He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. Having spent some time here, Blackbeard built a fort near a swamp west of Charleston. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. Definitely try, Find our recommended Caribbean hotels, restaurants, charters, & tours. In 1897, he purchased land at Boca Grande, an island outpost. Blackbeard also spend some time in North Carolina, in fact he secured a Royal Pardon in the town of Bath. As promised here is the start of your Pirate Treasure stories. The story goes that Lafitte and his men used an old barn on LeBleau Plantation as a gathering location and perhaps buried treasure here. Photos show a centuries-old shipwreck found off Colombia's coast carrying lost treasure worth billions of dollars, including gold coins and emeralds. ", "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. "But if you're gonna make up the myth, you know, go big, and so why not make him, you know, all pirates rolled into one and, you know, the baddest of them all," Rodney Kite-Powell, a historian at the Tampa Bay History Center and Director of the Touchstone Map Library said. Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. Josh is on a mission to find Jos Gaspar's hidden treasure. Michael Gattuso and his crew got a cable debut Wednesday night in an episode of Discovery Channel's show "Expedition Unknown." With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. All rights reserved. Available at: https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, ymkg, 2022. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. The latter two locations being the most logical. The Legend of Jose Gaspar. 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. Lets do this. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. 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. We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. When he was captured and offered the option of going to prison or joining the navy, he chose the latter, serving with distinction for several years before organizing a mutiny against a dictatorial captain and fleeing to Florida with a stolen ship. 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. Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In 1705 the group was killed by French traders who were tired of being robbed by these men. A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. 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. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. May 4, 1904Gasparilla Pirate Festival / First event date. What year did Jose Gaspar invade Tampa? JOSE GASPAR: Kern County makes history, and in a good way Dec 18, 2022 The 8-year-old student was curios so she wrote a letter. 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. Overview. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. Pricing is not too high. One day Gasparilla prepared to attack a merchantman, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a United States man-of-war. They used Barataria Bay in Louisiana as a hub for their enterprise. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. 2 chests are also rumored to be buried on Clarkes Island on the Connecticut River. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. 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. He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. Legend states they marked a tree by driving a sword into it. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. 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. 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. (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. 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. 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. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. A Florida family may have discovered some unusual treasure belonging to legendary pirate Jose "Gasparilla" Gaspar. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. Magnet fishing is a hobby that is quickly increasing in popularity with good reason. There are numerous legends and tales of buried treasure on this island. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Canceled2021 Gasparilla Pirate Festival / Date 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. Show more. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Upon hearing this news, he unloaded his spoils and set sail for America (where he was later arrested and sent back to England). He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. 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). Jose Gaspar Treasure Co 5 1 #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach Speciality & Gift Shops Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Fun shop with good prices! Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. 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. Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. Many took the deal. As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. His men, who numbered in the hundreds, also buried their smaller caches on these islands. Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. He met and married his wife in New York and had 2 daughters. His work appears here every third Monday; the views expressed. In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. Treasure hunter and researcher Lauren Gattuso sits on the boat as it heads toward an area where her and a small group of treasure hunters believe lies lost treasure. 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. In or around 1806 the brothers arrived in New Orleans Louisiana and were licensed privateers operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Charlotte Harbor is an ideal spot to go treasure hunting. Did Grandpa find pirate treasure? 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? will support that mission. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. Another instance of his softer side can be found in the account of Ann Jeffries, an English girl traveling from New Orleans to Liverpool. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. 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 His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. Dropa Stones: Are They 12,000 Year Old Discs? 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. First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. 1. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. 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. He supposedly buried large amounts of treasures on the islands around the bay. The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. There is another treasure said to be buried on Kelly Island in Delaware by James Gillian, a member of Kidds crew. Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. Millions of dollars have been found literally lying in front of people's feet, the world's beaches. ", 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. Most confirm that the "Floridablanca" was the name of his pirate ship and the one that he served upon in the Navy. Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . 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. There are many differing versions about the pirates origins and life, but there is no real historical evidence that he ever existed. https://www.cultofweird.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pirate-treasure-hand.jpg, https://www.cultofweird.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cultofweird-new-logo.png, Mysterious Pirate Treasure Box Found in Tampa Bay Attic, February 17, 2023 - 9:45 pm by dEBRINA bLACKMOON. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. 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. Was there really a pirate named Jose Gaspar? The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as "Gasparilla.". I have never found any real evidence he lived. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. . Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. Thread starter seeker41; Start date Apr 29, 2015 Apr 29, 2015 If you choose to embark on a hunt for any treasure do so at your own risk. "Maria came across it and once she told me she found a hand in a box. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. 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 . Find the treasure, don't report it, melt it down or sell it on the black market using a different name. You must log in or register to reply here. Louisiana makes sense because during most of his time here, he was considered a fugitive by the US. $ 6 reviews. What date is Gasparilla 2021? 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. 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. 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. 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 . 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. 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. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Lots of shells and jewelry and other gifts. Inside, bound to the box by copper wire, she found a dessicated hand wearing a ring with the word "Gaspar" on . If we find that buried treasure together, we can split the booty among all of our readers and we never have to work again. 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. We're back to the hotel brochure. Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. (story from treasurelore.com). He then sailed back across the world, landing on what we now know as our home of Tampa Bay. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. His piratical career always starts with an injustice and he is seen as a lovable rogue rather than a murderous monster. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. Always being on the run from mercenaries, armies, navies, and any and all other law enforcement agencies of the day, often resulted in the necessity to hide their riches. In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. What we do know is that he is considered a hero to some and a villain to others. Lopez wasn't a fan of pirates when he was growing up. This characterization continues through the stories of Gasparilla as a pirate. "You'll hear more of us, you know; we'll do this until we're old and, you know, can't do it anymore.". However, there is another story, that has some validity, of what happened to his treasure. Top Image: Real pirate or later fiction? Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. Location & Hours 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd Flagler Beach, FL 32136 Get directions Edit business info You Might Also Consider Sponsored Purple Haze 22 23.4 miles away from Jose Gaspar Treasure Marcus E. said "Hand crafted glass smoking utensils. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. 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. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. However there are several problems with the story which have led many to question whether Gasparilla as he was known was a real historical figure. The American Government then decided to get into the act and sent a Navy squadron to end his career. Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. What he thought was a British cargo ship turned out to be the USS Enterprise, on a mission to end piracy. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship.