Laveau, Marie, 1801-1881

Variant names

Dates:

Birth 1801-09-10

Death 1881-06-15

Birth 1801-09-10

Death 1881-06-15

Nationality: Americans

Biographical notes:

Marie Laveau (b. Sept. 10, 1801, New Orleans, LA–d. June 15, 1881, New Orleans, LA) was a New Orleans Voodoo Queen in the 19th Century. Her parents were Marguerite Henry, a free woman of color of Native American, African, and French descent, and Charles Laveau Trudeau.

She was married to Jacques Paris for a year before he died; they had two daughters. After Jacques's death, Marie worked as a hair dresser to the New Orleans elite and lived with Christopher Dominick de Glapion.

During her life Marie Laveau was known to have attended to prisoners who were sentenced to death. Rumors circulated that some prisoners would receive poisons or other substances before going to the gallows, but this was never proven.A reporter from the New Orleans Republican detailed one such visit in an article published on May 14, 1871, in which he describes Marie Laveau as a “devout and acceptable member of the Catholic communion." Following her death, her daughter Philomène, confirmed during an interview with a reporter from the Picayune that only Catholic traditions would take place during these visits, and that her mother would also prepare the men's last meal and pray with them. Marie Laveau also sought pardons or commutations of sentences for those she favored and was often successful in her efforts.

Of Laveau's magical career, there is little that can be substantiated, but she appeared to excel at obtaining inside information on her wealthy patrons by instilling fear in their servants whom she either paid or cured of mysterious ailments.

After her death in 1881, oral tradition states that she was seen by some people in town after her supposed demise. One of her daughters, also named Marie likely carried on her magical practice. Because of her prominence within the history of Voodoo in New Orleans, Laveau has inspired a number of artistic renditions and fictional characters as well.