Pirate Blackbeard entered the history books in the early 1700s. 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. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 5 Popular Mai Tai Recipes and How To Make Them, Mango Tango Cocktail Recipe Boat Drinks, Taste the New St. John Brewers Love City Hard Seltzer, A Day With Stormy Pirates Charters US Virgin Islands, An Island Interview With Caribbean Adventure Author, John H. Cunningham, Love Pets and a Free Place To Stay? 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. In the 1690s a war broke out between England and France. Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Company are said to have distributed the brochures. Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. Jose Gaspar: Myth or Pirate? Quiz | People | 10 Questions - Fun Trivia This tale doesnt give the Lopezes a helping hand in solving the mystery of the finds from their grandparents attic. This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. The prices are great and you can walk more than one foot without seeing some adorable little trinket that you just can't live without. "We do have some treasure maps, and we're working on them," Gattuso said. 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. This endeavor lasted only about 5 years when the us army came to visit Lafitte, asking him to leave. 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136-2802. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship. Wikipedia, 2022. His treasure might have been on the ship with him during this battle. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. 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. Supposedly a group of pirates traveled from the gulf inland via river to a spot in Indiana where they hid a bunch of gold coins east of the town of Freedom. 2 chests are also rumored to be buried on Clarkes Island on the Connecticut River. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". However, like Billy Bowlegs, Jose Gaspar the lack of historical evidence suggests he never existed.21 Although most Tampa residents and several books claim Jose Gaspar was authentic, so far no documentation has proven he was real.22 The Gasparilla Pirate Festival started in 1904, and since it started a full fifty years before the Billy Bowlegs . I have never found any real evidence he lived. He supposedly buried large amounts of treasures on the islands around the bay. 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). Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. Jose Gaspar, the legendary buccaneer who inspired Tampas Gasparilla Pirate Festival, as well as fantastic tales of lost treasure, most likely never really existed. The battle raged and the story goes that as Jose Gaspar realized the inevitable, he stood on the bow of the ship and stated something like Gaspar dies by his own hands. Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. These recommended links below will help you save money and book your trip: We use all the companies listed here or on the resource page. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. On the Hawaiian island of Oahu there is said to be six chests buried along a stone wall somewhere around Kaena Point. In his early pirate career, he teamed up with a few other pirates and eventually took over a ship named The Revenge. The story goes that Lafitte and his men used an old barn on LeBleau Plantation as a gathering location and perhaps buried treasure here. There is a new book out "Pirates of Southwest Florida, Fact and Legend" by James F. and Sarah Jane Kaserman that debunks some of the stories of Gasparilla. A Treasured History: The Story of Gasparilla, Tampa's Most Prized So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? His men, who numbered in the hundreds, also buried their smaller caches on these islands. If we find that buried treasure together, we can split the booty among all of our readers and we never have to work again. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. Available at: https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. "It's a bunch of heartbreak with little reward and a lot of imagination," said treasure hunter Erin Melcher. The treasure on Money Island is said to hidden in the crevice of a large rock that is only visible during low tide. Photos show a centuries-old shipwreck found off Colombia's coast carrying lost treasure worth billions of dollars, including gold coins and emeralds. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. 1756 - 1821), was a purported Spanish pirate, the "last of the Buccaneer s," who is claimed to have raided the west coast of Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. (story from treasurelore.com). A fortune worth $1 million when it was hidden in 2010 is waiting to be picked up somewhere in the Rocky Mountains just a few miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico. 10 Lost Treasures in America Waiting to be Found - History Collection They took the box to a few antique stores. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. He wished to return to America to retrieve this treasure after Kidds execution but he never made it back. was reading about Jose Gaspar aka Gasparilla Pirate and one story tells of his friend Roderigo Lopez wanting to leave the Pirate life and Gaspar helped him leave, so it seems Maria Lopez great great grandfather may have been Roderigo. ", According to the railroad brochure, the "narrative was compiled by the writer from incidents told by John Gomez, better known as Panther Key John, a brother-in-law of Gasparilla and a member of his crew, who died at the age of 120 years, at Panther Key, Florida, 12 miles below Marco, in the year 1900; also from records left by John Gomez, Jr., the cabin-boy on Gasparilla's ship, who was kidnapped by Gasparilla and who witnessed the death of this pirate and all on board his vessel. The history of Gasparilla and legacy of Jose Gaspar | wtsp.com These stories and locations presented are based on our research but should be taken with some skepticism. Instead, he pursued a merchant ship and insisted that it convey Batista and Ann Jeffries to England and that its captain marry them on board after they were out of sight of his ship, the Jose Gasparilla II. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Top 10 Best Bookstores in Palm Coast, FL - February 2023 - Yelp (4) The person who gets most of the credit for the Gasparilla myth is John Gomez who drowned around 1900 at the age of 122. And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. I love this place built around 1640 . Our Florida pirate "Jose Gaspar enters history's scene in Spain where he was born in the year 1756 and started adult life with a career in the Spanish Navy, serving aboard the warship Floridablanca. 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. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Gaspar's legend is one of a murderous, bloodthirsty swashbuckler who stole money from Spain, stole a ship, kidnapped a Spanish Princess, and left a trail of death and gold throughout the high seas. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. Gaspar apparently did not share this attraction and instead gave his attention to other women of the court. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. Old hand, coins and treasure map found in Florida attic - The Vintage News Inspired by the Legend of Pirate Jose Gaspar - Ye Mystic Krewe of 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. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. Jose Gaspar - A Real Pirate? | TreasureNet The Original Treasure Oak Island: Legends of Pirates and Treasure, Barbarossa the Pirate: Scourge of the Mediterranean, Flying Dutchman: Phantom Ship, Legend and Sightings, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar, https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. Sarasota's Michael Gattuso and members of his . As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. WFLA | What is Gasparilla? Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. Michael Gattuso and his crew got a cable debut Wednesday night in an episode of Discovery Channel's show "Expedition Unknown." "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The leaflet establishes Gaspars legend, claiming that he chose Gasparilla Island as the best of the islands in Charlotte Harbor to establish his base. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". . Here is what we have been able to piece together about this controversial pirate. Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen. The Legend of the Pirate Gasparilla | Coastal History 11 The Cuerdale Treasures- $2.6 Million. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. No Result Found. 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. ", 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. Gasparilla not only granted Lopez permission but also bestowed his blessing on his long-time friend, providing a ship and several men to accompany him back to Spain. The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. You are using an out of date browser. A few years later, he fell out of favor with the government and turned to a life of piracy. The Gaspar myth in the very beginning was tied to the Charlotte Harbor area. Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. $150 Million Dollar Treasure Found On A Beach By Accident Enjoy. Whether the coins are authentic or not, Mike thinks the hand is real, and may belong to Jose Gaspar himself. Definitely try, Find our recommended Caribbean hotels, restaurants, charters, & tours. This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. Gasparilla Pirate Festival - Wikipedia He finally returned with his wife to find all but a handful of his crew had died. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. "Maria came across it and once she told me she found a hand in a box. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. Though details about his early life, motivations, and piratical exploits differ in various tellings, they agree that the 'Last of the Buccaneers" was a remarkably active pirate who amassed a huge . Despite its long history, there is no definitive origin of the name. According to other versions of the narrative, Gaspar was a nobleman who rose through the ranks of the Spanish Royal Navy and became a councilor to King Charles III of Spain. One such account concerns Maria Louise, a lovely Spanish princess, who was returning to Spain after a journey to Mexico with 11 Mexican princesses who were to be educated and married in Spain. Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. Find the treasure, don't report it, melt it down or sell it on the black market using a different name. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. Jos Gaspar. (PDF) The Real Pirate Billy Bowlegs: The Origins of the Billy Bowlegs Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. Treasure hunter Stacey Hunt holds an old nail found under the ground on a wetland believed to have lost treasure. In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. These men witnessed the battle and when the pirate ship began to sink, they loaded this vast treasure onto small boats and escaped unnoticed to a place called Spanish Homestead around the Peace River. Inside, bound to the box by copper wire, she found a dessicated hand wearing a ring with the word "Gaspar" on . Buumi . Lets do this. Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. 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. Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . 128 were here. Some say it reveals compass bearings around Lettuce Lake. Some more information on the cruise of the USS, I did not find a reference to Gaspar in Gardner Allen's, I was always Told Jose Gaspar, was also known as Juan Gomez. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. There are many differing versions about the pirates origins and life, but there is no real historical evidence that he ever existed. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. It is said that he buried a multitude of treasure along the Pamlico Sound and on Bluff Point. When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. When Gasparilla requested that they accompany him and his crew on a raid, the two young lovers assumed they would be slaughtered. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. By clicking Accept Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. Mysterious Pirate Treasure Box Found in Tampa Bay Attic - Cult of Weird 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. He then sailed back across the world, landing on what we now know as our home of Tampa Bay. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. His headquarters were at Boca Grande, on what is today known as Gasparilla Island. He even set up a blockade of the port of Charleston in South Carolina for 6 days. This is the spot for all of your seaside decorating needs. What you don't expect to find is treasure. In the following years, he accumulated a board estimated at $30,000,000. The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. Starting in 1911, though, the event's founders, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, switched . Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. There are at least 3 different locations said to hold his riches in Connecticut. However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. The story was included in a brochure in 1900 for a hotel on Gasparilla Island, where the pirate supposedly stored his vast treasures in a hidden den that had never been found. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade won't care. It is said that he and his brother buried all of his money on the islands in and around Charlotte Harbor. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. We also participate in programs from eBay, CJ, Bluehost, Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Go find it, unbury it, take tons of pictures, bury it back again, and prove to the world that you found it.
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