His treasure Jean-Baptiste Francisco Lafitte (1782-1823) - WikiTree On November 10, 1812, United States District Attorney John R. Grymes charged Lafitte with "violation of the revenue law. [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. Located on Bourbon Street, it is associated with Lafitte, who may have spent time there in his earlier years. During his life he acted as a soldier, sailor, diplomat, merchant, and much more, demonstrating natural gifts for leadership.[14]. In 1948, John Andrechyne Laflin approached the Missouri Historical Society with a French-language manuscript he claimed was a journal Lafitte kept from 1845 until 1850. Metal detector companies may be the only satisfied Despite this, no silver bars were found. Although General Andrew Jackson, commander of the American troops, originally described Lafitte as a hellish banditti, he finally accepted Lafittes help because of the ammunition, cannoneers, and knowledge of the area Lafi tte could supply. To the north of Tatum, in the middle of the forest, lies Lake Hendrix. hidden treasures have been told time and time again in childrens books, video Britain maintained a powerful navy, but the United States had little naval power. Though Lafitte's home is gone, this property across the street from the Port of Galveston contains the ruins of a later structure and a trove of ghost tales. Jean Lafitte, The French Pirate King Who Saved Louisiana When: 2 p.m. May 22. (Davis (2005), p. 436). Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in multiple The second item was a personal note to Lafitte from McWilliam's superior, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls, urging him to accept the offer.[47]. . that the treasure is in a different location now than where it was buried? Because of his track record and reputation, Jean Lafitte was still seen as a criminal in the eyes of the United States. It was, at least initially, relatively free of scrutiny from any of the governments in the region. When Patterson's men went ashore, they met no resistance. 13 Lost Treasures of Florida [71] Texas was lightly populated at this time, and the base had no significant populations nearby. So, if you google Money Hill in Abita Springs ,La . 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. He fled New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain. Lafitte worked with several smugglers, including Jim Bowie, to profit from the poorly written law. In a personal note, Lafitte reminded Blanque that his brother Pierre was still in jail and deserved an early release. he was in his early twenties. residents of Texas have claimed that the treasure was buried somewhere along The ship's kitchen stove was found intact. [63] On land and sea, the former pirate gunners earned praise as the battle continued. Baratarias swamps and bayous stretched south of New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico. [17], Based in New Orleans, Pierre Lafitte served as a silent partner, looking after their interests in the city. (In English documents, his last name was often spelled Lafitte, but Laffite was the spelling used by Jean and his brother Pierre.) Those looking for Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry etc wont find it. In Jean Lafitte's day, silver and gold filled a pirate's treasure chest, but today's treasures are people, places, and memories. [7], According to Ramsay, as a young man, Lafitte likely spent much time exploring the wetlands and bayou country south of New Orleans. Even the date and place of his birth and death are unknown. Very little is known about Laffite, and speculation about his life and death continues among historians. Within a short period, Lafitte's men abandoned their ships, set several on fire, and fled the area. It reads that a cache of ancient gold coins was found near Jefferson island. On the trail of East Texas' buried treasure [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]. into these uncharted waters, we need to know more about who Lafitte was. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. The ship would sail to the mouth of Bayou Lafourche, load the contraband goods, and sail "legally" back to New Orleans, with goods listed on a certified manifest. "[55], When General Andrew Jackson arrived in New Orleans on December 1, 1814, he discovered the city had not created any defenses. storytelling? The government granted them all a full pardon on February 6.[65][66]. [116] Handwriting analysis experts affirmed that conclusion. War & Affiliation War of 1812 / American. Lafitte proved an invaluable ally for the United States in the War of 1812 and the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, assisting General Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) to victory against the British. Galveston after his adventures in Louisiana. But remember Lafittes black dogs are still around dont go a hunting unless you are prepared to suffer the consequences. Pierre was to inform about the situation in New Orleans. Before we dive Beyond Oak Island: 50 MILLION DOLLAR PIRATE TREASURE *Jean Lafitte's The stairs run beside it. But the treasure is in my best belief to be in Galveston. [21] In January 1813, they took their first prize, a Spanish hermaphrodite brig loaded with 77slaves. Jean Lafitte became labeled by some as a They had his only known son, Jean Pierre Lafitte (d. 1832). 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 . It was also the location that US Forces attacked, causing his band to make a hasty retreat. [7] His elder brother Pierre became a privateer; he may have operated from Saint-Domingue, which frequently issued letters of marque. . In February 1823, Lafitte was cruising off the town of Omoa, Honduras, on his schooner General Santander. In 1966, Louisiana authorized a state park to be established at the present site of the Barataria Preserve. Pinkerton is a mysterious figure. Discover New Orleans' rich cultural mix. In the summer of 1814, Pierre was arrested and jailed in New Orleans, but he escaped from jail under mysterious circumstances in September. End of Campeche[edit] In 1821, the schooner USS Enterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte from the Gulf. If you study your info you will be lost. Widely publicized, the raid was hailed by the Niles' Weekly Register as "a major conquest for the United States". 15 Places to Find Lost Treasure in Florida (Maps and More) In the early 1800s, Lafitte makes a fortune in treasure by raiding ships in the Gulf of Mexico . (Ramsay (1996), pp. The ones found their range from the late 1770;s to 1814 or so. Workers would reload goods into smaller batches onto pirogues or barges, for transport through the many bayous to New Orleans. The brothers stripped down their original ship and used its guns to outfit the new one. [31], As the smuggling operations reduced the amount of revenue collected by customs offices, American authorities were determined to halt business at Barataria. Date of Birth - Death c. 1780-unknown. 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. Stories of the buried treasure of Jean Lafitte can be found all over the state of Louisiana. This story first appeared in a local newspaper in the 1920s from an unnamed source and has no basis in fact. What was the name of Jean Lafitte ship? | - Soccer Agency His maternal grandfather had been executed by the Inquisition for "Judaizing". Jean Pierre, her son with Jean Lafitte, died at 17 during a cholera epidemic in New Orleans in October 1832. This account of Lafitte's death is not accepted by all historians. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. [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. goal to once again evade U.S. seizure and to come back to it later. [40], Claiborne appealed to the new state legislature, citing the lost revenues due to the smuggling. United States no choice but to pursue his arrest. [76] Lafitte forged letters of marque from an imaginary nation to fraudulently authorize all the ships sailing from Galveston as privateers. Baytown cousins believe they found missing pirate ship . Jean Lafitte in 1813. When they had disembarked and were surrounded by his men, Lafitte identified himself to them. Jean Lafitte (1776-1823) - Find a Grave Memorial Lafitte se rvla un alli prcieux pour les tats-Unis lors de la . 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. The Untold Truth Of Jean Lafitte, The Pirate Of New Orleans - Grunge.com His men burned the Maison Rouge, fortress, and settlement. 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. The Lost Hideaway of Jean Lafitte - Lone Star Ghost Towns - Google [90] In late April 1822, Lafitte was captured again after taking his first American ship. On September 13, 1814, Commodore Daniel Patterson set sail aboard the USSCarolina for Barataria. jean lafitte shipwreck found. . What did the USS Enterprise do to Jean Lafitte? . [36], In October, a revenue officer prepared an ambush of a band of Lafitte's smugglers. [95], Lafitte continued to patrol the shipping lanes around Cuba. 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). [27], Governor William C.C. Lafitte then was supposed to have buried Napoleon in the town of Lafittes Perrin Cemetery; later Jones and Lafitte himself supposedly were buried there. I also. 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. They created a base on the small and sparsely-populated island of Barataria, in Barataria Bay. . A grand jury indicted Pierre Lafitte after hearing testimony against him by one of the city's leading merchants. Lafitte possibly took an assumed name, John Lafflin, and may have given that surname to his younger two sons. Jean Lafitte - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help 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. The couple had six children, including at least three daughters. Jean Lafitte Flags - JEAN LAFITTE TRADING COMPANY Uninterested in exports from New Orleans, customs agents rarely checked the accuracy of the manifests. He refused to allow anyone else to see the original documents until 1969, when he sold them to a professional document dealer. Quick Facts. [60] Lafitte realized that the American line of defense was so short as to potentially allow the British to encircle the American troops. Jean Lafitte Facts for Kids The silver that Lafitte accumulated from selling captured slaves, cotton, and other goods was stored in wooden kegs or casks. Andrew Jackson asked Lafitte to help defend New Orleans in the Battle of 1815. One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. He said his ships would sail as pirates. the treasure be today? [29], On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Britain. This article is about the privateer. Its in the concrete shell stairs. These questions Most of these battles took place at or near Chalmette Plantation, now Chalmette Battlefield and part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. He was nursed back to health by Emma Hortense Mortimer. Jean had taken the helm of a band of pirates when the U.S. found itself at war with . New Orleans issued six such letters, primarily to smugglers who worked with Lafitte at Barataria. [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. [38], Given the success of his auctions at the Temple, in January 1814 Lafitte set up a similar auction at a site just outside New Orleans. Lafittes men did resist arrest by American federal agents and soldiers, wounding, murdering, and capturing several. In 1807 the United States outlawed trade with Great Britain and France because of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.