Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. Gaspar's Lost Treasure - WTF Florida? 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. Shipwrecks: Who owns the treasure hidden under the sea? "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. You must log in or register to reply here. The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. (3) The Spanish kept meticulous records and there is no mention of Gasparilla in the archives. We have one with Gomez's name on it. 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. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Charlotte Harbor is an ideal spot to go treasure hunting. This endeavor lasted only about 5 years when the us army came to visit Lafitte, asking him to leave. 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). Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . 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. USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. In the following years, he accumulated a board estimated at $30,000,000. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. He ignored this order and stayed in Galveston for about another year before the Army returned forcing him to leave. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. Lopez wasn't a fan of pirates when he was growing up. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Company are said to have distributed the brochures. A Florida family may have discovered some unusual treasure belonging to legendary pirate Jose "Gasparilla" Gaspar. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. It does not store any personal data. 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 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. They used Barataria Bay in Louisiana as a hub for their enterprise. You'll need a boat or kayak for this cache. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What date is Gasparilla 2021? And that's what we've been chasing. 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. 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. The Legend of Jose Gaspar. What is the story behind Gasparilla? - Promisekit.org He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. 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 . 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. 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. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map So it is a huge, huge draw for people to come to Tampa.". In or around 1806 the brothers arrived in New Orleans Louisiana and were licensed privateers operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. . Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136 "We do have some treasure maps, and we're working on them," Gattuso said. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. ", Pirate treasure in grandpa's attic includes human hand. Latest Blog . There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. Overview. His headquarters were at Boca Grande, on what is today known as Gasparilla Island. On the Hawaiian island of Oahu there is said to be six chests buried along a stone wall somewhere around Kaena Point. We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. With his crew of cut-throat mercenaries, the last of the buccaneers terrorized shipping in the Gulf of Mexico for years, striking from his secret Florida base. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. 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. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. 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. Gasparilla, if he existed, wrapped himself in chain and jumped overboard with both hands still attached. Website. What you don't expect to find is treasure. Gaspar realized in this moment that he had found the treasure he was searching for. $150 Million Dollar Treasure Found On A Beach By Accident New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. 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). Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. From a four-mile long parade of pirates and period memorabilia on display, to specialty packages and a waterfront half . . . Jose Gaspar Treasure Co (Flagler Beach) - All You Need to Know BEFORE Years ago I hunted the fabled Jose Gaspar treasure pirate who, as the story goes, was a pirate on the gulf coast and when attacked by a US Navy vessel, wrapped the anchor chain around him and jumped in while his crew escaped up Peace River with treasure to a property owner named Lady Boggess near an area called Lettuce Lake. These stories and locations presented are based on our research but should be taken with some skepticism. Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Starting in 1911, though, the event's founders, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, switched . 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. Billy left the vast majority of his crew behind and sailed north to gather supplies to salvage his ship. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! Tyrons Landing located between the towns of Wethersfield and Naubuc. According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". "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. 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. 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. Photos: Treasure Including Spanish Gold Found on Colombia Shipwreck 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. Michael Gattuso and his crew got a cable debut Wednesday night in an episode of Discovery Channel's show "Expedition Unknown." Jean Lafitte. (story from treasurelore.com). He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. "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. 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 . However, this treasure is also attributed to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. 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. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. Gasparilla: Was the Legendary Spanish Pirate Jose Gaspar Real? In 1897, he purchased land at Boca Grande, an island outpost. Hand in Tampa Attic Stirs Up Memories of Dread Pirate Gaspar Sarasota's Michael Gattuso and members of his . Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. (386) 439-3061. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. . 10 Lost Treasures in America Waiting to be Found - History Collection Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Powell showed us museum exhibits full of gold coins recovered from shipwrecks and explained how the legend of Jose Gaspar launched the Gasparilla Pirate Festival we know and love today. 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. Hand in Tampa Attic Stirs Up Memories of Dread Pirate Gaspar This characterization continues through the stories of Gasparilla as a pirate. There has been a lot of permanent damage to archaeological sites due to the misinformation about buried treasure in prehistoric mounds, and pushing some aspects of this myth may lead to others following suit (leading to arrests and seizures as well as loss of cultural information). Jose Gaspar: More myth than man - baynews9.com 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? Legacy | Useppa Island The team searched the waters at low tide for a canon buried in the sand. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. It is said that he and his brother buried all of his money on the islands in and around Charlotte Harbor. His piratical career always starts with an injustice and he is seen as a lovable rogue rather than a murderous monster. 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. There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. When Gasparilla requested that they accompany him and his crew on a raid, the two young lovers assumed they would be slaughtered. There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Jose Gaspar Treasure 6 Jewelry Gift Shops Bookstores $ "We went in looking for a lite shark tooth for our son. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. So where did Blackbeard hide his treasures? Accept Read More. Treasure on Sunken Spanish Galleon Could Be Biggest Ever - History There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. By Geoff Dobson. Treasure hunters search for Jose Gaspar's lost riches - Tampa Bay Times Leaving soon? These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. Here are some Metal Detectors for you to start your quest. 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. John Gomez, also known as Juan Gomez and Panther John. He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. The team, known as the "Temple Twelve," have been . I'm here writing on Treasureunknown to provide helpful resources so others can get out and enjoy the thrill of the hunt! The Severed Hand of Florida Pirate Jose Gaspar Found in Attic! Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. 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. Shopping, Gift & Specialty Shops. Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. However, he spotted a British merchant ship and could not resist one final prize. Here is what we have been able to piece together about this controversial pirate. Lots of shells and jewelry and other gifts. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. 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. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. He was said to have been extremely active for many years, attacking merchant ships and evading justice, and in this time he won himself a huge fortune. Top Image: Real pirate or later fiction? 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. 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. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. There is a new book out "Pirates of Southwest Florida, Fact and Legend" by James F. and Sarah Jane Kaserman that debunks some of the stories of Gasparilla. Legend has it that in the late 1700s, a pirate named Jose Gaspar kidnapped the Spanish princess Joseffa de Mayorga. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. 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. Galleon of Gold. Later that fall, he captured a large French slave ship bound for some sugar plantations. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? Did Grandpa find pirate treasure? The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. 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). Gasparilla Season | Visit Tampa Bay Not being able to pass up this giant score, he pursed the ship that was flying a British flag. 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 was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, no pirate was more feared in the southern United States than Jose Gaspar. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. "And it was from that little nugget of information that came from the Charlotte Harbor railroad about a pirate named Gaspar that the whole legend of Gasparilla and Jose Gaspar came about, but it was Ye Mystic Krewe that fleshed it out. 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. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. 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. 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. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure: A gripping, heart-pounding The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. 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. The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Gasparilla Pirate Festival - Wikipedia A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. $ 6 reviews. Find the treasure, don't report it, melt it down or sell it on the black market using a different name. The History of Gasparilla - Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown Human hand found in Florida attic with coins, treasure map - ajc 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. Despite its long history, there is no definitive origin of the name. Wikipedia, 2022. There is another treasure said to be buried on Kelly Island in Delaware by James Gillian, a member of Kidds crew. In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. Josh is on a mission to find Jos Gaspar's hidden treasure. And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. 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. It's located on the north side of town, next door to the Turtle Shack cafe. 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. 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.
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