Growing up on the west end of Galveston island I knew dozens of Lafitte treasure legends by the time I was 11 or 12 years old. The one that everyone talk about was the treasure buried at Lafitte's Grove, mainly because the state placed a marker at what was thought to be the grove in the 1930's. Many treasure hunters and researchers now believe the marker is in the wrong place but more on that later.
The legend:
Around 1820, Lafitte reportedly married Madeline Regaud, possibly the widow or daughter of a French colonist who had died during an ill-fated expedition to Galveston.
In 1821, the schooner USS Enterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte from the Gulf after one of the pirate's captains attacked an American merchant ship. Lafitte agreed to leave the island without a fight, and in 1821 or 1822 (March 3 1821??) departed on his flagship, the Pride, burning his fortress and settlements and reportedly taking immense amounts of treasure with him. All that remains of Maison Rouge is the foundation, located at 1417 Harborside Drive near the Galveston wharf.
The night before Lafitte sailed away several of his men heard him walking the floor and saying MY TREASURE MY TREASURE at the GROVE. The next morning after Lafitte set sail several men that stayed behind hightailed it down to the grove to dig up the treasure. From Maison Rouge to the grove is around 15 miles so Lafitte must have left some of his horses and wagons with Campbell and the others. Legend say they found and recovered the treasure but thats where it gets interesting.
Frank Dobie was probable the first to report this legend in writing. In his version the treasure was a chest containing Lafitte's dead wife.
Thats pretty much the accepted legend in treasure circles today. BUT as a kid I heard several others that I will add.
One tells that a chest of coins was found and split between the pirates who then went their different ways never to be heard from again.
But the one I like is Capt. Campbell and 2 others recovered the treasure and moved it to to Virgina Point where Campbell kill the others and keep the treasure for his own. History of Capt Campbell here:
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If and I have my doubts there was any treasure at the grove I betting Campbell got it.
The Grove
Inscription on road side marker: Fort and settlement established here in 1817 by the freebooter Jean Lafitte who maintained headquarters here while preying on shipping in the Gulf of Mexico. The Battle of the Three Trees was fought here between Lafitte's men and Karankawa Indians, February, 1821. Fort abandoned and burned in 1821 by Lafitte after his departure was ordered by the United States government.
Erected 1936 by State of Texas Highway
Nobody doubts that Lafitte had an outpost on the west end of the island in fact legend tell us that he had several on the island plus one or more on Bolivar peninsula. What is in doubt is that the marker is in the wrong place. Many now believe that the real grove is at the edge of the state park at 13 mile road not where the marker is in Mr. Willies front yard. The area at 13 mile road is a little higher ground plus its much closer to the gulf so it would be a much better look out post. This is one of the things we may never know for sure unless we can build a time machine guess I will talk with GD about building us one of them.
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« Last Edit: June 30, 2012, 11:57:52 am by seldom »
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