These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. So that's why we believe that it was Juan Gomez. This is the spot for all of your seaside decorating needs. They used Barataria Bay in Louisiana as a hub for their enterprise. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. This story seems to border on the outer limits, but a local historian doesnt believe that the hand belongs to the famed pirate. "The reason I believe in Gasparilla is because I believe in Juan Gomez," Mike Gattuso, a member of The Real Treasure Hunters, told Paluska. Is this the hand and treasure of Jose Gaspar? This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. According to archives, the island community was created by Albert W. Gilchrist, Floridas 20th governor. Sometime later a large sum of gold coins was found near the Spanish Homestead. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. In or around 1806 the brothers arrived in New Orleans Louisiana and were licensed privateers operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. Rumor has it, that the stolen goods are still hidden somewhere on the island. I'm Clint, the guy behind Treasureunknown. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. 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. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Icelanders and the Huldufolk: A Nation Gripped by Farinis Great Discovery: Is there a Lost City Top Ten Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. His death seems to come straight from Hollywood. Therefore hiding treasure might have seemed like a logical choice. Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. He even set up a blockade of the port of Charleston in South Carolina for 6 days. Many took the deal. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Many believe it is Edward Teach, but some claim it is Edward Thatch. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. They took the box to a few antique stores. Fastened inside the box with copper wire is an old wedding photo, 18th century Spanish and Portuguese coins, a 1930s map of the Hillsborough River and a mummified hand wearing a ring. 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. You are using an out of date browser. His ship soon followed him to the watery depths. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? Rumors take on a life of their own and ultimately cause hurt or expense. Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. ", 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. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. Ancient Viking treasures found in England actually seems to be a thing, as many of relative value have been found throughout the years. His headquarters were at Boca Grande, on what is today known as Gasparilla Island. No Result Found. 128 were here. 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136-2802. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. According to the story, Gaspar had underestimated the USS Enterprise as an easy target. What remains of Jos Gaspar today are his stories and legends, but most significant of them all is the secret of these mysterious cherries. 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. Lafitte was wanted by the US government for they deemed his acts as piracy, not privateering. These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. A Net Inceptions project. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. Available at: https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, ymkg, 2022. He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. Jose Gaspar commandeered the 'Floridablanca', the ship upon which he was serving, to commence his life of piracy. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. Born in 1756 in Spain, Gaspar served in the Spanish Navy until a mutiny in 1783. Enjoy. The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? What Became of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate of the Caribbean? If there is one thing pirates are known for it is treasure. 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. 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. Paluska and ABC Action News photojournalist Reed Moeller took a 20-minute ferry ride from Pine Island to Useppa Island, the location where Gaspar is said to have beheaded a Spanish Princess. Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . Rather than be captured by the United States Navy, he wrapped an anchor chain around his leg and jumped overboard, the heavy metal dragging him out of sight into the deep blue waters. Cleaning the dreaded attic turned up a darling wedding photo of the Lopezes grandparents, but it also uncovered some interesting but creepy finds. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. 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. This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, no pirate was more feared in the southern United States than Jose Gaspar. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. Jose Gaspar (GC3FZAF) was created by seabreezedrive on 4/1/2012. Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. 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. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade won't care. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Rogers is said to have hidden huge amounts of gold and silver bars worth a fortune today. On the Hawaiian island of Oahu there is said to be six chests buried along a stone wall somewhere around Kaena Point. The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. Story continues below video. 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. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. We have one with Gomez's name on it. Treasure hunter Michael Gattuso paddles a boat toward the dock where part of his crew Stacey Hunt, Erin Melcher and Lauren Gattuso wait for him near Nav-A-Gators Bar and Grill. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. This Plantation is said to be roughly 5 miles West of the town of Iowa. But, now? According to historians, it was a real man named Juan "Panther John" Gomez from Gasparilla Island, or as he was known locally, John, or Panther Key John. P.S. On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . What you don't expect to find is treasure. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 3.5, terrain of 5. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. Lets do this. Santa Rosa Island has been sort of a local hotspot for finding bags of gold and silver coins. However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. 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. Friendly down to earth staff. 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. This action helped turn opinion of Lafitte from villain to hero. A band of pirates in Wisconsin operated out of a cave on Hermit island. To add more to the story, the treasure map contained the name of the infamous mythical pirate Gaspar. But the idea of a pirate named Gasparilla (or some variant) goes way back. "And it was from that little nugget of information that came from the Charlotte Harbor railroad about a pirate named Gaspar that the whole legend of Gasparilla and Jose Gaspar came about, but it was Ye Mystic Krewe that fleshed it out. "Either my great-grandfather made the best, most elaborate pirate hoax ever and never shared it with anyone or he really did find some treasure on the Hillsborough River. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. 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. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. The prices seem lower, but not my thing. Or they were always togahter. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. During his 38 year career as a pirate, Gaspar attacked over four hundred ships in the Gulf waters of Florida, including supposedly the vessel carrying $11.75 million in gold bullion that the United States had paid Napoleon for the Louisiana Purchase. However, if they do, they are still up for grabs. Show more. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as "Gasparilla.". Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! 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. And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. He confirmed that indeed the Lopezes have found a real human hand, but as for Gasparilla, that was a myth. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". He subsequently set fire to all his buildings before sailing out to sea, never to be heard from again. 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). He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. Jose Gaspar Treasure 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd Flagler Beach FL 32136 (386) 439-3061 Claim this business (386) 439-3061 Website More Directions Advertisement Photos See More Hours Wed: 11am - 5pm Thu: 11am - 5pm Fri: 11am - 5pm Sat: 11am - 5pm Sun: 12pm - 5pm Website Take me there Jewelers Nice Shell Shop. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? 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. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. Jean Lafitte. Similar Names. His fleet would capture vessels at sea, and take all the goods back to Galveston. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Charlotte Harbor is an ideal spot to go treasure hunting. Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. Or show us love by sharing articles and leaving great comments. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. He finally returned with his wife to find all but a handful of his crew had died. Most confirm that the "Floridablanca" was the name of his pirate ship and the one that he served upon in the Navy. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Just . It does not store any personal data. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! Pirate treasure rumors. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. How did the legend of Gaspar begin? Blackbeard captured an estimated 40 different ships and vessels in a little less than 2 years off the east coast of America and across the Caribbean. Buumi . Captured ladies were not raped and murdered, but instead had the option of marrying one of his crew members or being transferred to Captiva Island in Florida. 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." A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In all, he buried 13 casks and chests of treasure in the vicinity of his headquarters. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony. will support that mission. Much of his treasure was carried to him up the Peace River. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. John Gomez, also known as Juan Gomez and Panther John. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez. We're back to the hotel brochure. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. link to A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. He supposedly buried large amounts of treasures on the islands around the bay. Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. Aged Rum. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher drives his boat as Michael Gattuso navigates directions to a wetland believed to have lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia on Sunday, January 13, 2019. Decipher the code, and you might find some of Gaspars lost treasure but as fast as Florida changes, dont be surprised if you find a new shopping mall sitting square on top of it. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. A team of treasure hunters could be on the verge of unearthing the "world's largest treasure hoard," said to be worth over $20 billion. Gasparilla fell in love with Jeffries while on land, but she informed him that she had fallen in love with one of his crew, Batista Fuentes, a handsome and well-educated man from a famous family. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. 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. Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. Gaspar realized in this moment that he had found the treasure he was searching for. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. ", Pirate treasure in grandpa's attic includes human hand. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. Here Lafitte had a very fair treasure distribution policy that everyone seemed to like. These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. Website. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. Not being able to pass up this giant score, he pursed the ship that was flying a British flag. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. 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. 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. Mike Lopez tells WFLA that his sister was. 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 . When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. RECOMMENDED: The legend of Jose Gaspar and the history of Gasparilla. Lacking experience in seamanship, he and his crew of escaped slaves limited their raids to smaller ships and coastal villages but managed to amass a large amount of treasure, which was hidden in several caches on the . The vessel was said to be transporting gold, silver and precious gems collected in the South . This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. The notorious pirate then committed suicide by wrapping a heavy chain around him and jumping over the side. Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . The treasure on Money Island is said to hidden in the crevice of a large rock that is only visible during low tide. He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. "You'll hear more of us, you know; we'll do this until we're old and, you know, can't do it anymore.". So, we stole Jose Gaspar. There are a few pirates who may have hidden treasure at this spot, including Billy. Pricing is not too high. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. The Gaspar myth in the very beginning was tied to the Charlotte Harbor area. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar, Sachs, S, 2022. 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. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. You must log in or register to reply here. Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. 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. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! And he's fueled a cottage industry of treasure-hunting books, guides and metal . 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. 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. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. Galleon of Gold. They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. Crystal and I greatly appreciate any support! ", "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. In 1897, he purchased land at Boca Grande, an island outpost. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. In the 1690s a war broke out between England and France. 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. Legends tell how he amassed a huge fortune, and hid an enormous treasure before dying a hero facing the might of the US Navy. The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. (story from treasurelore.com). Despite his brutal reputation, Gasparilla was supposed to have a soft side as well. Legend has it that in the late 1700s, a pirate named Jose Gaspar kidnapped the Spanish princess Joseffa de Mayorga. Okay, that was. Leaving soon? The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. 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 pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. Later that fall, he captured a large French slave ship bound for some sugar plantations. 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. 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There are also inherent dangers involved with any of these types of adventures.

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