When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. 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. "You'll hear more of us, you know; we'll do this until we're old and, you know, can't do it anymore.". In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. P.S. Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government. Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. ", 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. They gave him a first name, Jose Gaspar, and they really gave him the full backstory to create that in 1904. 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. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. 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. Josh is on a mission to find Jos Gaspar's hidden treasure. Is this the hand and treasure of Jose Gaspar? These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! 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. Thread starter seeker41; Start date Apr 29, 2015 Apr 29, 2015 Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. What you don't expect to find is treasure. 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 . This was around the 1870s, after the Civil War. A Net Inceptions project. As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. Millions of dollars have been found literally lying in front of people's feet, the world's beaches. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. He was wanted until 1815 when opinion of him changed. 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. According to the story, Gaspar had underestimated the USS Enterprise as an easy target. 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 . 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. Legend has it that in the late 1700s, a pirate named Jose Gaspar kidnapped the Spanish princess Joseffa de Mayorga. 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. Show more. These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. 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. However, if they do, they are still up for grabs. 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. Here Lafitte had a very fair treasure distribution policy that everyone seemed to like. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. 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 Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. The Legend of Jose Gaspar. 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. USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. 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. "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. Despite its long history, there is no definitive origin of the name. You must log in or register to reply here. Accept Read More. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV reported that 43-year-old treasure hunter Jonah Martinez located the coins using a . Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. 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 . Jean Lafitte. (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. Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez. This is the spot for all of your seaside decorating needs. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. I love this place built around 1640 . Supposedly this fort had hidden tunnels leading under the fort. 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. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. However, this treasure is also attributed to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. I have never found any real evidence he lived. 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. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! This tale doesnt give the Lopezes a helping hand in solving the mystery of the finds from their grandparents attic. Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. After that, they searched his cabin and found a jar of gold coins and a small sheet of copper engraved with a code indicating the location of buried 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. Inside, bound to the box by copper wire, she found a dessicated hand wearing a ring with the word "Gaspar" on . 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 . Shopping, Gift & Specialty Shops. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. Name of The Day. 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. Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If marriage was selected, there would be a ceremony, and the marriage promise would be strictly enforced. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. 1. 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. I'm here writing on Treasureunknown to provide helpful resources so others can get out and enjoy the thrill of the hunt! The map is estimated to be from the 1930s and shows the Tampa area. 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. I'm Clint, the guy behind Treasureunknown. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. Upon returning he discovered that he had been labeled a pirate by the British government. Evidently, though, the treasure is not. Who created the man who is now a legend? 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/. Lafayette Street, which is now Kennedy Boulevard is also labeled on the map. We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. Was there really a pirate named Jose Gaspar? It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. Pirate Blackbeard entered the history books in the early 1700s. Having spent some time here, Blackbeard built a fort near a swamp west of Charleston. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. Friendly down to earth staff. Most of the suspected locations are in and around the state of Florida. Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. 3. The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. He finally returned with his wife to find all but a handful of his crew had died. Aged Rum. He vowed revenge on those who had framed him and was forced to turn to a life of piracy. Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. The story goes that Lafitte and his men used an old barn on LeBleau Plantation as a gathering location and perhaps buried treasure here. He even set up a blockade of the port of Charleston in South Carolina for 6 days. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He spent nearly 30 years plundering ships in and around the gulf coast. 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. 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. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. Around noon on the Gasparilla Day, members of YMKG set sail across Tampa Bay from near Ballast Point Park to downtown aboard the Jose Gasparilla, a 165' long flat . 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. In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. One day Gasparilla prepared to attack a merchantman, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a United States man-of-war. To learn more, visit our. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? Much of his treasure was carried to him up the Peace River. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. 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. The author of the pamphlet readily stated that the spectacular tale was a work of fiction with no genuine facts in it. Lopez wasn't a fan of pirates when he was growing up. My grandfather had a book on all these when I was younger. 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It's part of our family now.". Find the treasure, don't report it, melt it down or sell it on the black market using a different name. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. 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. 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! The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. "I'm considering it," he said with a big smile. Therefore hiding treasure might have seemed like a logical choice. Afterwards, he sailed his ship, the Floridablanca, to the Gulf Coast and set up a pirate base on what is now known as Gasparilla Island in Southwest Florida. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. At The Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. visitors and locals can find treasures of all kinds. St. Vincent Island off the coast of Florida is said to have been an island frequented by early pirates. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar, Sachs, S, 2022. Interesting history topics are just a click away. "Maybe my great-grandparents were pirates," Mike Lopez said. This happened in the year 1782. Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Upon hearing this news, he unloaded his spoils and set sail for America (where he was later arrested and sent back to England).
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