Born in 1787 to an elite family in New Orleans. Madame Laurie (Marie Delphine Macarty) grew up around wealth and the tension of slavery in the South. Her life punctuated by the deaths of her first two husbands.
In 1834, the truth was exposed. A fire brough authorities and neighbors into the attic to discover a gruesome scene.
This is the story of Madame LaLaurie & her haunted mansion.
by Ghost Guide Daniel
Growing up Rich in New Orleans
Before she was the “Dark Mistress of New Orleans,” Madame LaLaurie was simply Marie Delphine Macarty.
Born in 1787 into the upper echelon of Creole society. Delphine’s roots were a blend of French and Spanish, which was typical of the New Orleans elites.
Her family was the definition of connected. Her uncle served as the Spanish Governor of Louisiana and Florida. And her cousin, Augustin de Macarty, eventually become a Mayor of New Orleans.
LaLaurie was raised on a lush plantation. Her childhood surrounded by slavery and a palpable sense of dread. At the time, the Haitian Revolution was in full swing. That’s when plantation owners lived in fear of a similar uprising in the Southern United States.
It was in this environment that Madame LaLaurie grew up.
How She Ended up Madame LaLaurie
Her life was marked by tragedy and scandal.
At only 13 years old, she was married off to Don Ramón de Lopez y Angulo. A 35-year-old man, and Spanish diplomat. Their marriage ended abruptly when Ramón died under mysterious circumstances.
Some said it was an accident. Happening on a ship while travelling to Cuba. LaLaurie was right there by his side.
Only two years later, she married Jean Blanque. He was a wealthy banker and lawyer. Partly famous for working with the infamous Pirate, Jean Laffite.
Together they had four children before Blanque passed away in 1815. At only 28-years-old, LaLaurie was already a two-time Widow.
Then came her third marriage. And the moment she became Madame LaLaurie.
In 1825, she married Dr. Louis LaLaurie. Called “meek and mousy”, Dr. Louis was shockingly 14 years younger than her.
And not surprising when looking back from today … he specialized in correcting physical deformities! A medical background adding a chilling level to the dark legend.
Just so happens, 2 of Madame LaLaurie’s kids, now Dr. Louis’ step-kids, had physical disabilities. Including a “hunchback” daughter.
Whether this factored into Dr. Louis’ agreeing to marry LaLaurie is unproven. We do know the doctor’s “specialties” did influence many horrors to come.
Laurie Mansion Fire
In 1831, the couple purchased the now-infamous mansion at 1140 Royal Street.
For three years, they hosted lavish galas. This included talk of rumors around Madame LaLaurie’s cruelty toward her staff (called servants, but really slaves).
The gossip only simmered under the surface of New Orlean’s polite society.
But the rumor became fact in 1834. When an elderly cook, who was chained to the stove, purposely set a fire in the kitchen.
Neighbors and the authorities rushed to help, breaking down the doors and searching the house for people. That’s when they came across the attic.
Revealing an unimaginably gruesome scene. Living victims subjected to experiments. Their limbs manipulated in unnatural ways, with deformed bodies confined to cages far too small.
Madame LaLaurie’s Escape
Word of atrocities spread. Leading to a mob descending on the house. The goal … capture and punish the LaLaurie’s. Instead, they found an empty house. Then ransacking it, destroying and stealing mostly everything.
The LaLaurie’s escaped New Orleans! And we don’t really know what happened to them.
Legend states they were aided by one of their slaves. A carriage driver, for reasons known only to him, remained loyal to Madame Laurie.
What Happened to the LaLaurie’s
There are rumors. Stating the Laurie’s ended up in many different places. Including one made famous by a low-budget horror movie called The St. Francisville Experiment (featuring a small town not far from New Orleans).
But the truth is … they fled to France. Record shows Madame LaLaurie died in Paris. The year was 1849 at the age of 62-years-old.
While her death and burial were recorded in France. It’s said her remains returned to New Orleans. Part of a wish to spend immortality in her home city.
Now hidden away in the St. Louis Cemetery Number 1. The same resting place as Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau.
Haunting of Royal Street
The LaLaurie mansion didn’t stay empty. In the years following the scandal, the house served different purposes.
This included a school for Black girls during the late 1800s. It was during this time which a ghost experience happened.
Students frequently were found by teachers to have mysterious scratches and bruises.
When pressed for information, they said, “… the woman did it”. Not being able to identify the woman. Wasn’t a teacher or anyone they’ve seen before.
Madame LaLaurie continuing her wicked experiments?
Today, the house is a centerpiece of New Orleans ghost lore. Local tours, including those from Ghost City Tours, note a disturbing historic trend.
Since 1834, no resident has managed to live inside the LaLaurie House for more than five consecutive years.
Whether it’s the bad energy of the history. Or maybe the cursed spirit of the Madame LaLaurie herself … the house remains a monument to a dark event in American history.