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Blanque/Blake
Notes - Russell Guerin
Blake
Unidentified document from HCHS states Pirate House was called Blake House by local residents. Because of the similarity of names, I wondered whether Blake was indeed Blanque. Not so, as history of ownership of Pirate House does include Blake, but not until latter part of 19th century.
Who built Pirate House?
Legend, oral history, WPA: It was said that it was once “the plantation home of a famous pirate - or an associate of pirates - who gave signal aid to Gen Jackson during War of 1812,” and that house was built by man suspected of being an “over-lord” of all pirates that plied the Gulf waters in early 1800’s; house built 1804. Owner was said to be man who organized pirates for battle of NO, including Lafitte brothers, “whipping them into an army of loyal Americans.”
Blanque
There are many mentions of this successful lawyer, legislator, businessman, politician and leading citizen but no bio that I can find. I know where he lived, whom he married, what causes he supported and some he did not, but he is still a mystery. When he arrived in NO he must have already been wealthy, and he came in good company on the voyage to NO.
One thing that I keep thinking about is that, not being bom here, he might have had- little allegiance. (This was true for a few other leading figures, Latour and Wilkinson certainly. Also, JFH Claiborne bom here but whose cotton was more important than the cause for which his son gave his life.)
Davis
Numerous passages are in Davis’ new Lafitte book regarding how Blanque was important merchant who dealt with pirates and that he was intercession between Jean Lafitte and Claiborne. “NO merchants such as Jean Blanque engaged sailors who plied both sides of the law...An immigrant to NO in 1803, the same year Pierre arrived, Blanque was a merchant, onetime slave dealer, and banker who had held successful offices in the territorial government, and at the moment sat in the legislature....was also an investor in