 CE) was a Franco-American leader of pirates and privateers who captured merchant vessels of various states in the Gulf of Mexico from 1810 to 1820. Their patrols and interventions reduced the number of active pirates in the region. It was, at least initially, relatively free of scrutiny from any of the governments in the region. You would eventually merge onto the hold of a buried ship on Tom Sawyers Island. 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. [38] Following the reward offer, Lafitte wrote Claiborne a note denying the charges of piracy. "Finding out who Lafitte really was," Cody Hix said. Mention the name "Jean Lafitte" to people of a certain age and they will immediately think of Cap'n Crunch cereal and its mascot and namesake, whose ship, the SS Guppy, was often attacked in commercials by Jean Lafoote, the Barefoot Pirate.Unlike in real life, Lafoote's punishment was to get his own breakfast cereal -- Jean LaFoote's Cinnamon Crunch. 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. By midmorning, 10 armed pirate ships formed a battle line in the bay. Having lived a legend in his own time, after his patriotic actions in the Battle of New Orleans. Woodblock print of the death of Jean Lafitte from The Pirates Own Book, published in 1837. I was living in high island Texas .mostly driving the beach further east to sea rim. "[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. The family thinks this could be a clue as to where the actual treasure is. "[98] No American newspaper published an obituary of him. Was he a pirate, a patriot, or both? After Lafitte's men abducted a Karankawa woman, warriors of her tribe attacked and killed five men of the colony. In 1817, Jean founded a new colony on Galveston Island named Campeche. The corsairs aimed the artillery at the Karankawa, killing most of the men in the tribe. He landed ships at Grand Terre and Cheniere, and then brought the merchandise to The Temple to be auctioned. ships as a last-ditch effort to gain an advantage in the pivotal Battle of New 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. Exactly where he was from remains a bit clouded, Could it be that there were multiple burial locations [81]. Researchers say the vessels sit in 25 feet water depth at the north of Big Bradford Island. At this time an English captain offered Lafitte $30,000 and a commission to help the British attack New Orleans. . mystery afoot! 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. [88] In October or November 1821, Lafitte's ship was ambushed as he attempted to ransom a recent prize. This account of Lafitte's death is not accepted by all historians. I grew up back there, in those waterways, in that area and found many interesting things. Jean Lafitte: A trial for piracy. Jan 25, 2007. In 1821, the schooner USSEnterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte from the Gulf. most well-known buried treasure mystery still to this day is the unfound One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. But the gold and diamond jewl was the confirmation I needed. [62], Patterson praised the Barataria men who served on one of the US Navy ships, and whose skill with artillery was greater than their British counterparts. [7] His elder brother Pierre became a privateer; he may have operated from Saint-Domingue, which frequently issued letters of marque. The name Jean Lafitte is almost legendary around the upper areas of the Texas coastline. They will haunt you in your dreams for making a Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in . in south Louisianas bayous for so long, Lafitte had also become an expert with In February 1823, Lafitte was cruising off the town of Omoa, Honduras, on his schooner General Santander. "[55], When General Andrew Jackson arrived in New Orleans on December 1, 1814, he discovered the city had not created any defenses. Jean Lafitte spent most of his time in Barataria managing the daily hands-on business of outfitting privateers and arranging the smuggling of stolen goods. North of Tatum, in the middle of the woods, lies . Lafitte possibly took an assumed name, John Lafflin, and may have given that surname to his younger two sons. Lafittes final resting place is unknown. Let us know in the comments 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. In 1814, the U.S. sent a naval force to invade Lafittes fleet and was mostly successful, seizing many of Lafittes comrades and ships. [118][Note 4], Lafitte is paid tribute at Disneyland by a ship anchor monument with an accompanying plaque found in New Orleans Square. He had to take a pirogoe which is a wood boat that would have sank if all the treasure would have been on board. This story first appeared in a local newspaper in the 1920s from an unnamed source and has no basis in fact. He achieved notoriety through his daring exploits, but also for having "the coolest name ever.". But the treasure is in my best belief to be in Galveston. 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 . . That night his remaining men reboarded the General Victoria and destroyed its masts and spars, crippling the ship, but they left the crew unharmed. Jean Lafitte was the youngest of eight children (five boys and three girls). Jean Lafitte - Wikipedia Jean Lafitte is said to have cached over 100 treasures on Galveston Island. storytelling? Shipwrecks Near Fort Livingston Hold Treasures: Gold and silver coins that date from 1802 to 1809: Grand Terre Isle: The Parlange Plantation Treasure: $100,000 to $500,000 worth of gold and silver coins and jewelry: The smugglers often held letters of marque from multiple countries, authorizing them to capture booty from differing nations. Jean Lafitte (c.1780 c.1823) was a French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. Suzanne Johnson features a living Lafitte in her urban fantasy series, Jean Laffite is a character in the historical fiction novel Ashes & Ecstasy by Catherine Hart, Published March 1st 2000 by Leisure Books (first published November 1st 1985), In the 1960s and 70s a barefoot cartoon pirate named, Lafitte: the pirate of the Gulf a book from 1836, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 13:45. A $27 million treasure supposedly lies buried on Pelican Island. Robertson was incensed by Lafitte's operation, calling his men "brigands who infest our coast and overrun our country". Andrew Jackson asked Lafitte to help defend New Orleans in the Battle of 1815. Jean-Baptiste Francisco Lafitte (1782-1823) - WikiTree In November 1822, he made news in the American press after escorting an American schooner through the pirate-infested area and providing them with extra cannon balls and food.[96]. He wrote Jean Laffitte: Gentleman Rover based on the journal. You'll need to arrive by 5:30pm and bring your ID plus there is a $3.00 USD boarding fee. Even the date and place of his birth and death are unknown. Louisiana historians know Jean Lafitte as the pirate who, shortly before Christmas in 1814, surrendered his plunder to fight alongside Colonel Andrew Jackson to save the City of New Orleans. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. . While his fleet took a hit, Lafitte himself managed to evade capture. Some historians recount that Lafitte went back to a life of crime, leaving the So, if you google Money Hill in Abita Springs ,La . The fleet anchored off Grande Terre and the gunboats attacked. "I'm proud of them. Only six houses survived as habitable.[80]. It was also the location that US Forces attacked, causing his band to make a hasty retreat. 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. He seemed to think the whole world was against him, and he determined to be against the world. Jean Lafitte well as the fortunes left on the merchant ships that he captured. Although the handbills were made in Lafitte's name, Ramsay believes "it is unlikely [the handbills] originated with him". The Ghost of Jean Lafitte in Galveston - Ghost City Tours In the 1938 and 1958 films The Buccaneer, Lafitte claims he never attacked an American ship. Campbell's Legacy. 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. Jean Lafitte - Krewe of Lafitte, Inc. Jean Lafitte - Interesting stories about famous people, biographies 200-year-old shipwreck found in Gulf of Mexico - CBS News Lafitte may have had as many as 1000 people working for him, including free men of color and runaway slaves. Rogers was a member of Jean Lafitte's pirate crew in 1812. Is the image on this article what the actual chest looked like? He was probably born in the early 1780s in either France or the French colony of St. Domingue (now Haiti) in the Caribbean. Other documents of the period place his birthplace as St. Malo or Brest. and brother in the early 1800s. During this time in New Orleans, Lafitte became a very rich man, acquiring extraordinary amounts of money, ships, and weapons. The Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour, held in the eponymous Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, is also named after the pirate/privateer. 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. Lafitte attempted to take what appeared to be two Spanish merchant vessels on the night of February 4. [123][124], There were also plans to connect the Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion attraction and Tom Sawyer's island using Laffite. 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. She was the sister of Marie Villard, the mistress of his brother, Pierre. Jean was a handsome man by all accounts, of great personal charm and became .