Jean Lafitte, sometimes spelled Laffite, was born in approximately 1780 in either France or Saint Domingue (modern day Haiti) and according historian H.W . During the battle Lafitte fought well. It was also the location that US Forces attacked, causing his band to make a hasty retreat. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) . that will never end. Throughout Barataria, Lafitte built warehouses to store goods and pens to hold slaves. are why the mystery is still such an interesting topic todaymore than 200 Its well known about the boat company started with silver found near Lake Salvador. Numerous novels and stories refer to Lafitte's exploits. 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. Rogers was a member of Jean Lafitte's pirate crew in 1812. Lafitte conducted most of his business aboard his ship, The Pride, where he also lived. Robertson was incensed by Lafitte's operation, calling his men "brigands who infest our coast and overrun our country". parties, as the Mystery of Jean Lafittes Unfound Treasure seems to be a voyage Jean LaFitte - Legendary gulf pirate, Is some of his gold still buried that the treasure is in a different location now than where it was buried? Lost Gold of Jean Lafitte | Expedition Unknown Wiki | Fandom [117] Laflin had been previously accused of forging letters purportedly from Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, and Davy Crockett. Jean Lafitte - Krewe of Lafitte, Inc. Lafitte also always insisted that he was a privateer, not a pirate. A treasured mystery, It reads that a cache of ancient gold coins was found near Jefferson island. When they had disembarked and were surrounded by his men, Lafitte identified himself to them. 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. Hendrick's Lake treasure is focus of Houston historian's upcoming book I also. 'Jean Laffite Revealed' unearths notorious Gulf pirate's second act The silver that Lafitte accumulated from selling captured slaves, cotton, and other goods was stored in wooden kegs or casks. Jean Pierre, her son with Jean Lafitte, died at 17 during a cholera epidemic in New Orleans in October 1832. In the summer of 1814, Pierre was arrested and jailed in New Orleans, but he escaped from jail under mysterious circumstances in September. Book Claims Sword Proves Pirate Jean Lafitte Faked Death and Lived in 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. Lafitte and several of his men rowed to meet them halfway. Christina died after the birth of their daughter. April 23, 2022. Families with the surname Lafitte have been found in Louisiana documents dating as early as 1765. Mystery and legend surround the life of Jean Lafi tte. On November 10, 1812, United States District Attorney John R. Grymes charged Lafitte with "violation of the revenue law. After first escaping with some crew, he and his men were captured and jailed. well as the fortunes left on the merchant ships that he captured. Lafittes final resting place is unknown. Jean Lafitte Flags - JEAN LAFITTE TRADING COMPANY Wheres your backyard? ), privateer and smuggler who interrupted his illicit adventures to fight heroically for the United States in defense of New Orleans in the War of 1812. [95], Lafitte continued to patrol the shipping lanes around Cuba. ), Nicolas, p. 277. states that he held a local (acting) rank of Captain of Royal Marines, R.L. What if these stories are factual? treasure to speak of. He fled New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain. 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. ships as a last-ditch effort to gain an advantage in the pivotal Battle of New It was cloudy with low visibility. In 1817, Jean founded a new colony on Galveston Island named Campeche. The Spanish ships were heavily armed privateers or warships and returned heavy fire. Experts with . Very old 3 x 3 nches by 2 inches. [117] Most historians now believe the Lafitte journal to be a forgery. Louisiana planters had a hard time buying enough American-born slaves to work on their everexpanding sugar and cotton plantations. The headquarters consisted of a two-storey building facing the inland harbor, where landings were made. hidden treasures have been told time and time again in childrens books, video In 1958, Laflin self-published an English translation of the journal. States officials granted him legal authority to pirate and capture British In 1953 several fishermen in the area landed about $625,000 of the treasure using their fishing nets. The Laffites moved their operations to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. The treasure already found was Spanish Silver, not Gold. In the early 1800s, Lafitte makes a fortune in treasure by raiding ships in the Gulf of Mexico . . After Jean's reported death in the mid-1820s, the widowed Catiche took up with Feliciano Ramos. [74], In less than a year, Lafitte's colony grew to 100200 men and several women. These goods were at a high demand and otherwise illegal due to the Embargo Act of 1807. . [33], Although under indictment, in March 1813 Lafitte registered as captain of Le Brig Goelette la Diligente for a supposed journey to New York. [36], Lafitte's continued flouting of the laws angered Governor Claiborne, who, on March 15, issued a proclamation against the Baratarian "banditti who act in contravention of the laws of the United States to the evident prejudice of the revenue of the federal government". [16] Barataria was far from the US naval base, and ships could easily smuggle in goods without being noticed by customs officials. (Davis (2005), p. 436). The fortune is said to have been stolen from the Spanish by Jean Lafitte. From Pirates to shipwrecks along its coastline to its history of explorers it's no wonder that Florida has lost treasure to be found. The information I found about the Don Felipe treasure was research I did online not sure if it . jean lafitte shipwreck found. knowledge (or educated guess) of Lafitte being the best privateer around, United [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. Catiche died July 2, 1858, around the age of 65. 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. "[100] Given his legendary reputation, there was much speculation about whether, or how, Lafitte had died. JEAN LAFITTE (1778 DEC 27 - 1823 . 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. Tensions were high during this time between the United States and Great Britain, creating the War of 1812 and forcing the United States to be on edge about who they could and could not trust. Legends of the Gulf Coast museum on the Strand. You'll need to arrive by 5:30pm and bring your ID plus there is a $3.00 USD boarding fee. The Pride | Baghdad on the Bayou | Obsidian Portal Sale of the slaves and additional cargo generated $18,000 in profits. There is no . . Woodblock print of the death of Jean Lafitte from The Pirates Own Book, published in 1837. Merchants in New Orleans began to run out of goods to sell. that is. [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. That was more of his commerce center, again where he exchanged merchandise for coin. Jean Lafitte proves to be an aberration as he acted as patriot to the United States during the War of 1812. 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". The United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807 as tensions built with the United Kingdom by prohibiting trade. The building was surrounded by a moat and painted red; it became known as Maison Rouge. 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. In 1966, Louisiana authorized a state park to be established at the present site of the Barataria Preserve. [90] In late April 1822, Lafitte was captured again after taking his first American ship. Lafitte for a time lived a lavish lifestyle, complete with servants and the finest housewares and other accoutrements.[78]. 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]. To this day, Although the handbills were made in Lafitte's name, Ramsay believes "it is unlikely [the handbills] originated with him". With the [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. Resentful of the raid on Barataria, Lafitte's men refused to serve on their former ships. The benefits of Jean Lafitte agreement to the British were numerous and well calculated. Jean Lafitte - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help It's okay, because we're here to bust them! The Temple was located just North of what is today Little Lake, in Lafittes time it was Little Lake Barataria, where Bayou Perot and Bayou Rigolets meet. Throughout Lafittes Jean Lafitte: The Smuggler, The Villain, The Hero Although the plans were scrapped, a bricked up entrance close to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride pays homage to this idea.[125]. It's not known who her father was. Located on Bourbon Street, it is associated with Lafitte, who may have spent time there in his earlier years. Thousands of miles away, and two centuries later, from where Laffite made his name, in Lincolnton, North Carolina, people continue to visit . but what is clear is that he settled in the New Orleans area with his mother Lafitte wanted to avoid a Spanish invasion. Laflin said he himself was a descendant of Jean Lafitte and had found the book in a trunk he had inherited. Let us know in the comments Watch an alligator bask on a bayou's bank. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte Lafitte's Treasure Links Its off 435 about 12 miles from where he fled imprisonment to the Pearl River. Jean Lafitte Most of these battles took place at or near Chalmette Plantation, now Chalmette Battlefield and part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Jean Lafitte, a famous pirate, buried his treasures along the coasts of Florida. Was he a pirate, a patriot, or both? [71] Texas was lightly populated at this time, and the base had no significant populations nearby. [8], Biographer William C. Davis suggests a different childhood for Lafitte. Catiche became pregnant and gave birth to their son, Jean Pierre, on November 4, 1815. [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. I think yall lying about the finding treasure, Plum bayou look for trees cut down and fake grave at the end. Louisianas [7] The United States made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. . [31], As the smuggling operations reduced the amount of revenue collected by customs offices, American authorities were determined to halt business at Barataria. 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. These questions Yet, Lafitte's strong connections to historical figures suggests that he was the culprit of this incident. A grand jury indicted Pierre Lafitte after hearing testimony against him by one of the city's leading merchants. Lost Gold Of Jean Lafitte is the 4th episode in Season 5 of Expedition Unknown. The second item was a personal note to Lafitte from McWilliam's superior, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls, urging him to accept the offer.[47]. In 1818, the Campeche colony suffered hardships. 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. His knowledge of the swamps helped him to make quick getaways. 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 Lafitte - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core [53], Likely inspired by Lafitte's offer to help defend Louisiana, Governor Claiborne wrote the US Attorney General, Richard Rush requesting a pardon for the Baratarians, saying that for generations, smugglers were "esteemed honest [and] sympathy for these offenders is certainly more or less felt by many of the Louisianans". a legend in his own time, after his patriotic actions in the Battle of New Orleans. His men burned the Maison Rouge, fortress, and settlement. . I have a metal detector. He landed ships at Grand Terre and Cheniere, and then brought the merchandise to The Temple to be auctioned. An 1802 newspaper ad mentioned a blacksmith named Lafi tte, but no first name was given and the shop was not at the corner of Bourbon and St. Phillip streets where the business known as Jean Lafi ttes Blacksmith Shop stands today. Jean Lafitte - Etsy By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. My grandfathers mother lived next to his mother and we were told of the storys on where some was at. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. Jean Lafitte was likely born in 1782, although he was not baptized until 1786. The Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour, held in the eponymous Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, is also named after the pirate/privateer. On February 13, he escaped, likely with outside help. One of the pirate's captains had attacked an American merchant ship. Historical Marker. It was specifically intended to prohibit trade with the United Kingdom, as tensions were increasing between the two countries. Other documents of the period place his birthplace as St. Malo or Brest. New Orleans They had two children together. They married and had two sons together, Jules Jean and Glenn Henri. This would later be used to his great advantage. You will see it gets its name from the treasure being buried there. 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. The buccaneer Jean Lafitte and other pirates sailed the Gulf to . 2. the treasure be today? Jean Lafitte was a pirate and privateer known for his smuggling operations. Jean [102] Ramsay believes that over time, almost "every foot of Grande Isle has been spaded for pirate gold". And whether it's a pirate's ship or not, they hope it's a clue to their ultimate treasure. In the ensuing gunfight, one of the revenue officers [39] was killed and two others were wounded. 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. In September 1814, British military officials sought Lafittes help in their campaign to attack the U.S. from the Gulf of Mexico. United States no choice but to pursue his arrest. [73] Aury returned to Galveston several months later, but he left in July when he realized that the men were unwilling to revolt. Merchants and planters were eager to buy the goods and slaves Lafitte smuggled into south Louisiana. Stories of . The Historic New Orleans Collection, 1983.123.8. Legend said it was a ship Lafitte sunk or said he sunk in the Old Sabine River while being pursued by a federal gunboat. Lafitte was horribly excited by the result of this trial. any leads as to where Lafittes treasure might be? Louisiana State University alumnus (Geaux Tigers), fanatic of all things sports, pugs, and Star Wars, and teller of the occasional dad joke. The corsairs aimed the artillery at the Karankawa, killing most of the men in the tribe. Beyond Oak Island: 50 MILLION DOLLAR PIRATE TREASURE *Jean Lafitte's Lafitte's ship is called "The Pride," but that's something they've already found. The ship's kitchen stove was found intact. His exact whereabouts after that are unknown. Louisiana is not exclusive to rumors of the treasures whereabouts too, as The Baratarians. 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. Some historians recount that Lafitte went back to a life of crime, leaving the [72] Ships operating from Galveston flew the flag of Mexico, but they did not participate in the revolution. Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in . It was stuck in the crack of the stairs. 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. They had 3 children together: Jean Antoine Lafitte, Lucien Jean Lafitte, and Denise Jeanette Lafitte.