[4], Some sources speculate that Lafitte was born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (known as Haiti since it gained independence in 1804). 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 . Back in 1915, a city worker in New Orleans found a chest that was filled with over 1,500 . Jean Lafitte (c.1780 - c.1823) - Genealogy - geni family tree The Spanish ships appeared to be fleeing but at 10:00 pm turned back for a frontal counterattack against Lafitte's ship. . 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. Why the pirate Jean Lafitte was known as The Terror of the Gulf of There were also those who considered him a hero. because Lafittes treasure was thought to be underwater there. By 1806, several "Captain Lafitte"s operated in New Orleans; [] He fled New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain. [20] As the schooner did not have an official commission from a national government, its captain was considered a pirate operating illegally. In 1818, the Campeche colony suffered hardships. 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. By 1805, Laffite was operating a warehouse in New Orleans to help distribute the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte. 15 Places to Find Lost Treasure in Florida (Maps and More) A pirate gets his due - The Current Lafitte and several of his men rowed to meet them halfway. Within two days of Lafitte's notes, Pierre "escaped" from jail. The ones found their range from the late 1770;s to 1814 or so. She placed Pierre to be raised by extended family elsewhere in Louisiana. consisted of the currency he would receive in exchange for his foreign goods as Within two days of his offer, handbills were posted all over New Orleans offering a similar award for the arrest of the governor. The man also owned documents claiming Lafi tte lived until the 1850s and was buried in Alton, Illinois. The British raised a white flag and launched a small dinghy with several officers. unclear why Lafitte had to bury his treasure or even where he was last seen. that is. [92] By the end of 1822, Cuba had banned all forms of sea raiding. [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. Although not part of the original proposal from Percy, Lockyer added an extra $30,000 if Lafitte would not only assist in the battle against New Orleans but also against Mobile. He was chased all over the Gulf of Mexico by the U.S. Navy, all his ships burned except for his flagship, The Pride. [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. He was said to use it as a base for arranging the transfer of smuggled goods. Most historians doubt the authenticity of these claims but have not been able to disprove them. Was he a pirate, a patriot, or both? 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]. What was the name of Lafitte's pirate ship? Lafitte, a one-time resident of Louisiana and privateer, is believed by some to Lafitte essentially developed Galveston Island as another smuggling base. In the 1950s, a man claiming to be a descendant of Lafitte published The Journal of Jean Laffite. The journal was republished in the 1990s as The Memoirs of Jean Laffite. A major theme in the memoir/journal is Lafittes change of heart from slave trader to anti-slavery activist. [93], In June 1822, Lafitte approached the officials in the Great Colombia, whose government under General Simn Bolvar had begun commissioning former privateers as officers in its new navy. 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. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte Lafitte's Treasure Links Within weeks, Dorada captured a schooner loaded with goods valued at more than $9,000. 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. Guides educate the public on wildlife, Cajun culture, and life on the bayou. The brothers adapted the captured ship for use in piracy and named it Dorada. [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. [11] This was the last year that Napoleon failed to regain control of Saint-Domingue. 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. [91] When Lafitte and other pirates operating in the area began attacking merchant ships carrying legal goods to Cuba, they angered Cuban officials. 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. It also mentions reports of larger sums of the treasure being buried in the appropriately-named small town of Lafitte, Louisiana. Pierre was to inform about the situation in New Orleans. [60], On December 23, advance units of the British fleet reached the Mississippi River. 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. [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. that will never end. years later! I also. . JEAN LAFITTE (1778 DEC 27 - 1823 . 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. Jean Lafitte was a Privateer Captain in the early 19th century. One of the pirate's captains had attacked an American merchant ship. [101] Lafitte is rumored to have buried treasure at many locations, including Galveston and sites along coastal Louisiana, such as Contraband Bayou in Lake Charles. Retired Avenger, current NFL free agent. He achieved notoriety through his daring exploits, but also for having "the coolest name ever.". "[55], When General Andrew Jackson arrived in New Orleans on December 1, 1814, he discovered the city had not created any defenses. The Indians in the Mandeville area helped him escape to the Pearl River. Jean Lafitte (ca. He is best known for his role in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Jean Lafitte Jean was sent to Galveston Island, a part of Spanish Texas that served as the home base of Louis-Michel Aury, a French privateer who claimed to be a Mexican revolutionary. . Long-lost pirate ship may lie in Texas lake / Historical - SFGATE He could have stashed some treasure somewhere along the Eastern shore. There were a number of gum trees growing in the shape of a ship and it was thought this could be the site of one of Lafitte's ships. Lafittes Shipwreck | TreasureNet The Original Treasure Hunting Website Found bones of mamouth and Indian tools. the treasure be today? Lost Gold Of Jean Lafitte is the 4th episode in Season 5 of Expedition Unknown. The Laffites subsequently became spies for the Spanish during the Mexican War of Independence. Some historians recount that Lafitte went back to a life of crime, leaving the Lafitte also always insisted that he was a privateer, not a pirate. but what is clear is that he settled in the New Orleans area with his mother At this time an English captain offered Lafitte $30,000 and a commission to help the British attack New Orleans. Lafitte visited in March 1817. 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. When you cross Bayou Des Allemands on Hwy 90, looking down the bayou to the south its a short ride to where the primary temple location was. Having lived Thankful for their help with the American victory, in February 1815 President James Madison offered pardons to the Baratarians for any crimes committed against the United States. Widely publicized, the raid was hailed by the Niles' Weekly Register as "a major conquest for the United States". 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. Historical Marker. Numerous novels and stories refer to Lafitte's exploits. [25] Dorada captured a fourth ship, a schooner they renamed Petit Milan. . [81]. [90] In late April 1822, Lafitte was captured again after taking his first American ship. [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. [10], Sources indicate that Lafitte was sharp and resourceful, but also handsome and friendly, enjoying drinking, gambling, and women. Wounded in the battle, Lafitte is believed to have died just after dawn on February 5. The Laffite Society, which promotes historical research and education about Lafitte's life and times, meets the second Tuesday of each month. Lafitte was horribly excited by the result of this trial. (He was actually more of a land based businessman than a privateer or pirate at sea.) They took 80 people captive, but Lafitte escaped safely. In the 1938 and 1958 films The Buccaneer, Lafitte claims he never attacked an American ship. Details: $10; galvestonhistory.org. Lafitte became very familiar with, and eventually mastered, an illegal smuggling profession, which translated into an extremely lucrative career for him. His game was spread far and wide and there were those who feared and hated him. [34] Biographer Jack Ramsay speculates that the voyage was intended to "establish [Lafitte] as a privateering captain". "[64] Jackson named Jean and Pierre Lafitte for having "exhibited the same courage and fidelity". In exchange, the king asked for Lafitte and his forces to promise to assist in the naval fight against the United States and to return any recent property that had been captured from Spanish ships. My grandfathers mother lived next to his mother and we were told of the storys on where some was at. Rosenberg Library, Galveston (Public Domain) Jean Lafitte (galement orthographi Laffite, c. 1780 - c. 1820) tait un meneur franco-amricain de pirates et de corsaires qui captura des navires marchands de diffrents tats dans le golfe du Mexique de 1810 1820.
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