Many took the deal. 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. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. Treasure hunting can be a fun and exciting activity. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. ", 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. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. However, there is another story, that has some validity, of what happened to his treasure. It is said that he buried a multitude of treasure along the Pamlico Sound and on Bluff Point. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. He supposedly buried large amounts of treasures on the islands around the bay. Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen. 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. (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. Sometime later a large sum of gold coins was found near the Spanish Homestead. In the 1690s a war broke out between England and France. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. 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. These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. 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. This state also holds another possible location on the banks of Blackbird Creek. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. Go find it, unbury it, take tons of pictures, bury it back again, and prove to the world that you found it. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. . In all, he buried 13 casks and chests of treasure in the vicinity of his headquarters. By Geoff Dobson. As with any tale of vast hidden riches, these stories can not be 100 percent verified to even exist. Just pick any island and start digging, because Gasparillas loot is buried on many of them, including Cayo Pelau. With Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses, How We Became Mr. and Mrs. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. While doing some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, Maria Lopez made an unusual discovery in her grandfathers attic. The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. How did the legend of Gaspar begin? In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. The leaflet establishes Gaspars legend, claiming that he chose Gasparilla Island as the best of the islands in Charlotte Harbor to establish his base. ", Pirate treasure in grandpa's attic includes human hand. Lafitte was wanted by the US government for they deemed his acts as piracy, not privateering. Another instance of his softer side can be found in the account of Ann Jeffries, an English girl traveling from New Orleans to Liverpool. Josh is on a mission to find Jos Gaspar's hidden treasure. 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. 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? In 1897, he purchased land at Boca Grande, an island outpost. The author of the pamphlet readily stated that the spectacular tale was a work of fiction with no genuine facts in it. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Rogers is said to have hidden huge amounts of gold and silver bars worth a fortune today. You'll need a boat or kayak for this cache. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Some say that as this disguised ship was sailing by, the aging pirate and his crew were in the process of dividing up the spoils as an act of retirement. Whether he was his cabin boy, like it states in the story, or maybe he might have been Gasparilla himself because of all the treasure maps that we have found. Jos Gaspar, also known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. 1756 - 1821), is an apocryphal Spanish pirate who terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during Florida's second Spanish period (1783 to 1821). However, this treasure is also attributed to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. . For whatever reason, burial of chests laden with gold and jewels seems to be the norm, but is there any pirate treasure left? All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. You are using an out of date browser. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. You must log in or register to reply here. This was around the 1870s, after the Civil War. The vessel was said to be transporting gold, silver and precious gems collected in the South . The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. Most confirm that the "Floridablanca" was the name of his pirate ship and the one that he served upon in the Navy. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. This is the spot for all of your seaside decorating needs. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. What date is Gasparilla 2021? There are numerous legends and tales of buried treasure on this island. 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. 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. So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? 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. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. Billy left the vast majority of his crew behind and sailed north to gather supplies to salvage his ship. 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. Upon returning he discovered that he had been labeled a pirate by the British government. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. Leaving soon? "Possibly keep it forever. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. May 4, 1904Gasparilla Pirate Festival / First event date. The experts dont believe that their find is a real treasure map or that the legend of Gaspar is anything more than children story or a folk tale that adds to the culture of the area. 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 Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. 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. "The reason I believe in Gasparilla is because I believe in Juan Gomez," Mike Gattuso, a member of The Real Treasure Hunters, told Paluska. 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. "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. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. 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. 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. Indian River Shores, Florida A trove of Spanish coins dating back to a 1715 shipwreck during a storm have been found along a beach in Florida. Though that treasure has never been discovered, the story of the swashbuckling Gaspar was unearthed and his memory revived in 1904 when Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla was formed and adopted the pirate as patron rogue of their city . 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. 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. A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. To add more to the story, the treasure map contained the name of the infamous mythical pirate Gaspar. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. It's located in Florida, United States.A real, albeit, small treasure chest on a real small island. 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. 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. 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. 1. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as "Gasparilla.". Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. 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 story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. 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 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. A fisherman at Stafford Point in Connecticut is rumored to have spotted some pirates burying a heavy looking chest at Stratford Point in Connecticut during the late 1600s. 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. Magnet fishing is a hobby that is quickly increasing in popularity with good reason. His flagship was eventually ran aground and he was ultimately killed by English warships off the East Coast of America. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. He was well-liked in court, but when he abandoned one lover for another, his spurned lover falsely accused him of stealing the crown jewels. 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. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. I have never found any real evidence he lived. 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. If there is one thing pirates are known for it is treasure. It may not display this or other websites correctly. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! 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. I love searching for all types of "treasures" with my family. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. Overview. It may not display this or other websites correctly. He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. Dropa Stones: Are They 12,000 Year Old Discs? Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia: Politician: Capricon: 06 January 1766 AD . He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. Buumi . (story from treasurelore.com). If you choose to embark on a hunt for any treasure do so at your own risk. 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. In the following years, he accumulated a board estimated at $30,000,000. 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. 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 What year did Gasparilla start? The Search For The Real Captain Morgan. 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. Enjoy. This story seems to border on the outer limits, but a local historian doesnt believe that the hand belongs to the famed pirate. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. When it comes to the legend of Jose Gaspar, Diff told us to "be cautious that the information you present as there are lots of versions of this story and everyone's version is 'true.' will support that mission. First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. Inside, bound to the box by copper wire, she found a dessicated hand wearing a ring with the word "Gaspar" on . 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. 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. Jean Lafitte. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. 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. $ 6 reviews. He then sailed back across the world, landing on what we now know as our home of Tampa Bay. Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. Treasure hunter Stacey Hunt holds an old nail found under the ground on a wetland believed to have lost treasure. From a four-mile long parade of pirates and period memorabilia on display, to specialty packages and a waterfront half . 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. Latest Blog . Gaspar realized in this moment that he had found the treasure he was searching for. He even set up a blockade of the port of Charleston in South Carolina for 6 days. This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. It was done for tourism purposes," Gattuso said. 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. Okay, that was. 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. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. All rights reserved. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. There are also inherent dangers involved with any of these types of adventures. 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 . Finding a real human hand is probably not what the Lopezes had in mind, but thats exactly what this family from Florida found in their grandparents attic. 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." 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St. Vincent Island off the coast of Florida is said to have been an island frequented by early pirates. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. His men, who numbered in the hundreds, also buried their smaller caches on these islands. I'm Clint, the guy behind Treasureunknown. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. Marias brother Mike believes the couple in the photo may be their great grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez. We thought that was awesome. He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. They gave him a first name, Jose Gaspar, and they really gave him the full backstory to create that in 1904. (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. Lafayette Street, which is now Kennedy Boulevard is also labeled on the map. 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. And he's fueled a cottage industry of treasure-hunting books, guides and metal . Story continues below video. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. Millions of dollars have been found literally lying in front of people's feet, the world's beaches. They took the box to a few antique stores around Tampa and the contents were described as "gruesome and authentic.". Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Available at: https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. 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. The notorious pirate then committed suicide by wrapping a heavy chain around him and jumping over the side. 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. Accept Read More. We will discuss a few of them here. 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. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. 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). Pricing is not too high. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. We have one with Gomez's name on it. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. I love this place built around 1640 . Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. 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.
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