A smuggler of epic proportions, Jean Lafitte had an army of privateers with as many as 1,000 men ultimately making him an invaluable asset for America in the War of 1812. And whether it's a pirate's ship or not, they hope it's a clue to their ultimate treasure. [7], According to Ramsay, as a young man, Lafitte likely spent much time exploring the wetlands and bayou country south of New Orleans. Lafittes men did resist arrest by American federal agents and soldiers, wounding, murdering, and capturing several. Long-lost pirate ship may lie in Texas lake / Historical treasure could be wreck of Jean Lafitte. Governor Claiborne of Louisiana once offered a $500 reward to anyone who captured Jean Laffite; Laffitte offered a counter reward of $5,000 to anyone who captured the governor. times as a smuggler and privateer, he became very wealthy. (The United States and the United Kingdom had prohibited the Atlantic slave trade after 1808, but Spain continued to import slaves to the Caribbean.) [94] For the first time, Lafitte was legally authorized to take Spanish ships. A representative of the smuggler would purchase the slaves at the ensuing auction, and the smuggler would be given half of the purchase price. years later! Lafitte then was supposed to have buried Napoleon in the town of Lafittes Perrin Cemetery; later Jones and Lafitte himself supposedly were buried there. Merchants and planters were eager to buy the goods and slaves Lafitte smuggled into south Louisiana. With the Yet, Lafitte's strong connections to historical figures suggests that he was the culprit of this incident. 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. You will see it gets its name from the treasure being buried there. That was problematic for New Orleans merchants, who had relied heavily on trade with Caribbean colonies of other nations. Catiche died July 2, 1858, around the age of 65. 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. 5 , Mexican outpost further south along the Gulf Coast, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, List of people pardoned or granted clemency by the president of the United States, "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: GENERAL QUESTIONS", "Jean Laffite as a Father | Historia Obscura", "The Legend of Jean LaFoote Advertising Week 360 AW360", "Cinnamon Crunch (Cap'n Crunch) Cereal | MrBreakfast.com", "Then and Now: Lafitte's Anchor at Disneyland Park", "20 Things You May Not Know About Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean Ride", "History and a Behind the Scenes Look at the Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction in Disneyland", "Why is the Name Jean Lafitte Everywhere at Disneyland", History of the second war between the United States of America and Great Britain: declared by act of Congress, the 18th of June, 1812, and concluded by peace, the 15th of February, 1815, Jean Lafitte: Gentleman Pirate of New Orleans, "Jean LaFitte's piratical topsail schooner", History, photos and movies about Jean Lafitte, Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law, Jim Hawkins and the Curse of Treasure Island, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jean_Lafitte&oldid=1142807831, Recipients of American presidential pardons, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from July 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, pirate, privateer, spy, naval artillery officer, slave trader. Jan 25, 2007. Lafitte essentially developed Galveston Island as another smuggling base. [7] Lafitte likely helped his brother to sell or trade the captured merchandise. What books would you recommend about this pirate? 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. The letters gave the ships permission to attack ships from all nations. Within two days of Lafitte's notes, Pierre "escaped" from jail. She placed Pierre to be raised by extended family elsewhere in Louisiana. By 1810 he was in Louisiana with his older brother Pierre. 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. British forces sought access to the Mississippi River to gain control of the interior of the US. well as the fortunes left on the merchant ships that he captured. because Lafittes treasure was thought to be underwater there. 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. The Indians in the Mandeville area helped him escape to the Pearl River. 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 . Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in . "[64] Jackson named Jean and Pierre Lafitte for having "exhibited the same courage and fidelity". [114][115] When the historical society could not authenticate the claim, Laflin approached Louisiana author Stanley Arthur. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. 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. Jean Lafitte, a famous pirate, buried his treasures along the coasts of Florida. 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. but what is clear is that he settled in the New Orleans area with his mother Jean Lafitte was born September 25, 1781. His game was spread far and wide and there were those who feared and hated him. Wounded in the battle, Lafitte is believed to have died just after dawn on February 5. In 1817, Jean founded a new colony on Galveston Island named Campeche. Those looking for Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry etc wont find it. One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. Woodblock print of the death of Jean Lafitte from The Pirates Own Book, published in 1837. After Lafitte's men abducted a Karankawa woman, warriors of her tribe attacked and killed five men of the colony. pardoned by General Andrew Jackson in praise of his efforts and accomplishments Lost Gold Of Jean Lafitte is the 4th episode in Season 5 of Expedition Unknown. They were held in port under custody of the United States Marshal. By 1805 he is believed to have been running a warehouse in New Orleans and possibly a store on Royal Street. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; Jean Lafitte was likely one of them. My grandfather never got to look for the treasure s. Ive heard he would sometimes slip into Mobile Bay. End of Campeche[edit] In 1821, the schooner USS Enterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte from the Gulf. In Jean Lafitte's day, silver and gold filled a pirate's treasure chest, but today's treasures are people, places, and memories. [97][Note 3] The Gaceta de Cartagena and the Gaceta de Colombia carried obituaries that noted, "the loss of this brave naval officer is moving. [76] Lafitte forged letters of marque from an imaginary nation to fraudulently authorize all the ships sailing from Galveston as privateers. Charles Gayarre wrote the first serious biography of Lafitte. (In English documents, his last name was often spelled Lafitte, but Laffite was the spelling used by Jean and his brother Pierre.) A hurricane in September resulted in flooding of most of the island, and several people died. "[55], When General Andrew Jackson arrived in New Orleans on December 1, 1814, he discovered the city had not created any defenses. Louisiana is not exclusive to rumors of the treasures whereabouts too, as The United States made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The fleet anchored off Grande Terre and the gunboats attacked. Due to escalating violence from the Haitian Revolution, in early 1803 Pierre boarded a refugee ship for New Orleans.Davis (2005), pp. . [61] The British began advancing upon the American lines on December 28, but were repulsed by an artillery crew manned by two of Lafitte's former lieutenants, Renato Beluche and Dominique Youx. Jean Lafitte was a French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. [33], Although under indictment, in March 1813 Lafitte registered as captain of Le Brig Goelette la Diligente for a supposed journey to New York. treasure to speak of. Enslaved Africans there gained their independence from France in 1804 and renamed this territory as Haiti. Many of the smugglers wanted to lynch the British men, but Lafitte intervened and placed guards outside his home to ensure their protection. I have a metal detector. Some historians recount that Lafitte went back to a life of crime, leaving the Lafittes final resting place is unknown. New Orleans issued six such letters, primarily to smugglers who worked with Lafitte at Barataria. This would later be used to his great advantage. [13] He was educated with his brother at a military academy on Saint Kitts. An American ship was boarded near our coast, . 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. Lafitte's fate has remained a mystery for 183 years. Because of his track record and reputation, Jean Lafitte was still seen as a criminal in the eyes of the United States. Many from the area have taken artifacts from there, including coin. Located on Bourbon Street, it is associated with Lafitte, who may have spent time there in his earlier years. Lafitte, a one-time resident of Louisiana and privateer, is believed by some to In 1966, Louisiana authorized a state park to be established at the present site of the Barataria Preserve. national hero. . Within two days of his offer, handbills were posted all over New Orleans offering a similar award for the arrest of the governor. Families with the surname Lafitte have been found in Louisiana documents from 1765. Could it be that there were multiple burial locations Its well known about the boat company started with silver found near Lake Salvador. William Bartlett explored a three-hundred-year-old shipwreck. [122] He is also referred to in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in which the boat dock is labeled LaFitte's Landing. Lafitte's men identified slave ships and captured them. Jean Lafitte is said to have cached over 100 treasures on Galveston Island. In 1818, the Campeche colony suffered hardships. Several of Lafitte's men were arrested and convicted of piracy. [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. 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. (He was actually more of a land based businessman than a privateer or pirate at sea.) 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 . Lafitte was later Catiche had given birth to a daughter named Marie on November 10, 1813. In 1812, several Baratarians including both Pierre and Jean Lafitte were captured but jumped bail. He was buried at sea in the Gulf of Honduras. At its height, the colonists and privateers earned millions of dollars annually from stolen or smuggled coin and goods. 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. [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. In April 1818, the United States passed a law prohibiting the import of slaves into any port in the United States. The corsairs aimed the artillery at the Karankawa, killing most of the men in the tribe. Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 - c. 1823) . The brothers adapted the captured ship for use in piracy and named it Dorada. These goods were at a high demand and otherwise illegal due to the Embargo Act of 1807. By 1810, their new port had become very successful; the Laffites had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy. And the ship berry bros found look for gold on land nearby. I also. Theres On April 18, he sailed for New Orleans to report his activities. While his fleet took a hit, Lafitte himself managed to evade capture. on Grand Terre. I a month there. [7] His elder brother Pierre became a privateer; he may have operated from Saint-Domingue, which frequently issued letters of marque. Was he a pirate, a patriot, or both? Merchants in New Orleans began to run out of goods to sell. He landed ships at Grand Terre and Cheniere, and then brought the merchandise to The Temple to be auctioned. Most who plied that area back then kept what they found close to the vest, and today that area is all open water, though many locals can still point out to you exactly where the Temple was. If you study your info you will be lost. 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. Sale of the slaves and additional cargo generated $18,000 in profits. was born in France around the year 1780 and traveled to the United States when 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]. So, where could With his business carrying on and continuing to grow, so did his wealth. Catiche became pregnant and gave birth to their son, Jean Pierre, on November 4, 1815. and an infant son[who?]. I was living in high island Texas .mostly driving the beach further east to sea rim. He had been credited with much, and accused of plenty, yet there is doubt even. 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. [116] Many researchers noticed a similarity between John Laflin's handwriting and the writing in the journal. goal to once again evade U.S. seizure and to come back to it later. [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. Found bones of mamouth and Indian tools. Smugglers would purchase the slaves for a discounted price, march them to Louisiana, and turn them in to customs officials. (Ramsay (1996), pp. 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.