For the town named after him, see. In 1953 several fishermen in the area landed about $625,000 of the treasure using their fishing nets. Within a short period, Lafitte's men abandoned their ships, set several on fire, and fled the area. 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. One story even [102] Ramsay believes that over time, almost "every foot of Grande Isle has been spaded for pirate gold". [34] Biographer Jack Ramsay speculates that the voyage was intended to "establish [Lafitte] as a privateering captain". Jean Lafitte in 1813. 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 . even tales that the treasure was not intentionally buried. [50], Lafitte committed himself and his men for any defensive measures needed by New Orleans. Its well known about the boat company started with silver found near Lake Salvador. 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. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; Jean Lafitte was likely one of them. there were treasure legends, and the most common story is that Lafitte stranded a ship, a Spanish ship with gold, in Matagorda Bay in Corpus and was taking it to St. Louis on some wagon trains over roads that don . When a giant storm hit the region, the raft was washed away and destroyed. In the ensuing gunfight, one of the revenue officers [39] was killed and two others were wounded. One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. According to historian William C. Davis, Laffite began a public relationship with his mistress in 1815, Catherine (Catiche) Villard, a free woman of color. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . Yes I visited his home the Mason rouge in Campeche Galveston tx. In 1818, the Campeche colony suffered hardships. A grand jury indicted Pierre Lafitte after hearing testimony against him by one of the city's leading merchants. 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. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. Jean Lafitte's ship was named "The General Jackson". [88] In October or November 1821, Lafitte's ship was ambushed as he attempted to ransom a recent prize. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. It destroyed four ships and most buildings. [116], In 1980, the manuscript was donated to the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Texas. He sold those at his location The Temple. The money that he sold them for was Spanish Coin, Reales usually in 2,4,8 denominations, minted in Mexico. Was he a pirate, a patriot, or both? Located 25 minutes from downtown New Orleans, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours has been operating daily bayou tours since the 1980s. A representative of the smuggler would purchase the slaves at the ensuing auction, and the smuggler would be given half of the purchase price. [75] Lafitte interviewed all newcomers and required them to take an oath of loyalty to him. North of Tatum, in the middle of the woods, lies . Discover New Orleans' rich cultural mix. A treasured mystery, Charles Gayarre wrote the first serious biography of Lafitte. He resurfaced in North Carolina under a different name, an alias. He withdrew his battered troops and ended French involvement in North America, selling the US what became known as the Louisiana Purchase in 1803: French-claimed lands west of the Mississippi River. 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. are why the mystery is still such an interesting topic todaymore than 200 That night his remaining men reboarded the General Victoria and destroyed its masts and spars, crippling the ship, but they left the crew unharmed. After his three children were grown, Lafitte fell sick in his 50s. consisted of the currency he would receive in exchange for his foreign goods as By 1805 he is believed to have been running a warehouse in New Orleans and possibly a store on Royal Street. . 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]. Smugglers would purchase the slaves for a discounted price, march them to Louisiana, and turn them in to customs officials. The United States made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. [5], Lafitte's native language was clearly French, though the specific dialect is a matter of some debate. He and another treasure hunter named Dan Beckingham found 4.5 million dollars worth of gold in the shallow waters of Florida. [52], Following the custom of the times, Patterson filed a legal claim for the profits from the confiscated ships and merchandise. Guests could've been able to enter Laffite's crypt near the Haunted Mansion. The captured schooner was not considered useful for piracy and so after they had unloaded its cargo, the Lafittes returned the ship to its former captain and crew. Jean Henri Laffite's father, Jean Louis Laffite, was a ship captain who died on August 1, 1782, aboard the privateer ship "EL POSTILION" during a hurricane in route . The Spanish ships appeared to be fleeing but at 10:00 pm turned back for a frontal counterattack against Lafitte's ship. Jean Lafitte was a Privateer Captain in the early 19th century. In April 1818, the United States passed a law prohibiting the import of slaves into any port in the United States. 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. parties, as the Mystery of Jean Lafittes Unfound Treasure seems to be a voyage And where? 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. The Baratarians. the Texas Gulf Coast. When he attacked some United States ships, the government sent in troops to capture him. The name Jean Lafitte is almost legendary around the upper areas of the Texas coastline. His men tore down the existing houses and built 200 new, sturdier structures. It also mentions reports of larger sums of the treasure being buried in the appropriately-named small town of Lafitte, Louisiana. Jean LaFitte, that colorful character who roamed the Gulf Coast in the early 1800s was said to be many things - smuggler, pirate and patriot. storytelling? Founded in 1805 by the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte, the legendary Lafitte Trading Company is dedicated to preserving New Orleans' rich pirate history, culture & traditions. Metal detector companies may be the only satisfied 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. His men burned the Maison Rouge, fortress, and settlement. [64] He formally requested clemency for the Lafittes and the men who had served under them. In 1821, the schooner USS Enterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte from the Gulf. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) . The city of Cartagena in present-day Colombia had rebelled against Spain and gave permission through letters of marque for privateers, including Lafittes men, to capture Spanish ships and the goods and slaves on board. [44], Captain Nicholas Lockyer, the commander of the Sophie, had been ordered to contact the "Commandant at Barataria". He had been credited with much, and accused of plenty, yet there is doubt even. Instead, Lafitte told Governor Claiborne of the planned attack and offered his help. It was also the location that US Forces attacked, causing his band to make a hasty retreat. There is even an event in La Porte, Texas centered around the treasure called the Annual Search for Lafittes Gold.. Those looking for Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry etc wont find it. [51], On September 23, Patterson and his fleet, including the eight captured ships, began the return trip to New Orleans. Thus, on August 13, 1814, Captain Nicholas Lockyer of the British ship Sophie sailed on that mission. 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. There are many stories about what happened to Lafitte and where he died. [2] Some sources say that his father was French and his mother's family had come from Spain. [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]. that the treasure was on board one of Lafittes vessels and sank to the ocean [33], Although under indictment, in March 1813 Lafitte registered as captain of Le Brig Goelette la Diligente for a supposed journey to New York. (In English documents, his last name was often spelled Lafitte, but Laffite was the spelling used by Jean and his brother Pierre.) Mystery and legend surround the life of Jean Lafi tte. Experts with . This article is about the privateer. Much to the 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. They had his only known son, Jean Pierre Lafitte (d. 1832). They had 3 children together: Jean Antoine Lafitte, Lucien Jean Lafitte, and Denise Jeanette Lafitte. 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 achieved notoriety through his daring exploits, but also for having "the coolest name ever.". What was the name of Lafitte's pirate ship? [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. 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. During the battle Lafitte fought well. Lafitte agreed to leave the island without a fight, and on May 7, 1821 departed on The Pride. The United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807 as tensions built with the United Kingdom by prohibiting trade. Lafitte visited in March 1817. Families with the surname Lafitte have been found in Louisiana documents from 1765. Merchants and planters came to Barataria for auctions, which Lafitte held outside New Orleans to avoid the law. According to Ramsay, Lafitte, his elder brother Pierre, and his widowed mother migrated from Saint-Domingue to New Orleans in the 1780s. Captain Campbell became a farmer and remained so until his death in 1856. My grandfather never got to look for the treasure s. Ive heard he would sometimes slip into Mobile Bay. The fortune is said to have been stolen from the Spanish by Jean Lafitte. Merchants and planters were eager to buy the goods and slaves Lafitte smuggled into south Louisiana. Lafitte possibly took an assumed name, John Lafflin, and may have given that surname to his younger two sons. [69] With Spanish permission, Lafitte returned to Galveston, promising to make weekly reports of his activities.[70]. [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. I always wondered why the searchers were only local, and that an organized big search never happened but it never did. [42], Following the charges of November 10, 1812, and subsequent arrest and jailing of his brother Pierre, Jean Lafitte operated the piracy and smuggling business. The Historic New Orleans Collection, 1983.123.8. Jean Lafitte was the youngest of eight children (five boys and three girls). His maternal grandfather had been executed by the Inquisition for "Judaizing". Most historians doubt the authenticity of these claims but have not been able to disprove them. 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). He had to take a pirogoe which is a wood boat that would have sank if all the treasure would have been on board.

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