Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. The eerie discovery of a mysterious wooden box bearing a disembodied mummified hand with a ring on the wedding ring finger, an old map of the Tampa area and several coins has stirred up memories of pirate Jose Gaspar. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL Most of the suspected locations are in and around the state of Florida. Rumor has it, that the stolen goods are still hidden somewhere on the island. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. Legends tell how he amassed a huge fortune, and hid an enormous treasure before dying a hero facing the might of the US Navy. "I'm considering it. Leaving soon? Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife and children, gathered together a nice lot of cut-throats, stole the prize vessel of the Spanish fleet, and escaped. According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. As the legends go, the famed Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla, used the island as his home base of operations throughout the late 18th century and into the early 19th century. Old Hand Found In Florida Attic With Coins And Treasure Map. Josh joins marine archaeologists and treasure hunters working to crack the mysteries of the pirate's life so they can find the riches he left behind. First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. He told of the looting of ships, the massacre of innocents, and last of all, when his life had nearly passed, he told the story of 'The Little Spanish Princess,' whose name he did not remember. 3. Leading a group of escaped convicts, Gaspar with his stolen ship established a home base in 1783 in the area of Charlotte Harbor, north of the present day Fort Myers on an Island he named "Gasparilla." He is said to have also taken that name for himself as it means "Gaspar the outlaw." Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. . They took the box to a few antique stores. Tampa family finds pirate treasure in grandpa's attic Box found in Tampa attic has coins, a map, a hand and a mystery - WFLA News Channel 8 Share or comment on this article: Tampa family finds. Tales of pirate treasures are very difficult to substantiate due to many factors. Louisiana makes sense because during most of his time here, he was considered a fugitive by the US. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list. It does not store any personal data. So that's why we believe that it was Juan Gomez. Though that treasure has never been discovered, the story of the swashbuckling Gaspar was unearthed and his memory revived in 1904 when Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla was formed and adopted the pirate as patron rogue of their city . So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? The theme and focal point of Gasparilla is a friendly "invasion" by mythical pirate Jos Gaspar and his crew, who are portrayed by members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG), an organization created for this purpose in 1904. Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. Rogers lost interest in the hunt after this and it is said he lived near his treasure to guard it for the remainder of his life. ", "Jose Gaspar, from my understanding, was a name that was made up by Ye Mystic Krewe, which they tied to Gasparilla, which was tied to the railroad pamphlet that you're talking about, which that is not real. One day Gasparilla prepared to attack a merchantman, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a United States man-of-war. This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. He was wanted until 1815 when opinion of him changed. Pirate Blackbeard entered the history books in the early 1700s. Who was this figure, and what was he supposed to have done? Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! Whether he was his cabin boy, like it states in the story, or maybe he might have been Gasparilla himself because of all the treasure maps that we have found. The tale of pirate captain Jos Gaspar who, according to the stories, ravaged the west coast of Spanish Florida for 40 years is the inspiration for a bombastic plundering that continues from 1905. They took the box to a few antique stores around Tampa and the contents were described as "gruesome and authentic.". He's rumored to have had a secret base in Charlotte Harbor and would sail back and forth to Spain as well as roam around the Gulf of Mexico until his death in 1821, at the hands of the U.S. Navy. If you choose to embark on a hunt for any treasure do so at your own risk. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Photos show a centuries-old shipwreck found off Colombia's coast carrying lost treasure worth billions of dollars, including gold coins and emeralds. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. Gattuso leads a a small group called the The Treasure Hunters who spend their weekends hiking the wilderness near the Peace River in search of lost treasure believed to have been left behind by Jose Gaspar. This does not stop the legend of Gasparilla from living on in the Florida folklore; the story of his life is even retold in a hotel brochure at the site where supposedly his treasure was buried, The Huffington Post reported. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. My grandfather had a book on all these when I was younger. As promised here is the start of your Pirate Treasure stories. You'll need a boat or kayak for this cache. Website. Name of The Day. It may not display this or other websites correctly. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. Several local antique stores described the contents of the box as authentic and gruesome, though a Tampa Bay historian says they do not appear to be genuine Spanish coins. All my curanderos, check out the first word on the second line play the song below for inspiration: Please support WTFFlorida.com by making a donation. This was around the 1870s, after the Civil War. In 1897, he purchased land at Boca Grande, an island outpost. The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. Lafayette Street, which is now Kennedy Boulevard is also labeled on the map. He confirmed that indeed the Lopezes have found a real human hand, but as for Gasparilla, that was a myth. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. Gattuso leads a a small group called the The Treasure Hunters who spend their weekends hiking the wilderness near the Peace River in search of lost treasure believed to have been left behind by Jose Gaspar. Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. Who has not heard the rumor which has been going on in St. Augustine that Six Flags is coming to St. Johns County and will be constructed off of State Road 206? The leaflet establishes Gaspars legend, claiming that he chose Gasparilla Island as the best of the islands in Charlotte Harbor to establish his base. Definitely try, Find our recommended Caribbean hotels, restaurants, charters, & tours. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. He met and married his wife in New York and had 2 daughters. We're back to the hotel brochure. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Do secret rooms conceal unknown treasures? On one occasion, his right-hand man Lopez had become tired of the pirate life and desired to return to Spain to see his love, Sanibel, after 13 long years. Pricing is not too high. This was to prove his doom as the ship he had targeted was no harmless cargo ship but in fact the USS Enterprise, a heavily armed and very dangerous pirate hunter. He was said to have been extremely active for many years, attacking merchant ships and evading justice, and in this time he won himself a huge fortune. So where did Blackbeard hide his treasures? ", The story of Gaspar begins in 1782; the brochure states, "he stood high in the graces of the Spanish Court, so high indeed that he niched the crown jewels. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. St. Vincent Island off the coast of Florida is said to have been an island frequented by early pirates. Useppa Island was a military outpost, resort, Confederate stronghold, and CIA site to train Cuban exiles for the Bay of Pigs invasion and was continuously inhabited for 10,000 years by the Calusa Indians. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. While doing some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, Maria Lopez made an unusual discovery in her grandfathers attic. Or they were always togahter. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. There are numerous legends and tales of buried treasure on this island. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Finally Pirates Cove, which is on the southern tip of Connecticut may house these valuable chests. Powell showed us museum exhibits full of gold coins recovered from shipwrecks and explained how the legend of Jose Gaspar launched the Gasparilla Pirate Festival we know and love today. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. It is said that he and his brother buried all of his money on the islands in and around Charlotte Harbor. His ship soon followed him to the watery depths. Inside, bound to the box by copper wire, she found a dessicated hand wearing a ring with the word "Gaspar" on . Mike Lopez tells WFLA that his sister was. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. Subsequent retellings of the Gaspar tale are based on this imaginative account, including the unintentional inclusion of Jos Gaspar in a 1923 book on genuine pirates, which has created ongoing debate regarding his historical veracity. Flagler Beach, FL 32136. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. Many believe it is Edward Teach, but some claim it is Edward Thatch. There has been a lot of permanent damage to archaeological sites due to the misinformation about buried treasure in prehistoric mounds, and pushing some aspects of this myth may lead to others following suit (leading to arrests and seizures as well as loss of cultural information). The Gaspar myth in the very beginning was tied to the Charlotte Harbor area. During the final combat, the majority of Gasparillas crew was killed, but there were 12 survivors 11 men and a cabin boy called Juan Gomez. At The Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. visitors and locals can find treasures of all kinds. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. What date is Gasparilla 2021? Rogers is said to have hidden huge amounts of gold and silver bars worth a fortune today. Overview. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. By Geoff Dobson. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This Plantation is said to be roughly 5 miles West of the town of Iowa. "It's a bunch of heartbreak with little reward and a lot of imagination," said treasure hunter Erin Melcher. 1. When he was wrongfully arrested, he hijacked a ship and fled, promising to seek revenge on his homeland. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . Wikipedia, 2022. I love searching for all types of "treasures" with my family. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ill post one a week Treasure Tuesdaysthis that lame? Treasure hunter Michael Gattuso digs a hole in front of treasure hunters Stacey Hunt and Erin Melcher in an area where metal detectors notify of gold on a wetland believed to have lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia on Sunday, January 13, 2019. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? 1. They used Barataria Bay in Louisiana as a hub for their enterprise. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? The prices seem lower, but not my thing. When it comes to the legend of Jose Gaspar, Diff told us to "be cautious that the information you present as there are lots of versions of this story and everyone's version is 'true.' Once he was a few hundred meters away, the British flag came down and the American flag rose up the mast. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. It is said that he buried a multitude of treasure along the Pamlico Sound and on Bluff Point. Was there really a pirate named Jose Gaspar? His treasure might have been on the ship with him during this battle. We will discuss a few of them here. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". What remains of Jos Gaspar today are his stories and legends, but most significant of them all is the secret of these mysterious cherries. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. He spent nearly 30 years plundering ships in and around the gulf coast. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. There are multiple stories about his life that vary greatly depending upon the source of the information, leading some to conclude that he was not a real person. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I'm here writing on Treasureunknown to provide helpful resources so others can get out and enjoy the thrill of the hunt! He vowed revenge on those who had framed him and was forced to turn to a life of piracy. Latest Blog . Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. Many say he buried treasure here during this time. The Legend of Jose Gaspar. Pirate treasure rumors. Gaspar realized in this moment that he had found the treasure he was searching for. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. While Gaspar chained the anchor of his ship to his waist and dove into the water to avoid giving the enemy the satisfaction of killing him, Gmez lived to tell the tale. Just pick any island and start digging, because Gasparillas loot is buried on many of them, including Cayo Pelau. A Net Inceptions project. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. Here Lafitte had a very fair treasure distribution policy that everyone seemed to like. The race of the old buccaneer was nearly run, but all through that night, he told a story of piracy that could scarce be believed, yet it was a dying man that was clearing his soul before his Maker. "Maria came across it and once she told me she found a hand in a box. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. When he finally realized that it was a warship, it was too late. There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. I love this place built around 1640 . Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. His fleet would capture vessels at sea, and take all the goods back to Galveston. They gave him a first name, Jose Gaspar, and they really gave him the full backstory to create that in 1904. He supposedly buried large amounts of treasures on the islands around the bay. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. The Real Treasure Hunters have come a long way from social media in their hunt for the treasure of Jose Gaspar in the Peace River. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar, Sachs, S, 2022. However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. After that, they searched his cabin and found a jar of gold coins and a small sheet of copper engraved with a code indicating the location of buried treasure. Aged Rum. In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Most stories agree he was an aristocratic Spanish Navy Officer who later. Michael Gattuso and his crew got a cable debut Wednesday night in an episode of Discovery Channel's show "Expedition Unknown." Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. Some say that as this disguised ship was sailing by, the aging pirate and his crew were in the process of dividing up the spoils as an act of retirement. The coins are believed to be 18th century Spanish and Portuguese coins and the ring on the hand's is expected to be from around the same time period. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. Tales of love and marriage, an aristocratic captain with nobility in his crew, a handsome and debonair adventurer: all these stories seem too good to be true. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. There is another treasure said to be buried on Kelly Island in Delaware by James Gillian, a member of Kidds crew. Accept Read More. again not sure of the thought process of choosing a tree as a landmark for millions of dollars in treasure, but that is how the story goes. He stated that it was buried beside 2 wind damaged trees and a large rock (one would think that with treasure this valuable one would choose landmarks a little more cautiously, but I guess trees and a rock is all we have to go on here). Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. But the idea of a pirate named Gasparilla (or some variant) goes way back. Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . Lets do this. Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So it would seem that Gasparilla is a fiction, no more real a figure than Mickey Mouse. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade wont care. . A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Treasure hunter Stacey Hunt holds an old nail found under the ground on a wetland believed to have lost treasure. His piratical career always starts with an injustice and he is seen as a lovable rogue rather than a murderous monster. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136-2802. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. His ship was scuttled in the battle sending the valuables to the bottom of the ocean. Ancient Viking treasures found in England actually seems to be a thing, as many of relative value have been found throughout the years. When you go in the attic you expect to find something old. Lafitte was wanted by the US government for they deemed his acts as piracy, not privateering. In his early pirate career, he teamed up with a few other pirates and eventually took over a ship named The Revenge. This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. Icelanders and the Huldufolk: A Nation Gripped by Farinis Great Discovery: Is there a Lost City Top Ten Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. Show more. Much of his treasure was carried to him up the Peace River. Though that treasure has never been discovered, the story of the swashbuckling Gaspar was unearthed and his memory revived in 1904 when Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla was formed and adopted the pirate as patron rogue of their city . There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. It's part of our family now.". For whatever reason, burial of chests laden with gold and jewels seems to be the norm, but is there any pirate treasure left? According to archives, the island community was created by Albert W. Gilchrist, Floridas 20th governor. Named for legendary pirate, Jose Gaspar, who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the 18th and early 19th centuries, Tampa Bay's destination-wide annual Gasparilla celebration kicks off each January with a full schedule of exciting pirate-themed events. On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . "The reason I believe in Gasparilla is because I believe in Juan Gomez," Mike Gattuso, a member of The Real Treasure Hunters, told Paluska. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. All rights reserved. This characterization continues through the stories of Gasparilla as a pirate. When his attempts to capture Joseffa's heart were met with contempt, Gaspar used Useppa Island to imprison the proud princess, and the isle came to be known as "Joseffa's Island." Barron G. Collier He soon picked a good spot in Charlotte Harbor, and began to build his pirate kingdom. TAMPA, Fla. - Docked in downtown Tampa, the Jose Gasparilla II is one of the most iconic parts of Gasparilla and a year-round reminder of Tampa's biggest party and quirkiest tradition. As with any tale of vast hidden riches, these stories can not be 100 percent verified to even exist. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. In the 1690s a war broke out between England and France. ", The story said Gaspar hid in the Charlotte Harbor area, and "while taking the census of 1900, two gentlemen stopped at Panther Key and spent the night with *John Gomez. Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. Thread starter seeker41; Start date Apr 29, 2015 Apr 29, 2015 One of his ships has been discovered in the waters off of North Carolina and definitely proven to belong to Blackbeard. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla Island. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. This activity is a great way to enjoy some peaceful quite time outdoors or can be a unique experience for 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure. Once again our legend states that he hid 3 large chests among a group of trees on San Jose Island. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. 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