If they refused the offer, the letters informed Lafitte that the British had orders to capture Barataria to put an end to their smuggling. The benefits of Jean Lafitte agreement to the British were numerous and well calculated. [122] He is also referred to in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in which the boat dock is labeled LaFitte's Landing. Slaves captured in such actions who were turned over to the customs office would be sold within the United States, with half the profits going to the people who turned them in. Jean-Baptiste Francisco Lafitte (1782-1823) - WikiTree [7] Lafitte likely helped his brother to sell or trade the captured merchandise. [99], Davis writes that Lafitte's death prevented his becoming obsolete; by 1825 piracy had been essentially eradicated in the Gulf of Mexico, and "the new world of the Gulf simply had no room for [his] kind. Before we dive By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. The marker was erected in 1965 by the Texas Historical Commission. The Indians in the Mandeville area helped him escape to the Pearl River. Annual income reached more than $2 million ($35.4million in today's terms) in stolen currency and goods. The crew would create a manifest that listed not the provisions that had been purchased, but smuggled items stored at Barataria. was born in France around the year 1780 and traveled to the United States when Much to the Jean Lafitte - Encyclopdie de l'Histoire du Monde At this time an English captain offered Lafitte $30,000 and a commission to help the British attack New Orleans. One of the pirate's captains had attacked an American merchant ship. Searching for Jean Lafitte's Gold in the Sabine River "And now you Lafitte may have had as many as 1000 people working for him, including free men of color and runaway slaves. There is even an event in La Porte, Texas centered around the treasure called the Annual Search for Lafittes Gold.. Jean Lafitte (1776-1823) - Find a Grave Memorial . He was said to use it as a base for arranging the transfer of smuggled goods. Jean Lafitte Lafittes image changed from pirate to patriot during the War of 1812. . End of Campeche[edit] In 1821, the schooner USS Enterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte from the Gulf. Quick Facts. Very little is known about Laffite, and speculation about his life and death continues among historians. Could it be . . [59] With Lafitte's encouragement, many of his men joined the New Orleans militia or as sailors to man the ships. That was more of his commerce center, again where he exchanged merchandise for coin. They had 3 children together: Jean Antoine Lafitte, Lucien Jean Lafitte, and Denise Jeanette Lafitte. Lots of glass also. Those looking for Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry etc wont find it. The ones found their range from the late 1770;s to 1814 or so. 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 refused to allow anyone else to see the original documents until 1969, when he sold them to a professional document dealer. They had his only known son, Jean Pierre Lafitte (d. 1832). Lafitte agreed to leave the island without a fight, and on May 7, 1821 departed on The Pride. By 1810, their new port had become very successful; the Laffites had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy. [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. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; Jean Lafitte was likely one of them. Jean Lafitte was also offered a position in the British Royal Navy as a captain. but what is clear is that he settled in the New Orleans area with his mother Families with the surname Lafitte have been found in Louisiana documents dating as early as 1765. [116], In 1980, the manuscript was donated to the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Texas. This article is about the privateer. Jean Lafitte is said to have cached over 100 treasures on Galveston Island. 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. Although the plans were scrapped, a bricked up entrance close to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride pays homage to this idea.[125]. [28] The residents of New Orleans were grateful to the Lafittes for providing them with luxuries otherwise prevented from importing by the embargo. According to one account, published in 1885, The Historical Guide to New Orleans, Jean Lafitte died of sickness on the island of Mugeres, off the Yucatan, in 1826. Ramsay believes that Lafitte died of a fever in 1826 or 1827 on, Ramsay believes the documents were written by Laflin's ancestor, Matthew Laflin (18031854), who may have convinced his descendants that he was Jean Lafitte. Others formed three artillery companies. Within two days of his offer, handbills were posted all over New Orleans offering a similar award for the arrest of the governor. The Dread Jewish Pirate Jean Lafitte - Tablet Magazine 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. That was problematic for New Orleans merchants, who had relied heavily on trade with Caribbean colonies of other nations. 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. instead of just one? "Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jean Lafitte. Located on Bourbon Street, it is associated with Lafitte, who may have spent time there in his earlier years. [3], Lafitte and his brother Pierre also claimed to have been born in Bayonne. One story even I also. Many of the smugglers wanted to lynch the British men, but Lafitte intervened and placed guards outside his home to ensure their protection. There were also those who considered him a hero. With the threat of imprisonment Families with the surname Lafitte have been found in Louisiana documents from 1765. . are why the mystery is still such an interesting topic todaymore than 200 He wrote Jean Laffitte: Gentleman Rover based on the journal. Let us know in the comments 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]. The story claimed that American Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones was the uncle of Jean Lafitte and Napoleon Bonaparte and that the two were cousins. in south Louisianas bayous for so long, Lafitte had also become an expert with [2] Some sources say that his father was French and his mother's family had come from Spain. Catiche died July 2, 1858, around the age of 65. Later, the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette, the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice, and theWetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux were added to the park, and stories connect Lafitte with those areas too. The family thinks this could be a clue as to where the actual treasure is. These Letters of Marque would give the Captains and Crew permission to capture and steal the ship and cargo of the issuing government's enemies. This account of Lafitte's death is not accepted by all historians. The boys were given a basic Catholic education. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. [13] He was educated with his brother at a military academy on Saint Kitts. Jean He is considered something of a historic anti-hero in Louisiana and around the Gulf of Mexico, having engaged in smuggling and piracy for a number of years yet - during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 - helped defend the city from the . Jean Lafitte was a pirate and privateer known for his smuggling operations. At its height, the colonists and privateers earned millions of dollars annually from stolen or smuggled coin and goods. I have a metal detector. Legends of the Gulf Coast museum on the Strand. He was accompanied by six gunboats and a tender. There are many stories about what happened to Lafitte and where he died. . 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). I have no doubt that the Historians will decry what Ive said here, and Im cool with that, I know what I saw and found, and I know what others saw and found. What: Lecture and book signing. Jean Lafitte - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core Though much of his life has been obscured by legend and time, the story of 19th-century French pirate Jean Lafitte is nonetheless one of intrigue, crime, and heroics. Found bones of mamouth and Indian tools. He and another treasure hunter named Dan Beckingham found 4.5 million dollars worth of gold in the shallow waters of Florida. He is best known for his role in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. This information begs the question, though, How did Jean Lafitte have treasure in the first place, and if he did, why would he leave it behind?. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . Louisiana's most well-known buried treasure mystery still to this day is the unfound treasure of Jean Lafitte. Very old 3 x 3 nches by 2 inches. Jean was a handsome man by all accounts, of great personal charm and became . [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? Orleanshe did not disappoint. The United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807 as tensions built with the United Kingdom by prohibiting trade. After first escaping with some crew, he and his men were captured and jailed. 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. 1417 Harborside Drive. Registration for Pierre Lafitte's ship Goelette la Dilidente,a 136 ton schooner, captained by . He fled New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain. 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. It was, at least initially, relatively free of scrutiny from any of the governments in the region. Despite Laffite warning the other Baratarians of a possible military attack on their base, a US naval force successfully invaded in September 1814 and captured most of his fleet. [75] Lafitte interviewed all newcomers and required them to take an oath of loyalty to him. Why the pirate Jean Lafitte was known as The Terror of the Gulf of In 1953 several fishermen in the area landed about $625,000 of the treasure using their fishing nets. A privateer has permission from a government at war to capture any enemy ships. [71] Texas was lightly populated at this time, and the base had no significant populations nearby. (Ramsay (1996), pp. "[64] Jackson named Jean and Pierre Lafitte for having "exhibited the same courage and fidelity". His exact whereabouts after that are unknown. Researchers say the vessels sit in 25 feet water depth at the north of Big Bradford Island. Yet, Lafitte's strong connections to historical figures suggests that he was the culprit of this incident. History suggests there is a possibility that hidden treasuresgold coins, doubloons, precious jewelryare somewhere beneath the surface just waiting to be found! 3. It was stuck in the crack of the stairs. jean lafitte shipwreck found. He was probably born in the early 1780s in either France or the French colony of St. Domingue (now Haiti) in the Caribbean. 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. According to Ramsay, Lafitte, his elder brother Pierre, and his widowed mother migrated from Saint-Domingue to New Orleans in the 1780s. most well-known buried treasure mystery still to this day is the unfound Lafitte then was supposed to have buried Napoleon in the town of Lafittes Perrin Cemetery; later Jones and Lafitte himself supposedly were buried there. On the trail of East Texas' buried treasure [34] Biographer Jack Ramsay speculates that the voyage was intended to "establish [Lafitte] as a privateering captain". 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.