In the 1938 and 1958 films The Buccaneer, Lafitte claims he never attacked an American ship. The couple had six children, including at least three daughters. The treasure already found was Spanish Silver, not Gold. Lafitte wanted to avoid a Spanish invasion. Many of the Baratarians settled in New Orleans or in the Barataria area and some of their descendants still live there today. [5], Lafitte's native language was clearly French, though the specific dialect is a matter of some debate. are why the mystery is still such an interesting topic todaymore than 200 He could have stashed some treasure somewhere along the Eastern shore. Jean lists his age as 32 and his birthplace as . Jan 25, 2007. [16] Barataria was far from the US naval base, and ships could easily smuggle in goods without being noticed by customs officials. LA Some historians recount that Lafitte went back to a life of crime, leaving the The legend of Jean Lafitte survives in the history and mystery of south Louisiana, where Lafi ttes bayous and backwaters still meander toward the Gulf of Mexico. [19] When Claiborne returned to office, he was relatively quiet on the subject. They will haunt you in your dreams for making a [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. Omoa was the site of the largest Spanish fort in Central America, built to guard the Spanish silver shipments from the mines of Tegucigalpa to overseas destinations. Lafittes image changed from pirate to patriot during the War of 1812. 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. The smugglers wounded one of the officers and safely escaped with the contraband. I also. "[98] No American newspaper published an obituary of him. "[64] Jackson named Jean and Pierre Lafitte for having "exhibited the same courage and fidelity". [35] Lafitte soon acquired a letter of marque from Cartagena, but never sent any booty there. [51], On September 23, Patterson and his fleet, including the eight captured ships, began the return trip to New Orleans. [123][124], There were also plans to connect the Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion attraction and Tom Sawyer's island using Laffite. On November 10, 1812, United States District Attorney John R. Grymes charged Lafitte with "violation of the revenue law. that is. The park was named after Lafitte because of his smuggling operations in the area. Another site near Niblett's Bluff, 40 Gums, had previously been searched. [52], a man who, for about two years past, has been famous for crimes that the civilized world wars against. The men working for Lafitte were called Baratarians because the waterways they used for smuggling were located in an area called Barataria (the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is located in this area). Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! 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. Jean Lafitte was the youngest of eight children (five boys and three girls). 3. In September 1814, British military officials sought Lafittes help in their campaign to attack the U.S. from the Gulf of Mexico. According to Ramsay, Lafitte, his elder brother Pierre, and his widowed mother migrated from Saint-Domingue to New Orleans in the 1780s. . 2. [11] This was the last year that Napoleon failed to regain control of Saint-Domingue. 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. Baratarias swamps and bayous stretched south of New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico. 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. that will never end. As part of Mexico, it was outside the authority of the United States, and was largely uninhabited, except by the Karankawa, a Native American people. [102] Ramsay believes that over time, almost "every foot of Grande Isle has been spaded for pirate gold". [22] The Lafittes gained a reputation for treating captive crew members well and often returned captured ships to their original crew. He was a reserved man and remained largely . The Laffite Society, which promotes historical research and education about Lafitte's life and times, meets the second Tuesday of each month. Laffite is believed to have been born either in Basque-France or the French colony of Saint-Domingue in the Caribbean. [7] Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. A grand jury indicted Pierre Lafitte after hearing testimony against him by one of the city's leading merchants. Jean Lafitte's fabeled ship, The Pride, sunk well over a hundred years ago. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; [] [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. Most of the people were locals, from Lafourche Parish, the southern part, mainly Cut Off and Larose and the Gheens area, and also from the Des Allemands location. [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. Before we dive There are many stories about what happened to Lafitte and where he died. 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. that the treasure was on board one of Lafittes vessels and sank to the ocean chagrin of the locals that helped drain the swamp, there was no trace of the "Finding out who Lafitte really was," Cody Hix said. Theres on Grand Terre. 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. Could it be This article provides images of newspapers from 1921, and one column in particular that talks about Lafittes treasure. Yet, Lafitte's strong connections to historical figures suggests that he was the culprit of this incident. [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. The Baratarians invited the British officers to row to their island. Jean LaFitte, that colorful character who roamed the Gulf Coast in the early 1800s was said to be many things - smuggler, pirate and patriot. Luckily, there is more info from Sotto himself about this project that can be found here. One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. Claiborne took a leave of absence in September 1810, leaving Thomas B. Robertson as acting governor. 2001-11-18 04:00:00 PDT Wallisville, Texas -- Using a machete, Anahuac Jack hacks through branches . Lafitte conducted most of his business aboard his ship, The Pride, where he also lived. He was given a burial at sea in the Gulf Of Honduras and speculation about the whereabouts of his treasure hoard has . [117] Most historians now believe the Lafitte journal to be a forgery. 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. [91] When Lafitte and other pirates operating in the area began attacking merchant ships carrying legal goods to Cuba, they angered Cuban officials. There is no . 1417 Harborside Drive. Lafitte eventually returned to smuggling at Galveston Island in Spanish Texas until he was forced out by the U.S. Navy in 1820. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, A family in Baytown, Texas tell their story. [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]. It's not known who her father was. Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in multiple Smith believes he found a sunken ship on Google Earth in 2006 in Refugio, just north of Corpus Christi. Throughout Lafittes Lost Gold Of Jean Lafitte is the 4th episode in Season 5 of Expedition Unknown. 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 . Robertson was incensed by Lafitte's operation, calling his men "brigands who infest our coast and overrun our country". Enslaved Africans there gained their independence from France in 1804 and renamed this territory as Haiti. times as a smuggler and privateer, he became very wealthy. Despite the Treaty of Ghent having been signed, and peace ensuing, it would take months for the news to reach New Orleans. Located 25 minutes from downtown New Orleans, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours has been operating daily bayou tours since the 1980s. 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. Jean Lafitte, sometimes spelled Laffite, was born in approximately 1780 in either France or Saint Domingue (modern day Haiti) and according historian H.W . He was chased all over the Gulf of Mexico by the U.S. Navy, all his ships burned except for his flagship, The Pride. Lafitte tried to convince the Americans that they had nothing to fear from him. In 1958, Laflin self-published an English translation of the journal. He was said to use it as a base for arranging the transfer of smuggled goods. Most historians doubt the authenticity of these claims but have not been able to disprove them. Much to the Like a little wooden barrel. Sale of the slaves and additional cargo generated $18,000 in profits. April 23, 2022. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . It is quite certain that Napoleon is buried in Paris and that Jones, who died in 1792, is buried at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Only six houses survived as habitable.[80]. [44], Captain Nicholas Lockyer, the commander of the Sophie, had been ordered to contact the "Commandant at Barataria". [5] No samples of his writing survive, except his signature; his surviving letters were always written by a secretary. After his three children were grown, Lafitte fell sick in his 50s. Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! [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 law left several loopholes, giving permission to any ship to capture a slave ship, regardless of the country of origin. [10], Sources indicate that Lafitte was sharp and resourceful, but also handsome and friendly, enjoying drinking, gambling, and women. 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. A $27 million treasure supposedly lies buried on Pelican Island. "[55], When General Andrew Jackson arrived in New Orleans on December 1, 1814, he discovered the city had not created any defenses. Experts with . The bay was located beyond a narrow passage between the barrier islands of Grand Terre and Grande Isle. Charles Gayarre wrote the first serious biography of Lafitte. In 1966, Louisiana authorized a state park to be established at the present site of the Barataria Preserve. Because of his track record and reputation, Jean Lafitte was still seen as a criminal in the eyes of the United States. Although not part of the original proposal from Percy, Lockyer added an extra $30,000 if Lafitte would not only assist in the battle against New Orleans but also against Mobile. [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. Yes I visited his home the Mason rouge in Campeche Galveston tx. He had been credited with much, and accused of plenty, yet there is doubt even. If you study your info you will be lost. In later years, he was described as having "a more accurate knowledge of every inlet from the Gulf than any other man". Families with the surname Lafitte have been found in Louisiana documents from 1765. Jean was a handsome man by all accounts, of great personal charm and became . [67] By early 1817, other revolutionaries had begun to congregate at Galveston, hoping to make it their base to wrest Mexico from Spanish control. 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. The prizes that Lafitte took were slaves, cotton, commodities, etc. 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". During his life he acted as a soldier, sailor, diplomat, merchant, and much more, demonstrating natural gifts for leadership.[14]. The park was given the mission of preserving the natural and cultural resources of Louisianas Mississippi River delta region. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! The Historic New Orleans Collection, 1983.123.8. He was probably born in the early 1780s in either France or the French colony of St. Domingue (now Haiti) in the Caribbean. [17], Based in New Orleans, Pierre Lafitte served as a silent partner, looking after their interests in the city. The name Jean Lafitte is almost legendary around the upper areas of the Texas coastline. Thousands of miles away, and two centuries later, from where Laffite made his name, in Lincolnton, North Carolina, people continue to visit . The headquarters consisted of a two-storey building facing the inland harbor, where landings were made. What books would you recommend about this pirate? Back in 1915, a city worker in New Orleans found a chest that was filled with over 1,500 . "[100] Given his legendary reputation, there was much speculation about whether, or how, Lafitte had died. Was it buried underground or lost under water? And where? The brothers adapted the captured ship for use in piracy and named it Dorada. Louisiana is not exclusive to rumors of the treasures whereabouts too, as national hero. 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. Louisiana State University alumnus (Geaux Tigers), fanatic of all things sports, pugs, and Star Wars, and teller of the occasional dad joke. Widely publicized, the raid was hailed by the Niles' Weekly Register as "a major conquest for the United States". [88] In October or November 1821, Lafitte's ship was ambushed as he attempted to ransom a recent prize. There are many stories about what happened to Lafitte and where he died. Having lived Jean Laffite, Laffite also spelled Lafitte, (born 1780?, Francedied 1825? They believe now they've found his sunken ship. Lafitte named his colony Campeche, after a Mexican outpost further south along the Gulf Coast. The state of [29], On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Britain. Let us know in the comments I was living in high island Texas .mostly driving the beach further east to sea rim. "It started for us with this family story," Cody Hix said. [4], Some sources speculate that Lafitte was born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (known as Haiti since it gained independence in 1804). Title Smuggler. scrambling to find answers. Modern Day Depiction of the Baratarian Pirate and Brother of Jean Lafitte . He fled New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain. It reads that a cache of ancient gold coins was found near Jefferson island. residents of Texas have claimed that the treasure was buried somewhere along [13] He was educated with his brother at a military academy on Saint Kitts. By 1810 he was in Louisiana with his older brother Pierre. William Bartlett explored a three-hundred-year-old shipwreck. [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? With his business carrying on and continuing to grow, so did his wealth. Later United States President James Madison pardoned him and his men for their acts of piracy. Christina died after the birth of their daughter. After Lafitte's men abducted a Karankawa woman, warriors of her tribe attacked and killed five men of the colony. Even the date and place of his birth and death are unknown. [48] Lafitte had copies of the letters sent to Jean Blanque, a member of the state legislature who had invested in the Barataria operation. [71] Texas was lightly populated at this time, and the base had no significant populations nearby. [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. [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. One story even On January 21, Jackson issued a statement praising his troops, especially the cannoneers and "Captains Dominique and Beluche, lately commanding privateers of Barataria, with part of their former crews and many brave citizens of New Orleans, were stationed at Nos. 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. The most notorious New Orleans smuggler and gentleman pirate was Jean Lafitte. Lafitte was later I a month there. 70130, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Jean Lafitte became labeled by some as a [2] Some sources say that his father was French and his mother's family had come from Spain.

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