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. Story continues below video. So where did Blackbeard hide his treasures? The first recorded reference of Jos Gaspar was in fact over 100 years after his supposed career, in a short biography included in an early 1900s promotional brochure for the Gasparilla Inn on Gasparilla Island in Charlotte Harbor. This was to prove his doom as the ship he had targeted was no harmless cargo ship but in fact the USS Enterprise, a heavily armed and very dangerous pirate hunter. (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. 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. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. Dropa Stones: Are They 12,000 Year Old Discs? As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The allures of Jose Gaspar's mythical treasure and Tampa's giant pirate parade have pulled strongly on producers of reality television lately. When you go in the attic you expect to find something old. Gasparilla seized their ship, as well as their 11 dowries, but fell madly in love with the Spanish princess. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade wont care. So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? "I'm considering it. What we do know is that he is considered a hero to some and a villain to others. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. Lets do this. "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. Or they were always togahter. However, this treasure is also attributed to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. We have one with Gomez's name on it. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. 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. Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. ", Pirate treasure in grandpa's attic includes human hand. No Result Found. https://www.cultofweird.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pirate-treasure-hand.jpg, https://www.cultofweird.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cultofweird-new-logo.png, Mysterious Pirate Treasure Box Found in Tampa Bay Attic, February 17, 2023 - 9:45 pm by dEBRINA bLACKMOON. According to archives, the island community was created by Albert W. Gilchrist, Floridas 20th governor. 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. 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. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! If the legend is true, Gasparilla was extremely successful and plundered more than 400 ships. 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). 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 . Enjoy. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. 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. Top Image: Real pirate or later fiction? The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. Latest Blog . In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. This story seems to border on the outer limits, but a local historian doesnt believe that the hand belongs to the famed pirate. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. The items found by his sister were neatly packed inside a wooden box. 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. Despite his brutal reputation, Gasparilla was supposed to have a soft side as well. Jos Gaspar. These wealthy civilizations flourished for hundreds of years spreading Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. What you don't expect to find is treasure. We have seven maps.". 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. He even set up a blockade of the port of Charleston in South Carolina for 6 days. So that's why we believe that it was Juan Gomez. 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.' They took the box to a few antique stores. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. His ship was scuttled in the battle sending the valuables to the bottom of the ocean. On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. 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. Icelanders and the Huldufolk: A Nation Gripped by Farinis Great Discovery: Is there a Lost City Top Ten Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. If marriage was selected, there would be a ceremony, and the marriage promise would be strictly enforced. Most stories agree he was an aristocratic Spanish Navy Officer who later. 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 . They took the box to a few antique stores around Tampa and the contents were described as "gruesome and authentic.". "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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. The San Jose, a Spanish treasure ship, was attacked and sunk by a British warship in June 1708. Tyrons Landing located between the towns of Wethersfield and Naubuc. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. Website. But, now? I have never found any real evidence he lived. 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 story goes that Lafitte and his men used an old barn on LeBleau Plantation as a gathering location and perhaps buried treasure here. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. Sometime later a large sum of gold coins was found near the Spanish Homestead. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. Available at: https://www.wfla.com/news/gasparilla/history-of-gasparilla-jose-gaspar-his-krewe/, ymkg, 2022. 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. The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. By Geoff Dobson. TAMPA, Fla. - Docked in downtown Tampa, the Jose Gasparilla II is one of the most iconic parts of Gasparilla and a year-round reminder of Tampa's biggest party and quirkiest tradition. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. Gaspar apparently did not share this attraction and instead gave his attention to other women of the court. I love this place built around 1640 . Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. 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. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. His work appears here every third Monday; the views expressed. He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. One day Gasparilla prepared to attack a merchantman, but to his surprise, it turned out to be a United States man-of-war. (story from treasurelore.com). Many took the deal. 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. Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia: Politician: Capricon: 06 January 1766 AD . A band of pirates in Wisconsin operated out of a cave on Hermit island. The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. 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. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. Crystal and I greatly appreciate any support! We thought that was awesome. 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 . 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. Much of his treasure was carried to him up the Peace River. Several local antique stores described the contents of the box as authentic and gruesome, though a Tampa Bay historian says they do not appear to be genuine Spanish coins. What Became of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate of the Caribbean? 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. 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. "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. Evidently, though, the treasure is not. Canceled2021 Gasparilla Pirate Festival / Date All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. 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 rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. 11 The Cuerdale Treasures- $2.6 Million. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Most of the suspected locations are in and around the state of Florida. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. Whether the coins are authentic or not, Mike thinks the hand is real, and may belong to Jose Gaspar himself. While doing some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, Maria Lopez made an unusual discovery in her grandfathers attic. For one, there is no evidence of his pirate empire. In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. 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. But the idea of a pirate named Gasparilla (or some variant) goes way back. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. 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. I love this place built around 1640 . The treasure: Slave-turned-pirate Henri Caesar stole a ship in Haiti to seek his fortune on the Spanish Main and Florida waters. 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. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. Go find it, unbury it, take tons of pictures, bury it back again, and prove to the world that you found it. 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. Do you think there's buried treasure out there? He spent nearly 30 years plundering ships in and around the gulf coast. His headquarters were at Boca Grande, on what is today known as Gasparilla Island. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. Despite its long history, there is no definitive origin of the name. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. So it would seem that Gasparilla is a fiction, no more real a figure than Mickey Mouse. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. 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. "We do have some treasure maps, and we're working on them," Gattuso said. Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. 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). Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. When he was wrongfully arrested, he hijacked a ship and fled, promising to seek revenge on his homeland. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. In all, he buried 13 casks and chests of treasure in the vicinity of his headquarters. 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. 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. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. JavaScript is disabled. Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. 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. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. Overview. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. A few years later, he fell out of favor with the government and turned to a life of piracy. In his early pirate career, he teamed up with a few other pirates and eventually took over a ship named The Revenge. 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 author of the pamphlet readily stated that the spectacular tale was a work of fiction with no genuine facts in it. Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. He confirmed that indeed the Lopezes have found a real human hand, but as for Gasparilla, that was a myth. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. "I'm considering it," he said with a big smile. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV reported that 43-year-old treasure hunter Jonah Martinez located the coins using a . Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . Theyve done this every Sunday for a year, looking for the booty of 19th century pirate Jose Gaspar. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. ", "Jose Gaspar, from my understanding, was a name that was made up by Ye Mystic Krewe, which they tied to Gasparilla, which was tied to the railroad pamphlet that you're talking about, which that is not real. 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. The map is estimated to be from the 1930s and shows the Tampa area. He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. 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. 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. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. 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. Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Charlotte Harbor is an ideal spot to go treasure hunting. Ancient Viking treasures found in England actually seems to be a thing, as many of relative value have been found throughout the years. The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I'm Clint, the guy behind Treasureunknown. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. (386) 439-3061. 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. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned.

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