During the XIX century there was hardly a person in the United States who was unaware of Marie Laveau - the name that was renowned and feared throughout almost all the country. It is said that the mysterious Voodoo Queen by using the religion's dark powers could cure the sick, help in finding love or...make anyone’s soul submit to her will... Who was the mysterious lady that gained so much power and respect? There were actually two women concealing under the name – mother and daughter who established the unique appeal of Voodoo-drenched New Orleans at the time. However, it needs to be pointed out that very little can be said for sure, for much of what is known about them either was passed down orally or survived in legends.

Although details of her exact parentage and origin are uncertain, Marie Laveau the mother supposedly was born in 1794 in Vieux Carre, New Orleans and, being a mix of black, white and Indian blood, considered a free woman of colour. She is said to be a descendant of French aristocracy and a daughter of a wealthy white planter. She married Jacques Paris, a free man of colour from San Dominique (Haiti), on August 4, 1819. Since the ceremony was held in St. Louis Cathedral, the record of marriage still can be found there.

It is unknown when Marie first started practising Voodoo. As she was a Roman Catholic christened and, together with Jacques, attending a daily mass at St. Louis Cathedral, there is no evidence that she was doing it at the time. Allegedly, she learned her craft from a "voodoo doctor" known variously as Doctor John, John Bayou and other appellations, but we can't be sure of that as well.

Shortly after their wedding Jacques mysteriously disappeared. He might have returned to San Dominiqiue; however, his death certificate was filed several years later without any documentation of internment. It was after this event that Marie started calling herself Widow Paris. She became a professional hairdresser and began visiting the homes of wealthy white women, who confessed to her their most intimate secrets and fears about their husbands, their lovers and their business affairs. Obviously, those ‘spies’ became the network of information she later used to establish her strong position in the underworld of New Orleans, simply cashing in on the secrets (which usually involved blackmailing and threatening).

At this point (about 1826) Marie became involved with Louis Christopher Duminy de Clapion, another man of colour from San Dominique, who is known to fight in the Battle of New Orleans. He moved to her house in the North Rampart Street (or Saint Ann Street) where they lived together without marriage until his death in 1835 (some say 1855). During their relationship Mary gave birth to fifteen children, one of which was Marie, a daughter of spectacular resemblance to her mother who later took over the role of voodoo priestess after her.