The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND OF THE FIRST WOMAN IN NEW ORLEANS

THE FIRST TO SETTLE NEW ORLEANS WERE MEN, AND NO WOMEN.
THESE FRENCHMEN BECAME SOMEWHAT DOWNHEARTED OVER THE
LACK OF WOMEN, AND SO A DELEGATION WROTE THE KING OF
FRANCE AND GAVE AN ULTIMATUM TO HIM, WHICH CONSISTED
OF GIVING THE KING THE OPTION TO EITHER SEND OVER
WOMEN OR WATCH THE MEN COME HOME TO FRANCE. THE KING
WENT TO THE JAIL AND FOUND 400 WHORES AND THIEVES, AND
HE SENT THEM TO AMERICA. WELL, THIS WAS FINE FOR A
WHILE, BUT THEN THE NEW ORLEANS' MEN DECIDED THEY
NEEDED WIVES THAT WERE RESPECTABLE. THEY FELT THEY
COULD NOT MARRY THE WOMEN THAT WERE FIRST SENT OVER.
SO A DELEGATION WENT TO FRANCE TO CONVINCE AT LEAST
100 MIDDLE CLASS WOMEN TO COME TO NEW ORLEANS, AND
THIS THEY DID BY BRIBE OF MONEY. THESE GIRLS WERE
CALLED THE CASKETTE GIRLS. IT IS SAID THAT
STRANGELY ALL 400 OF THE WHORES WERE BARON {BARREN?}
YET THE 100 OR SO MIDDLE CLASS WOMEN BORE THE GREAT
SOCIETY OF NEW ORLEANS' ELITE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Date learned: 10-00-1968