- Jan 6, 2006
- 20,846
- 2,532
- 🏆 Honorable Mentions:
- 1
- Detector(s) used
- Garrett AT Pro, Ace 250 & Ace 400
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Isle de Jean Charles Unique Settlement
This island was no different from other ridges in south Louisiana. Until 1953 this "island" was completely cut off except for travel by boat or pirogue. In that year a road was built to connect it to the mainland. The Island was settled well over a hundred years age according to a Mr. Joseph Naquin. He said three men came her to settle. A Mr. Walker Lorvin, Jean Charles, (from where they got the name) and by Jean Marie Naquin and his wife Pauline. "Mr Walker Lorvin was a big man," he said, "with a milk white skin and red hair. He had a long red beard too. He spoke English and not a word of French. He was definitely no Cajun. Walker died here but left his mark on the Island." I then question Mr. Charles Naquin, another descendent, and his sister who gave me part of their family tree. Their father was Adolph, their grandfather was Marcelin and their great-grandfather was Jean Marie, the same who was married to Pauline and who first settled on the Island. They figured they came to this island around 1840. The first telephone was owned by Clement Naquin. He had 500 young trees cut down at $1.00 each and had them set so many feet apart across the prairie to le Terrebonnne along Pointe-a- Barre'. Clement had a general merchandise store on the bayou side, the only store on the island. He bought and sold spanish moss as a side line. Mrs. Joseph Naquin said she used to live in a "maison de terre" here on the island. She said there were several and they all looked alike. They were warm in winter and cool in summer. The walls were about four to six inches thick and very strong. "We were completely cut off from the outside" said Mr. Naquin. "I can remember going by pirogue to your grandfather's store on le Terrebonne. That's when I was a small boy. Then I remember going to your daddy's store when he built it in Montegut. The trip took most of the day. We had to go through small bayous in the "plairie"(prairie) It took a lot of paddling. But it was a trip we all enjoyed. Sometimes the whole family would go along." Whenever the family did come to the village or whenever there was an extra large order of supplies, these people from the island came in a larger dugout called a "Piniche". It was carved from a much larger cypress tree than the regular pirogue. It was 16 to 18 feet in length, about 30" wide and 14 to 16" deep. As many as six people could ride in the Piniche. There are stories about one of Jean Lafitte's men having settled on the island. Some say he was trying to get away from the law. Others say he was old and just wanted to be left alone. Perhaps this is how the legends of Lafitte's treasure got started. Nevertheless these stories have been handed down throughout the generations.
Here are some stories of the buried treasure:
One treasure that was supposed to have been found, was an iron kettle full of coins and gold. This was approximately two miles past the tree Indian mounds on Pointe-aux-Chenes. At another tiem, on the Lafourche side, a man was plowing his field when he hit something hard. It turned out to be another iron pot full of gold coins. There are other places too. At the far end of Isle a Jean Charles and across bayou Pointe-aux-Chenes near several dead oaks, but these was never been found. According to one man who dug for these treasures, "When one is digging for treasure, no one must touch his spade or dig in his place or the treasure will sink". I asked him what makes the treasure sink and he said "Well Jean Lafitte killed a man and buried him over the treasure. He was supposed to guard the treasure and his spirit still does, I guess." I asked him if he would try digging again and he said no but added " You are suppose to to make a ring of salt around the spot where you are to dig. This will help ward off the evil spirits." he said. This story was given to this man by his father. On lower Terrebonne below Madison Canal is a stream called Bayou Lacache. There is a legend of treasure having been buried there. In fact this is how it got the name Lacache, which means something hidden or to hide. The story is Lafitte came up the bayou and hid a treasure along this small stream which empties into Bayou Terrebonne. In 1851 a newspaper gave the following account, "it is rumored that $20,000.00 in Spanish doubloons has been found on Caillou Island. Later that same newspaper put the amount at $2,000.00...If this is true-who buried the treasure here? One name immediately comes to mind. Jean Lafitte. Let us remember this, on Sept.11,1814 when Commodore Patterson, under direct orders from Gov. Claiborne, attacked and destroyed the stronghold of Lafitte at Barataria, the ships could be seen from a great distance. The pirates were prepared to defend with their very lives, their position on the bayou. When they saw they were American ships, they refused to fire on the American flag. Instead they scattered in every direction in small boats in streams to shallow for pursuit. It's fact too that many made temporary camp on Isle Dernieres because it was from here they came when Lafitte volunteered his help to defend the city of New Orleans. Last Island is very close to Caillou Island and so are the mouths of several bayous. Surely when they left their camp on Barataria they did not leave empty handed although they did leave in haste. They left in small boats and gold and jewels are easy to carry. As was their custom much of their gold was buried for safekeeping. Remember too that Lafitte's ships must have sailed these waters a hundred times before and could have come ashore for any number of reasons. This find at Caillou Island started a search that was to last even to today. Some say it may have been Spanish treasure because it must be remembered that the Gulf Coast was Spanish territory and the Spanish were known to bury their treasure. These buccaneers sailed these waters before Lafitte. With devining rods to modern electronic detectors men have searched for this buried treasure. Using old maps found in an attic trunk or armed with a story told by a very old man, people searched for the "Treasure of Jean Lafitte."
This island was no different from other ridges in south Louisiana. Until 1953 this "island" was completely cut off except for travel by boat or pirogue. In that year a road was built to connect it to the mainland. The Island was settled well over a hundred years age according to a Mr. Joseph Naquin. He said three men came her to settle. A Mr. Walker Lorvin, Jean Charles, (from where they got the name) and by Jean Marie Naquin and his wife Pauline. "Mr Walker Lorvin was a big man," he said, "with a milk white skin and red hair. He had a long red beard too. He spoke English and not a word of French. He was definitely no Cajun. Walker died here but left his mark on the Island." I then question Mr. Charles Naquin, another descendent, and his sister who gave me part of their family tree. Their father was Adolph, their grandfather was Marcelin and their great-grandfather was Jean Marie, the same who was married to Pauline and who first settled on the Island. They figured they came to this island around 1840. The first telephone was owned by Clement Naquin. He had 500 young trees cut down at $1.00 each and had them set so many feet apart across the prairie to le Terrebonnne along Pointe-a- Barre'. Clement had a general merchandise store on the bayou side, the only store on the island. He bought and sold spanish moss as a side line. Mrs. Joseph Naquin said she used to live in a "maison de terre" here on the island. She said there were several and they all looked alike. They were warm in winter and cool in summer. The walls were about four to six inches thick and very strong. "We were completely cut off from the outside" said Mr. Naquin. "I can remember going by pirogue to your grandfather's store on le Terrebonne. That's when I was a small boy. Then I remember going to your daddy's store when he built it in Montegut. The trip took most of the day. We had to go through small bayous in the "plairie"(prairie) It took a lot of paddling. But it was a trip we all enjoyed. Sometimes the whole family would go along." Whenever the family did come to the village or whenever there was an extra large order of supplies, these people from the island came in a larger dugout called a "Piniche". It was carved from a much larger cypress tree than the regular pirogue. It was 16 to 18 feet in length, about 30" wide and 14 to 16" deep. As many as six people could ride in the Piniche. There are stories about one of Jean Lafitte's men having settled on the island. Some say he was trying to get away from the law. Others say he was old and just wanted to be left alone. Perhaps this is how the legends of Lafitte's treasure got started. Nevertheless these stories have been handed down throughout the generations.
Here are some stories of the buried treasure:
One treasure that was supposed to have been found, was an iron kettle full of coins and gold. This was approximately two miles past the tree Indian mounds on Pointe-aux-Chenes. At another tiem, on the Lafourche side, a man was plowing his field when he hit something hard. It turned out to be another iron pot full of gold coins. There are other places too. At the far end of Isle a Jean Charles and across bayou Pointe-aux-Chenes near several dead oaks, but these was never been found. According to one man who dug for these treasures, "When one is digging for treasure, no one must touch his spade or dig in his place or the treasure will sink". I asked him what makes the treasure sink and he said "Well Jean Lafitte killed a man and buried him over the treasure. He was supposed to guard the treasure and his spirit still does, I guess." I asked him if he would try digging again and he said no but added " You are suppose to to make a ring of salt around the spot where you are to dig. This will help ward off the evil spirits." he said. This story was given to this man by his father. On lower Terrebonne below Madison Canal is a stream called Bayou Lacache. There is a legend of treasure having been buried there. In fact this is how it got the name Lacache, which means something hidden or to hide. The story is Lafitte came up the bayou and hid a treasure along this small stream which empties into Bayou Terrebonne. In 1851 a newspaper gave the following account, "it is rumored that $20,000.00 in Spanish doubloons has been found on Caillou Island. Later that same newspaper put the amount at $2,000.00...If this is true-who buried the treasure here? One name immediately comes to mind. Jean Lafitte. Let us remember this, on Sept.11,1814 when Commodore Patterson, under direct orders from Gov. Claiborne, attacked and destroyed the stronghold of Lafitte at Barataria, the ships could be seen from a great distance. The pirates were prepared to defend with their very lives, their position on the bayou. When they saw they were American ships, they refused to fire on the American flag. Instead they scattered in every direction in small boats in streams to shallow for pursuit. It's fact too that many made temporary camp on Isle Dernieres because it was from here they came when Lafitte volunteered his help to defend the city of New Orleans. Last Island is very close to Caillou Island and so are the mouths of several bayous. Surely when they left their camp on Barataria they did not leave empty handed although they did leave in haste. They left in small boats and gold and jewels are easy to carry. As was their custom much of their gold was buried for safekeeping. Remember too that Lafitte's ships must have sailed these waters a hundred times before and could have come ashore for any number of reasons. This find at Caillou Island started a search that was to last even to today. Some say it may have been Spanish treasure because it must be remembered that the Gulf Coast was Spanish territory and the Spanish were known to bury their treasure. These buccaneers sailed these waters before Lafitte. With devining rods to modern electronic detectors men have searched for this buried treasure. Using old maps found in an attic trunk or armed with a story told by a very old man, people searched for the "Treasure of Jean Lafitte."
