While challenging, the trip also exposes an otherworldly beauty and abundant wildlife, such as alligators sunning on rocks, great blue herons roosting on stumps and white egrets winging across the water. Jean Laffite Since the U.S. claimed much of Laffites fortune as its own once he left Galveston, Laffite is believed to have buried an enormous treasure on one of the sandy islands near the Texas coast. His treasure His body was buried at sea in the Gulf of Honduras. This warrants some underwater metal detectors to be taken Louisiana State University alumnus (Geaux Tigers), fanatic of all things sports, pugs, and Star Wars, and teller of the occasional dad joke. We need your support because we are a non-profit organization that relies upon contributions from our community in order to record and preserve the history of our state. I think yall lying about the finding treasure, Plum bayou look for trees cut down and fake grave at the end. They used 10-foot poles to outline the vessel, which measured roughly 75 feet by 35 feet, news reports stated. and brother in the early 1800s. It happens every now and then," Hamilton said. Read More about The wreck of La Belle, Did the infamous privateer Jean Laffite steal a $2 million fortune in silver from a Spanish galleon and bury it in the Sabine River near the East Texas town Sabine? Cush Reeves. Accompanying Bowie to Texas in 1830 were 109 enslaved workers, identified on the land grant as dependents. What they would love to find, if not the silver, are clues to the treasure at least being there. According to legend, Bass used Longhorn Caverns in Burnet County as a hideout after some of his robberies although treasure seekers have yet to find any loot in the caverns. On the edge of this little-known Chambers County lake off the Trinity about 35 miles east of Houston, Jack wants to show where a ship sank in the 1800s. Was it buried underground or lost under water? More information can be found in Guide to Treasure in Texas A minimum of five treasure ships are said to have sunk at or near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! The Handbook of Texas devotes two pages to Lafitte's establishment of a base in Galveston around 1816. The family thinks this could be a clue as to where the actual treasure is. A lookout for alligators and venomous snakes is The fortune is said to have been stolen from the Spanish by Jean Lafitte. treasure Search for buried booty in Texas treasure hunt - KSAT They did their research and, with dredging equipment and electronics gear, made multiple trips to Hendricks Lake but had no success. The mud is deep on the bottom, and just as Barnie Waldrop said he outlasted all the others and had seen fifty of em beaten by the lakes bog bottom. Locating a ship that belonged to Lafitte or one of his officers would be a "significant find" because of the role he played on the Texas coast, said Hoyt. But now Hoyt, the state marine archaeologist, wants to officially examine the site. The ones found their range from the late 1770;s to 1814 or so. He built a new kind of sewing machine, and in 1851 he started I.M. Key to remember is that Lafitte was a business man, who turned merchandise that he acquired into money. They say this inspired them to reach out to other treasure hunters and hear their stories. It may not display this or other websites correctly. https://www.tshaonline.org, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hendricks-lake. Bass is also tied to legends of treasure buried treasure in Burnet and Llano counties as well as Packsaddle Mountain, Lone Star Treasure reports. Oil workers actually picked up readings that metal was to be found at the bottom of the lake. "He had talked to a man who had located the spot with a metal detector and walked on its deck. Gary Pinkerton, True Believers: Treasure Hunters at Hendricks Lake, East Texas Historical Journal 47 (2009). I've heard for years, about a spot along Dickinson Bayou where Lafitte supposedly hid Treasure (very very near a certain Cemetary), Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. As early as next summer, Hoyt plans a preliminary investigation. This catch rendered a lot of attention and by 1884, the Sabine River was riddled with silver hunters. It featured Pirate Treasures. . In late 1815, Lafitte agreed to act as spy for Spain, which was embroiled in the Mexican War of Independence. Charles F. Grice, Interview by Gary Pinkerton, February 2019. Keep in mind that the Lake was not there it there would be a river in its place. The state of Handbook of Texas Online, Leave them blank to get signed up. But the treasure is in my best belief to be in Galveston. Some of the loot has been recovered, but the rest of these hidden treasures in Texas have mysteriously disappeared. Hidden gems in Texas are one of our state's greatest joys. May the hunters strike gold. Lots of glass also. Few besides him, who took part in the Battle of San Jacinto, are alive today. It reads that a cache of ancient gold coins was found near Jefferson island. the state archaeologist. He landed ships at Grand Terre and Cheniere, and then brought the merchandise to The Temple to be auctioned. Learn Cajun traditions from people who live them. Retired Avenger, current NFL free agent. consisted of the currency he would receive in exchange for his foreign goods as He told me there is an old, very old oak tree. Check them out: Love Texas? The business was so profitable because Lafitte was selling smuggled, foreign goods to the people of New Orleans. Watch an alligator bask on a bayous bank. The brothers meet with a Christian Roper who is actively hunting for the lost treasure of the pirate, Jean Lafitte. One group proposed to use a new divining rod activated with isotopes. In 1816 Jean Lafitte, who was reputed to be an agent of the Spanish government (Agent 13, to be exact), raided a Spanish vessel called the Santa Rosa. Roach once lived on Lake Miller -- which earlier was called Lake De La Roche after him -- and had boats there that he used for pillaging. Okay, that was a really bad joke. that will never end. Many of them are wandering through the beaches and backlands with nothing more than metal detectors. In 1909 members of the United States Geological Survey visited the site, which they described as being unproductive. Probably inside the hidden stairs that went to the first floor of his mason rouge. Before we dive Alternate versions of that story have been documented since the 1880s, with variations including that the silver was from Santa Anna and the battle of San Jacinto and that the treasure was in a different location nearby. national hero. 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. And he says, Treasure has a way of keeping its secrets. An historian named Herbert Bolton, using the original journals of the Mexicans from the eighteenth century, found what is now known as the Boyd shaft on Honey Creek. Between 1821 and 1828, Mexico issued many laws restricting or outlawing slavery. This caused the A family in Baytown, Texas tell their story as they believe they found one of Lafittes sunken ships. The family thinks this could be a clue as to where the actual treasure is. There is even an event in La Porte, Texas centered around the treasure called the Annual Search for Lafittes Gold. Taylor Prewitt is the newsletter editor for Texas Monthly. One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. Rumor has it the outlaw hid gold in canvas sacks on Packsaddle Mountain and that some of it could still be there. He shows Rick and Marty the 1957 Texas is estimated to have $340 million in buried treasure, more than any other state in the U.S., according to TexasHillCountry.com. Access to the lake that for 150 years had been accessible for picnics and fishing was closed off to all but a few private landowners at the time. Other stories of Pirate Treasures are discussed. Theres Omoa was the site of the largest Spanish fort in Central America, a fort constructed to safeguard the Spanish silver shipments from the mines of Tegucigalpa in Honduras. but what is clear is that he settled in the New Orleans area with his mother treasures If you prefer to read about the explorations of others instead, we have you covered. Buried Treasures of Texas: Legends of Outlaw Loot, Pirate Hoards, Buried Mines, Ingots in Lakes, and Santa Anna's Pack-Train Gold, W. C. Jameson. F 386 .6 .J27 1991. The Treasures of Galveston Bay: Facts and Legends of Hidden, Lost and Buried Treasure Located in the Galveston Bay Area, Carroll Lewis. More information can be found in Guide to Treasure in Texas He has no need for modern conveniences, living in a primitive cabin on the Trinity that is accessible only by boat and has no telephone. They will haunt you in your dreams for making a A nearby lake fed by the Sabine River also caught their attention, since the silver might have been transported there by the current. The treasure was hidden in the Rocky Mountains and clues to its location were included in a 2010 poem penned by Fenn called The Thrill of the Chase.. When the Embargo Act of 1807 Chambliss Jr. of Beaumont, F.F. Long-lost pirate ship may lie in Texas lake / Historical You are using an out of date browser. 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Singer Treasure on Padre Island In the mid-nineteenth century, a man named Isaac Merritt Singer made significant improvements to the sewing machine. WebLaffite's Treasure Jean Laffite, the French pirate with an aristocratic air, and his confederates took millions in loot from ships in the Gulf of Mexico back in the early In 1821, the US government drove Lafitte from the island. Before I started to work on the story running in the July 2009 issue (Sleeping Booty) about California musician Nathan Smiths quixotic attempt to find a lost Spanish treasure ship near the town of Refugio, north of Corpus Christi, I assumed that there was no buried treasure at all in Texas. I'm a descendant of his first mate and so while as a general rule I love history/archeology/treasure hunting, naturally this is the treasure that interests me the most. Long-lost pirate ship may lie in Texas lake / Historical treasure could be wreck of Jean Lafitte, Dubs fans picking apart video of possible Poole-Draymond incident, Bay Area mom influencer found guilty of lying about kidnapping, Destructive landslide closes historic California institution, Bay Area preschool teacher suspected of dumping body along road, More rain, 'unseasonably chilly' temperatures coming to Bay Area, Horoscope for Monday, 5/01/23 by Christopher Renstrom, 49ers out in full force at Warriors-Kings Game 7, Shock, fear as 2 killings in 3 days rock quiet Davis, Sold-out Berkeley crowd gets rowdy at country star's concert, 'Horrible': Oakland rapper dumps on Chase Center Warriors fans, Steph Curry killed off the Kings with a smile, Klay Thompson calls Warriors-Lakers series 'a dream come true'. because Lafittes treasure was thought to be underwater there. Jean Although the state owns the land and materials below the lake, it will coordinate its efforts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which controls the surrounding property that is part of the Wallisville Reservoir project, he said. . I am interesting in pirates treasures in Connecticut. Jean Lafitte Treasure Found - TreasureNet The Original It also has references to other lost treasure spots in Texas. By 1810, their successful smuggling operation had been supplemented with piracy. help him in his search. The Cherokees started getting their butts kicked. In 1969 an MIT graduate with a degree in electrical engineering and a patent for an underwater device for locating metals motored along the surface of Hendricks Lake in an eight-foot fiberglass boat towing his electronics. "The sunken boat lies somewhere in this vicinity, directly across from where there used to be an old Spanish fort and mission," Jack says, pointing to the northern shore. What is the latest news? They know its there. I think I found Lafitte's treasure No matter where you are in the state, youre bound to be able to search for some tempting hidden loot. The basic story is that in 1816 silver stolen by pirate Jean Lafitte from the Spanish brig Santa Rosa was being moved north from Matagorda Bay to St. Louis, Missouri, for disposal. My Grandpa told me often when I was very young that everyone thought that Lafittes fort was on Grand Isle, but it never was. Beyond Oak Island Summary of Episode 1: Pirate Smith believes he found a sunken ship on Google Earth in 2006 in Refugio, just north of Corpus Christi. TeXas marks the spot! Jean Lafitte was sent to the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Island where he took command of the island - with an iron fist. It seems like a plausible place for a notorious bandit to hide his loot, so we are inclined to believe it! The Lagina Brothers, famous for their search for the lost treasure on Oak Island and featured in the show The Curse of Oak Island, now hosts a new show called, California musician Nathan Smith might have actually found one of Texas hidden treasure troves. The show starts with the Lagina brothers, Rick and Marty, sharing how their search on Oak Island opened them up to a world full of mysteries and lost treasures to explore. During 1957 and 1958 the most significant attempts to locate the treasure took place at the lake. The man who told this did not or would not tell me the names of the two men. He sent soldiers to look for it, but they found nothing. Other sites considered to contain Lafitte treasure are islands south of New Orleans and Galveston Island in Texas. Well, according to a story by Mary Rogers of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, there is evidence that in the early 1800s the theft did happen and that Jean Lafittes men, afraid that they were about to be ambushed, pushed several wagons loaded with silver ingots into the muddy waters. I grant you that in this case the O.P. I was born and raised in East Texas. No treasure chests, hooks or parrot skeletons have been reported as of yet. . ingots were in transport, but the Spanish had set a trap. During the Mexican War of Independence, the Laffites served as spies for the Spanish, after moving to Galveston Island, Texas. The enduring story of Hendricks Lake is a treasure legend that has been around for more than 150 years. hidden treasures have been told time and time again in childrens books, video I have a file 2 in thick on Hendricks lake treasure. The silver has yet to be discovered, according to Lone Star Treasure, which says the story is based on a Spanish document from the conquistador era. In the 1950s, the Sabine River and the nearby lake (Hendricks Lake) experienced a new onslaught of treasure seekers when the story of Laffites silver was published by the True West magazine. though. To this day, Markers are dropped, and divers are sent down. Read More about Jean Laffites treasure in the Sabine River, USS Hatteras (formerly St. Mary) was a 1,126-ton steamer purchased by the Union Navy during the early part of the American Civil War. . accepts, and the show continues at Hendricks Lake in East Texas. Also join us in the Facebook Group: Beyond Oak Island Treasures for more discussions. What about you? Besides the mysteries surrounding the locations of Lafittes buried booty, comes the mystery of the man himself. You must log in or register to reply here. A man claiming to be Lafitte's grandson, John A. Lafitte of St. Joseph, Mo.. claimed an interest in the ship but would years later be proved a fake, Epperson said. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Mysterious Writings: Featured Contributor Segment and Update, Forgotten History Hunts: Featured Contributor Segment, Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure. into these uncharted waters, we need to know more about who Lafitte was. 6. "I think he came up through this cut to find cypress trees to repair his boats and sometimes would stash ships here to hide them, taking them into the shallowest waters that he could get," he says. "There was not a lot of money during the Depression to do exploring," recalls Chambliss' wife, Tabitha, 84, who still lives in Anahuac. Texas Monthly Is Nominated for Two 2023 Media Awards by the James Beard Foundation. Nice little interesting overview but the bit many accounts say lafitte settled in Galveston casts unnecessary doubt, The settlement in Galveston (Campeche) is firmly established in the history, theres even a museum there about it. One time she wrote about sports. "I had someone come talk to me about it just a few months ago. That was more of his commerce center, again where he exchanged merchandise for coin. (All you English teachers out there, stop making fun of me for using the what is now known as phrase two sentences in a row.) hunt presented by Christian, Rick and Marty offer to send Matty Blake down to Christian is not discouraged. There is even an event in La Porte, Texas centered around the treasure called the Annual Search for Lafittes Gold.. Legend has it that El Pasos Guadalupe Mission was built in such a way that sends the noon sunlight shining straight on the mine.. He fled New Orleans to Lake Pontchartrain. They know it. Jean Epperson, a Chambers County history buff, believes the ship might more likely belong to one of Lafitte's officers, Lt. Andrew Roach. As they retreated, they headed into what is now known as Upshur County. games, shows, and moviesbut what if they werent made up just for the sake of Louisiana is not exclusive to rumors of the treasures whereabouts too, as History suggests there is a possibility that hidden treasuresgold coins, doubloons, precious jewelryare somewhere beneath the surface just waiting to be found! But why? And where? Louisianas most well-known buried treasure mystery still to this day is the unfound treasure of Jean Lafitte. This is just the beginning! Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. WebIn his long obituary of March 6, the Galveston "News" noted that: "In the death of Charles Cronea, the last of Lafitte's band, so far as is known, has passed away. They just might inspire you to become a treasure hunter and find some real adventure out there! When one of the recent landowners near the lake sold their property to the mining company, they inserted a treasure clause that reserves the rights to one-half of any treasure trove found on the Property by Purchaser. There will always be true believers in the treasure legend of Hendricks Lake. Numerous springs within and around the lake keep it filled. It really exists, and due to our rich history with Spanish and Mexican invasions, it makes sense that there would be a lot hidden here. About 229 treasure sites are spread across the Lone Star State, and some are even accessible to the public with permission from the landowners. WebJean Lafitte is thought to have sunk a treasure ship containing $500,000 to $1,000,000 off south Padre Island. Buried Treasures in North America Jean Laffite's Loot Do you have All in all, several wagons loaded with silver ingots went into the river. It is still My step father also grew up in East Texas, but in the country on a farm. this mystery still has historians, researchers, and treasure hunters alike Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Eventually, the Mexicans unloaded the moneygold and silver coinsso they could make an escape. The stolen bounty was part of the Mexican payroll in 1836 and its allegedly buried 5 feet deep near the oak tree. If anyone has heared or knows any more info please let me know. down. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. You are using an out of date browser. Legend has it that Basss part of the money is in Cove Hollow, about thirty miles from Denton. In Texas, the Laffites founded a pirate colony named Campeche. They got away with three thousand freshly-minted 1877 $20 gold pieces. At this time, Galveston island was largely uninhabited, except by Native American Karankawa indians. My grandfather never got to look for the treasure s. Ive heard he would sometimes slip into Mobile Bay. Every dollar helps. Some Not one of them found any of the reported treasure, but that never prevented the next person from trying. Nobody knows for sure if all of these legends are true, but theyre interesting to read about nonetheless. Have you ever heard of any of these stories about mysterious lost treasure in Texas? Great story! are why the mystery is still such an interesting topic todaymore than 200 The tree is privately owned, but sits right on the highway (FM 2100) just a few miles north of FM 1960. Here are six of the supposedly greatest Texas treasures still out there. John Spong writes primarily about popular culture. Jean Laffite's treasure in the Sabine River - Lone star Hendricks Lake is an oxbow lake one and one-half miles south of the Sabine River and about four miles northeast of Tatum in Rusk County, Texas (32.371864N, 94.493190W). In 1935, his son, Edward Haven Sherman, joined with Herbert Interests of Houston in a plan to excavate the wreck, which they believed was loaded with gold, but for unknown reasons it was never accomplished, The Progress newspaper reported. It was also the location that US Forces attacked, causing his band to make a hasty retreat. My favorite part of the legend is that the Guadalupe Mission in El Paso was built in way so that the shadows of the mission point to the Lost Padre Mine. A light came on when the probe hit metal. X Marks the Spot Texas Monthly If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, A family in Baytown, Texas tell their story. Jean Lafitte: Mystery of the Unfound Treasure - Pelican State of Jack -- whose official, but seldom-used, name is Lawrence Looney -- is a Trinity River guide for the Chambers-Liberty Navigation District. He had to take a pirogoe which is a wood boat that would have sank if all the treasure would have been on board. 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?. He was a French pirate and privateer. He was moving logs across the lake when they snagged on the submerged wreckage, which was then in only about 2 feet of silt, historical accounts state. Hispanic conquistadors reportedly hid a massive cache of gold and jewels in a mine shaft in the Franklin Mountains near El Pasos Guadalupe Mission, OnlyInYourState.com reported. This article provides images of newspapers from 1921, and one column in particular that talks about Lafittes treasure. James Bowie went on an expedition to find it. Read More about USS Hatteras, This is a funny little slot filled with intricate features and attention-grabbing symbols. 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. locations along the Gulf Coast. More than once the crane almost toppled into the water. The Santa Rosa was a Spanish ship located off the coast of Texas. Lafitte lived on Galveston island in the state of Texas, USA - from 1817 to 1821. Meanwhile, his younger brother John was exploring the coast of Texas. He linked up with B.H. Singer & Co., which was renamed the Singer Manufacturing Company in 1865. One such story, according to multiple sources, says Bass stashed loot in an old hollow tree around 2 miles west of Round Rock. unclear why Lafitte had to bury his treasure or even where he was last seen. The four-mile trek into the backwaters off the Trinity River becomes strenuous as he pushes his boat over cypress stumps and cuts through debris. Beyond Oak Island Summary of Episode 1: Pirate Treasures and the Search in Hendricks Lake for Jean Lafittes Lost Treasure. Some accounts say : they "found it". Many from the area have taken artifacts from there, including coin. The Treasure of Jean Lafitte. Theres quite a bit of back story on this one which can be read on Texas Monthly. He married Cecilia Taylor, daughter of frontiersman Anson Taylor, who lost three sons at the Alamo. I once made a scientific study of all the known shipwrecks, from ancient to modern, that occurred off the Texas coast. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Indians in the Mandeville area helped him escape to the Pearl River. At the moment he is headed for Lake Miller, a pristine pool unreachable by road, although the rumble of traffic can be heard from Interstate 10 a few miles to the north. He told me the government tried digging but was denied by the owner. Unsolved Mysteries in Texas If you study your info you will be lost. Read More about Texas Tea Slot, about Jean Laffites treasure in the Sabine River. No matter the evidence, they knew there were more ships filled with riches.. The story goes that wagon loads of silver His brother, wanting to make something of himself as well, went exploring the coast of Texas to find buried treasure. 2. It was a cloudy evening with low visibility, and Laffite attempted to capture what appeared to be two Spanish merchant vessels. Some historians recount that Lafitte went back to a life of crime, leaving the Moving on to piracy by around 1810, Lafitte was based at the secluded Barataria Bay inlet. The smuggling operations of the well-known privateer eventually came to a screeching halt, though, when the United States began enforcing the embargo in New Orleans city limits some time after the act passed. Some of them do have people who can corroborate the stories. Hispanic conquistadors reportedly hid a massive cache of gold and jewels in a mine shaft In Texas they still search for a great deposit of silver and gold that Lafitte is reputed to have abandoned there. that the treasure is in a different location now than where it was buried? Then I did a litlle research and found this. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. Maybe they can help them in their search from the insights learned from their own pursuit of the Money Pit. In 1884 treasure hunters were all over the Sabine and a nearby lake that had been fed by the Sabine. Mary Roger also tells us about how some fishermen much later got an unusual catch in their hoop net when fishing in the Sabine River; entangled in their net were several silver bars. I saved the newspaper to my hard drive and will try to break it down. Jean Laffite | Galveston & Texas History Center People claim that a $2 million fortune stolen from the Spanish by Jean Lafitte was buried in the Sabine River. Paul Uncle Fox Tatum, son of the founder of Tatum, Texas, carried out the first documented attempt to recover the treasure in 1884. Even though some, including Waldrop and Stotlar, had looked into draining the lake, there were no other attempts at that folly. Even the location and date of his birth varies on the document or biography at hand.