https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LVZG-F7K
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Laveau-5
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1503/marie-laveau

American Folk Figure. Known to history and popular lore as a legendary “Voodoo Priestess”, the details of her life have proven to historians as elusive and ambiguous. In the nineteenth century, she was the single most storied figure in the substantial New Orleans, Louisiana “voodoo” milieu. Though her birthdate is unknown, there are reports of a young Laveau leading Voodoo ceremonies in Congo Square (now Louis Armstrong Park) as early as 1830, and it is generally thought that she was born in 1794. Her house on St. Ann Street where she worked as a hairdresser was a popular destination for supplicants of all ethnicities who bought her charms and potions to inspire love and protect from (or cause) harm. Perhaps her most celebrated mystic feat was the alleged rescue of a Frenchman from the gallows early in her career. In some versions of the story, she invoked a great storm that caused the noose to slip from the convict's neck. In more elaborate tales, she is said to have magically influenced a New Orleans magistrate to set the accused free. The date of Laveau's death is also a matter of some dispute, with some reports having her performing ceremonies as late as 1890 (although these later appearances are generally thought to have been by her daughter). Some Voodoo adherents believe that Marie Laveau is still alive, but there is a folk consensus that she died in 1881 (as reported in local newspapers) and is interred in an unmarked Greek revival tomb in New Orleans' Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1. To this day, the tomb is the object of adoration and the site of Voodoo offerings, with many visitors marking their pilgrimage by adorning the tomb with at least one large "X".

BIRTH YEAR DEBUNKED

Many sources say Marie Laveau was born in 1794 including her death certificate and tomb, but upon marriage of Jacques Paris in 1819, she was a minor, one month shy of turning 18. This coincides with her baptismal record in Louisiana stating a Mulatto girl born Marie Laveaux was born and baptized in September 1801.

HER FATHER'S ETHNICITY

She was born Marie Laveaux, as her father was Charles Laveaux. Many sources are in error stating her father was a White plantation owner. He in fact was a Mulatto grocery store owner, born a free man of color. He is allegedly the son of Charles (Don Carlo) Trudeau and an unknown Laveaux.

MINI-BIO

In history, Marie Laveau was labeled some vile slurs or associated with obscene behavior. Those stories are just that, stories, as rumors were started by those against Voodoo. Marie Laveau practiced Voodoo but was also a devout Catholic who attended Mass every Sunday. She nursed the sick in her large home and earned a high respect for that from her Catholic church.

One month shy of turning 18, she married Santyaque "Jacques" Paris (sometimes his name was written in Spanish, as Santiago because of the time period). Not soon after, and mysteriously, he either abandoned the relationship, passed away, or went missing. Marie became known as Widow Laveau. She had a 30-year relationship with Christophe Glapion.

MARIE LAVEAU II MYSTERY

There is myth and mystery behind a named Marie Laveau II. No document listed a Marie Laveau II as Marie Laveau's daughter, but the name sure does have a crazy story behind it, claiming that Marie Laveau had magically become Marie Laveau II so she could live on forever. Truth is, Marie had a daughter named Marie Philomene who was a devout Catholic and detested Voodoo as well as Marie-Heloise who did not turn to Voodoo and died in her 30s. Christophe and Marie had those daughters and a few others who died very young. Marie Laveau had a half-sister baptized Marie, by the name of Dolores (Census gives her name in Spanish as Maria Dolores Labeau). Any of those Maries could have been twisted into the stories, by name only, as none of them were Voodoo practitioners.

Links about Marie Laveau

• Wikipedia: Marie Laveau