There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. Just . No Result Found. Do you think there's buried treasure out there? He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. Gilchrist intended to turn the area into a community. 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. 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. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. Once again our legend states that he hid 3 large chests among a group of trees on San Jose Island. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. His ship was scuttled in the battle sending the valuables to the bottom of the ocean. But, now? He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. 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! We will discuss a few of them here. Jose Lopez's sister, Maria, was cleaning out the attic of a home owned by her great-grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez, in Tampa's historic Ybor City area, when she stumbled upon the box, WFLA-TV reports. 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. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. 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. John Gomez, also known as Juan Gomez and Panther John. A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. 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. A band of pirates in Wisconsin operated out of a cave on Hermit island. There are numerous legends and tales of buried treasure on this island. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. 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. I have never found any real evidence he lived. 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. What year did Jose Gaspar invade Tampa? 11 The Cuerdale Treasures- $2.6 Million. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. The map is estimated to be from the 1930s and shows the Tampa area. 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. 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. Therefore hiding treasure might have seemed like a logical choice. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. Born in 1756 in Spain, Gaspar served in the Spanish Navy until a mutiny in 1783. When you go in the attic you expect to find something old. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. They took the box to a few antique stores. Did Grandpa find pirate 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. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. When he finally realized that it was a warship, it was too late. Lopez wasn't a fan of pirates when he was growing up. . 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. Old Hand Found In Florida Attic With Coins And Treasure Map. Save. Galleon of Gold. Who created the man who is now a legend? Ill post one a week Treasure Tuesdaysthis that lame? Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". "They were the ones that profited from the story to attract visitors to their new train stop and hotel (Gasparilla Inn)," Crystal Diff, Executive Director of the Boca Grande Historical Society and History Center, wrote in an email. The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. So where did Blackbeard hide his treasures? ", 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. We have seven maps.". Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. Stingy Jack and the History of the Jack-o-Lantern, The Varangians: Viking Conquerors turned Byzantium Honor Guard, The Secret Necropolis of Ancient Varna and the First Goldsmiths. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. 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. However, he spotted a British merchant ship and could not resist one final prize. This particular lost treasure consists of a bunch of silver coins, ingots and even pieces of jewelry. Okay, that was. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. He eventually retired and settled down on Shell Creek near Lettuce Lake in DeSoto County, where he lived for many years. May 4, 1904Gasparilla Pirate Festival / First event date. Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. 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 . 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. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. Available at: https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. "The Gasparilla Day Parade, the big parade, is the third largest parade in this country after only the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Bowl parade. 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. A Florida family may have discovered some unusual treasure belonging to legendary pirate Jose "Gasparilla" Gaspar. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. He vowed revenge on those who had framed him and was forced to turn to a life of piracy. Icelanders and the Huldufolk: A Nation Gripped by Farinis Great Discovery: Is there a Lost City Top Ten Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. Dodge and Hardee get credit for creating Gasparilla, and Hardee and the krewe more so for crafting Gaspar's backstory (including giving him the first name Jose and a death date of 1821). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. 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/. https://wtfflorida.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/17-Oru-Para-Todos-Los-Santos-Part-1-Eleggua.mp3, Its gonna be really f*cking cold in Florida; impending snow, death, mayhem, Andrew Van Sickle assigned as prosecutor in the infamous shark case, Lets Make Florida Slightly Less Fucked Up, Alligator attacks Peace River swimmer in Arcadia, Florida Man Cuts off Gator Tail to Impress Girlfriend and Tries to Sell it to Neighbors, Traffic stop leads to meth arrest in Silver Springs. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. Once he was a few hundred meters away, the British flag came down and the American flag rose up the mast. JavaScript is disabled. How did the legend of Gaspar begin? Top Image: Real pirate or later fiction? 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. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. 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. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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? In 1705 the group was killed by French traders who were tired of being robbed by these men. This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. 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. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! 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. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. Enjoy. His treasure might have been on the ship with him during this battle. My grandfather had a book on all these when I was younger. "So, it's interesting how Tampa, in a sense, stole; we were pirates ourselves. Lots of shells and jewelry and other gifts. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. Photos show a centuries-old shipwreck found off Colombia's coast carrying lost treasure worth billions of dollars, including gold coins and emeralds. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. The treasure: Slave-turned-pirate Henri Caesar stole a ship in Haiti to seek his fortune on the Spanish Main and Florida waters. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. They gave him a first name, Jose Gaspar, and they really gave him the full backstory to create that in 1904. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony. 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. Website. 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. Pricing is not too high. And he's fueled a cottage industry of treasure-hunting books, guides and metal . wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. 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There are at least 3 different locations said to hold his riches in Connecticut. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. 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. We also participate in programs from eBay, CJ, Bluehost, Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. What remains of Jos Gaspar today are his stories and legends, but most significant of them all is the secret of these mysterious cherries. "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. 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. This action helped turn opinion of Lafitte from villain to hero. He met and married his wife in New York and had 2 daughters. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. Definitely try, Find our recommended Caribbean hotels, restaurants, charters, & tours. Most stories agree he was an aristocratic Spanish Navy Officer who later. Jose Gaspar, the legendary buccaneer who inspired Tampas Gasparilla Pirate Festival, as well as fantastic tales of lost treasure, most likely never really existed. According to the story, Gaspar had underestimated the USS Enterprise as an easy target. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. 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. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. You must log in or register to reply here. He was wanted until 1815 when opinion of him changed. He finally returned with his wife to find all but a handful of his crew had died. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. Magnet fishing is a hobby that is quickly increasing in popularity with good reason. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. It's located on the north side of town, next door to the Turtle Shack cafe. The latter two locations being the most logical. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade won't care. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. 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. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. 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. You are using an out of date browser. ", 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. This happened in the year 1782. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. He then sailed back across the world, landing on what we now know as our home of Tampa Bay. 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. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. . (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. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV reported that 43-year-old treasure hunter Jonah Martinez located the coins using a . But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. According to Floridian folklore, Gaspar was a fearsome pirate that operated out of a secret base in southwest Florida in the late 18th and early 19th . Jose Gaspar commandeered the 'Floridablanca', the ship upon which he was serving, to commence his life of piracy. Billy left the vast majority of his crew behind and sailed north to gather supplies to salvage his ship. The Story of Jose Gaspar Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? Leaving soon? I love this place built around 1640 . 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. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. From seashells to lost treasure, this shop has it all. To learn more, visit our. 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. Most confirm that the "Floridablanca" was the name of his pirate ship and the one that he served upon in the Navy. Legend states they marked a tree by driving a sword into it. 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. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen.