The ship at the center of it all: A history of the Jose Gasparilla II Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. We also participate in programs from eBay, CJ, Bluehost, Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. 15 Lost Treasures People Actually Found | TheRichest Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. 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. I have never found any real evidence he lived. Accept Read More. Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. Jose Gaspar | bakersfield.com 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. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There are many differing versions about the pirates origins and life, but there is no real historical evidence that he ever existed. The notorious pirate then committed suicide by wrapping a heavy chain around him and jumping over the side. His ship was scuttled in the battle sending the valuables to the bottom of the ocean. What we do know is that he is considered a hero to some and a villain to others. He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. Treasure on Sunken Spanish Galleon Could Be Biggest Ever - History Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! Jose Gaspar - A Real Pirate? | TreasureNet The Original Treasure Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State 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). Lets do this. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136 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. Is this the hand and treasure of Jose Gaspar? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. You must log in or register to reply here. But the idea of a pirate named Gasparilla (or some variant) goes way back. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. At The Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. visitors and locals can find treasures of all kinds. Available at: https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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 commandeered the 'Floridablanca', the ship upon which he was serving, to commence his life of piracy. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. 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. The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. Photos: Treasure Including Spanish Gold Found on Colombia Shipwreck It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. Available at: https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, ymkg, 2022. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure: A gripping, heart-pounding The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. $ 6 reviews. Jose Gaspar, the legendary buccaneer who inspired Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival, as well as fantastic tales of lost treasure, most likely never really existed. I'm here writing on Treasureunknown to provide helpful resources so others can get out and enjoy the thrill of the hunt! 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. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. St. Vincent Island off the coast of Florida is said to have been an island frequented by early pirates. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! "I'm considering it. To add more to the story, the treasure map contained the name of the infamous mythical pirate Gaspar. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. They took the box to a few antique stores around Tampa and the contents were described as "gruesome and authentic.". 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." The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. 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. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . He ignored this order and stayed in Galveston for about another year before the Army returned forcing him to leave. Gaspar realized in this moment that he had found the treasure he was searching for. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co - Tripadvisor This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. Or show us love by sharing articles and leaving great comments. 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. His ship soon followed him to the watery depths. 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136-2802. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. Save. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores Magnet fishing is a hobby that is quickly increasing in popularity with good reason. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The map is estimated to be from the 1930s and shows the Tampa area. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. 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. It does not store any personal data. The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. 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 . So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? Legends of Sanibel's Pirate Past - Sanibel Island Myths of Treasure (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. What date is Gasparilla 2021? (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. 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. Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. 3. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. He spent nearly 30 years plundering ships in and around the gulf coast. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. One of his ships has been discovered in the waters off of North Carolina and definitely proven to belong to Blackbeard. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. According to archives, the island community was created by Albert W. Gilchrist, Floridas 20th governor. Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. Treasure hunter Stacey Hunt holds an old nail found under the ground on a wetland believed to have lost treasure. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. 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). The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. 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. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV reported that 43-year-old treasure hunter Jonah Martinez located the coins using a . However his name and supposed deeds are still celebrated to this day, not least with the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival, which began in 1904 in Tampa, Florida, which honors his tale. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Born in 1756 in Spain, Gaspar served in the Spanish Navy until a mutiny in 1783. 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. He told where the body would be found and a sketch was prepared under his direction, and in recent years in the exact location as described, the skeleton of a beheaded woman was found.". The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. Tales of pirate treasures are very difficult to substantiate due to many factors. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. Top 10 Best Bookstores in Palm Coast, FL - February 2023 - Yelp Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. 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. 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. On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . 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.' History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. His flagship was eventually ran aground and he was ultimately killed by English warships off the East Coast of America. 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. Was there really a pirate named Jose Gaspar? The prices seem lower, but not my thing. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. 10 Lost Treasures in America Waiting to be Found - History Collection 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. Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! Galleon of Gold. 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 . It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. "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. Billy left the vast majority of his crew behind and sailed north to gather supplies to salvage his ship. 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. 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. 1. . Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Gasparilla, if he existed, wrapped himself in chain and jumped overboard with both hands still attached. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. Many say he buried treasure here during this time. Groups gather in St. Petersburg park to shed light on local violence, Tampas St. Josephs Childrens Hospital holds prom for pediatric patients, Photos: Rays back at Trop in spring game against Twins, Photos: Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic, Photos: New York's Naked Cowboy makes brief appearance in Tampa, Photos: Opening day for the Florida Strawberry Festival, Photos: IndyCar Series takes over streets of St. Petersburg, Hundreds of USF students join statewide walkout to protest DeSantis education policies, Photos: Lightning return home to take on Ducks, Photo Gallery: Family mourns Josiah Pinner during a candlelight vigil. Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. 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. (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. 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. These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. "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. By booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us bring you more Caribbean content so that you can save money and have a better island vacation. His men, who numbered in the hundreds, also buried their smaller caches on these islands. The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. Jos Gaspar - Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias Legend has it that in the late 1700s, a pirate named Jose Gaspar kidnapped the Spanish princess Joseffa de Mayorga. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. The team, known as the "Temple Twelve," have been . Gasparilla Pirate Festival - Wikipedia 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. The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. "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. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina.
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