#pierre lafitte

[todaysdocument]

Statement of Pierre Laffite, 9/23/1810. 

Laffite, a pirate and smuggler, was appointed a deputy marshal by the sheriff of Ascension Parish, LA, so he could seize a number of illegally imported enslaved Africans. 

Laffite would receive half the proceeds when the slaves were sold at auction.

File Unit: 574: United States v. Pierre Lafitte, 1813 - 1814

Series: Case Files, 1806 - 1932

Record Group 21: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685 - 2009

Transcription:

[page 1]

Parish of ascension 23d Sept 1810

Mr Peter Lafite deputy marshal being duly Sworn deposes and Says that having been Summoned by the Sheriff of the 2d District to assist him in the [unclear, damaged: Re?sche] of A. Bayonne and L'Bourdier & four Slaves taken away with force from the Jail, that in the [unclear: Rechaerches?] made upon and about the plantation directed by the Said Lewis Bourdier he discovered a negro boy who was concealed in an out house ; this deponent verily believes the Said slave was purchased by the Said Lewis Bourdier, he Knowing him to be illegally imported, and the Said slave having been Known By M Peter N. Paillet Capt. of the spanish brig el Bolador to be a part of the Cargo of Said Brig I have Seized him according to my orders.

[at left] No 6

[red handwriting unclear: J H Hollund?]

Pierre Laffite - D M

Parish of Ascension. Territory of Orleans. Sept. 20. 1810

Personally came before me the above signed [unclear: Peeire] Laffite D. M. who upon the holy evangelist of Almighty God, made Oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing depositions are [unclear: substantially] true according to the best of his Knowledge & belief

[name unclear: Edwd. D. Turner]

Judge of P Ascension

[page 2]

Mr Peter Laffite being duly Sworn deposes and Says that Knowing Mr. Lewis Bourdier had in his possession certain Slaves which made a part of the cargo of el Bolador in which they were imported from africa by M Brouard, this deponent transported himself on the plantation of said Lewis Bourdier assisted by Mr. Peter N Paillet Capt of the said brig el Bolador and his [unclear, damaged: researches] on and about the Said plantation he discovered four negros who were concealed in a garret on the out house and this deponent verily believes the Said slaves were Concealed by the Said Lewis Bourdier he Knowing them to be illegally imported, and Mr Paillet having deposed before the Said deponent that he Knew the Said four Slaves to make apart of the Cargo of el Bolador [unclear: The] Said deponent Seized them according to his orders.

[at left] No 7.

[name in red unclear: J H Hollund]

[at right] Pierre Laffite - D M.

[check mark at far left] Parish of Ascension Territory of Orleans September 20 1810 Personally came before me the above signed Pierre Laffite D. M. who upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God made Oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing deposition are Substantially true according to the best of his Knowledge and belief.

[at right] Edwd. D Turner

Judge of the P Ascension

[leninsbody]

Jean Lafitte The Texas Pirate

Jean Lafitte The Texas Pirate

Pirate Jean Lafitte at one time had more ships than the U.S. Navy. Jean and his brother Pierre captured Spanish vessels and maneuvered them into Barataria Bay.

By 1811, the pirate brothers had 32 armed warships, more than the U.S. Navy. Jean Lafitte bought a blacksmith shop to front for his pirate business.

Jean Lafitte – Texas Pirate

New Orleans businessmen arrived at his blacksmith shop at…

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[socialstudiesmidway-blog]

Jean Lafitte The Texas Pirate

Jean Lafitte The Texas Pirate

Pirate Jean Lafitte at one time had more ships than the U.S. Navy. Jean and his brother Pierre captured Spanish vessels and maneuvered them into Barataria Bay. By 1811, the pirate brothers had 32 armed warships, more than the U.S. Navy. Jean Lafitte bought a blacksmith shop to front for his pirate business. Jean Lafitte – Texas Pirate New Orleans businessmen arrived at his blacksmith shop at…

View On WordPress

[sandra1219]

Pirates Alley Cafe by Glenn Mills Via Flickr: This was the original site of the Spanish Colonial Prison the Calaboza est in 1769. This is the root of the word calaboose used for jail. Many pirates were imprisoned here including the brothers Jean and Pierre Lafitte. Both escaped from the prison. When they aided General Andrew Jackson in the battle of New Orleans that defeated the invading British army, the alley and Jackson Square were the sites of huge parties and parades honoring the pirates. The prison was torn down in 1837 and the current house was built. The Lafittes were really privateers and not technically pirates as they had a letter of Marque from Simon Bolivar the leader of Columbia who was fighting for independence from Spain. They also become the leading smugglers and ran the local black market. These alleys were packed with smugglers selling their wares.