The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. With his crew of cut-throat mercenaries, the last of the buccaneers terrorized shipping in the Gulf of Mexico for years, striking from his secret Florida base. World's largest 'treasure hoard' worth over $20 billion may soon be found The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure: A gripping, heart-pounding Icelanders and the Huldufolk: A Nation Gripped by Farinis Great Discovery: Is there a Lost City Top Ten Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia: Politician: Capricon: 06 January 1766 AD . Available at: https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! $150 Million Dollar Treasure Found On A Beach By Accident Jose Gaspar (GC3FZAF) was created by seabreezedrive on 4/1/2012. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. I love this place built around 1640 . On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . 128 were here. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. He weighed in on the treasure map as well and believes it was a blueprint for the area during the 1920s and 1930s, but nothing more. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. JOSE GASPAR TREASURE - 16 Photos - 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler A Net Inceptions project. "I'm considering it," he said with a big smile. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Despite its long history, there is no definitive origin of the name. 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. History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. "It's a bunch of heartbreak with little reward and a lot of imagination," said treasure hunter Erin Melcher. JavaScript is disabled. Just pick any island and start digging, because Gasparillas loot is buried on many of them, including Cayo Pelau. 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. The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. Later that fall, he captured a large French slave ship bound for some sugar plantations. Hand in Tampa Attic Stirs Up Memories of Dread Pirate Gaspar However, there is another story, that has some validity, of what happened to his treasure. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. With Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses, How We Became Mr. and Mrs. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. The Severed Hand of Florida Pirate Jose Gaspar Found in Attic! Gasparilla Season | Visit Tampa Bay I love searching for all types of "treasures" with my family. Here are some Metal Detectors for you to start your quest. The ship at the center of it all: A history of the Jose Gasparilla II The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . In the 1690s a war broke out between England and France. Do secret rooms conceal unknown treasures? Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. Lopez wasn't a fan of pirates when he was growing up. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. 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. It is said that he buried a multitude of treasure along the Pamlico Sound and on Bluff Point. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. Many believe it is Edward Teach, but some claim it is Edward Thatch. Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. 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 . So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? As with any tale of vast hidden riches, these stories can not be 100 percent verified to even exist. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. Treasure hunters seeking Gasparilla's gold featured on Discovery and His fleet would capture vessels at sea, and take all the goods back to Galveston. From a four-mile long parade of pirates and period memorabilia on display, to specialty packages and a waterfront half . The author of the pamphlet readily stated that the spectacular tale was a work of fiction with no genuine facts in it. ", 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. 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. Who was this figure, and what was he supposed to have done? You must log in or register to reply here. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Blackbeard also spend some time in North Carolina, in fact he secured a Royal Pardon in the town of Bath. Tyrons Landing located between the towns of Wethersfield and Naubuc. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. His flagship was eventually ran aground and he was ultimately killed by English warships off the East Coast of America. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. Ill post one a week Treasure Tuesdaysthis that lame? After sustaining heavy damage, the famed Spanish pirate tied himself to his anchor and leaped to his watery death apparently not wanting to be killed at the hands of the enemy. There is another treasure said to be buried on Kelly Island in Delaware by James Gillian, a member of Kidds crew. What remains of Jos Gaspar today are his stories and legends, but most significant of them all is the secret of these mysterious cherries. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. He subsequently set fire to all his buildings before sailing out to sea, never to be heard from again. The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. This happened in the year 1782. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. However his name and supposed deeds are still celebrated to this day, not least with the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival, which began in 1904 in Tampa, Florida, which honors his tale. Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. Pirate Blackbeard entered the history books in the early 1700s. Jos Gaspar. Afterwards, he sailed his ship, the Floridablanca, to the Gulf Coast and set up a pirate base on what is now known as Gasparilla Island in Southwest Florida. Jos Gaspar. And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. The Choctawatchee Bay is an area of a lot of speculation of the location of some of Bowlegs hidden treasure. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. There are also inherent dangers involved with any of these types of adventures. But the idea of a pirate named Gasparilla (or some variant) goes way back. Jose Gaspar, the legendary buccaneer who inspired Tampas Gasparilla Pirate Festival, as well as fantastic tales of lost treasure, most likely never really existed. USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Pirates of Charlotte Harbor It's part of our family now.". Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. Shipwrecks: Who owns the treasure hidden under the sea? The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL And that's what we've been chasing. Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. Here Lafitte had a very fair treasure distribution policy that everyone seemed to like. Gasparilla Pirate Festival - Wikipedia Gaspar realized in this moment that he had found the treasure he was searching for. Treasure hunter Todd Stager holds a machete on a wetland where him and a small group of treasure hunters believe lies lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia. 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. In the following years, he accumulated a board estimated at $30,000,000. JOSE GASPAR: 15 years later, Telemundo is still the only Spanish Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade wont care. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Charlotte Harbor is an ideal spot to go treasure hunting. 1. Okay, that was. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. Before we get to the treasure hunt, let's touch on the historical background of Jose Gaspar and how a now infamous fictitious pirate became a Tampa legend. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. Top 10 Best Bookstores in Palm Coast, FL - February 2023 - Yelp Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 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. He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. 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 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. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. He even set up a blockade of the port of Charleston in South Carolina for 6 days. 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. The items found by his sister were neatly packed inside a wooden box. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla Island. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! Definitely try, Find our recommended Caribbean hotels, restaurants, charters, & tours. Who created the man who is now a legend? A few years later, he fell out of favor with the government and turned to a life of piracy. Enjoy. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. 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. If the legend is true, Gasparilla was extremely successful and plundered more than 400 ships. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Just . Is this the hand and treasure of Jose Gaspar? Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. Crystal and I greatly appreciate any support! History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. Old Hand Found In Florida Attic With Coins And Treasure Map. Tampans have embraced Gasparilla for more than a century, whether or not the pirate Jose Gaspar ever came to town It's a huge juxtaposition from the quiet of the Touchton Map Library at the. Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. He confirmed that indeed the Lopezes have found a real human hand, but as for Gasparilla, that was a myth. Legacy | Useppa Island Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Thread starter seeker41; Start date Apr 29, 2015 Apr 29, 2015 As the story goes, the pirate Jose Gaspar was hunting for the USS Enterprise in 1821; onboard was Juan Gmez, the man who lived to tell the tale. Gasparilla, if he existed, wrapped himself in chain and jumped overboard with both hands still attached. Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. Tampa family finds pirate treasure in grandpa's attic - USA TODAY Ancient Viking treasures found in England actually seems to be a thing, as many of relative value have been found throughout the years. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. During this time a woman of the royal family, rumored to be the kings daughter-in-law sought the attention of this young naval officer. . Treasure hunters search for Jose Gaspar's lost riches - Tampa Bay Times Buumi . Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. 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. Latest Blog . 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Mike Lopez tells WFLA that his sister was. Historic City Memories: Pirate treasure rumors Starting in 1911, though, the event's founders, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, switched . Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. In all, he buried 13 casks and chests of treasure in the vicinity of his headquarters. Other possible locations of Kidds treasure include Maryland in Druid Park, and Money Island off the coast of Connecticut is also claimed to be used by Kidd. The American Government then decided to get into the act and sent a Navy squadron to end his career. As promised here is the start of your Pirate Treasure stories. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. Gasparilla had decided to retire following the sale of Florida to the United States, and was dividing his treasure (valued at six times the purchase price of the entire state of Florida) between his crew. Jos Gaspar, also known by his nickname Gasparilla , is an apocryphal Spanish pirate who terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during Florida's second Spanish period .