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. Most stories agree he was an aristocratic Spanish Navy Officer who later. 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. He soon picked a good spot in Charlotte Harbor, and began to build his pirate kingdom. If there is one thing pirates are known for it is treasure. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. 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. His flagship was eventually ran aground and he was ultimately killed by English warships off the East Coast of America. Treasure hunting can be a fun and exciting activity. Keep me posted! In his early pirate career, he teamed up with a few other pirates and eventually took over a ship named The Revenge. There is not much known about his adventures in Florida but there is rumors of him hiding a large treasure around Choctawatchee Bay. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. The items found by his sister were neatly packed inside a wooden box. "Maria came across it and once she told me she found a hand in a box. "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. A Florida family may have discovered some unusual treasure belonging to legendary pirate Jose "Gasparilla" Gaspar. Dropa Stones: Are They 12,000 Year Old Discs? Definitely try, Find our recommended Caribbean hotels, restaurants, charters, & tours. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . 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). What Became of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate of the Caribbean? 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. Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. 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. It's part of our family now.". 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. Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News, Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, BUGA UP was an influential movement of graffiti artists who battled the promotion of unhealthy products, Before the development of photography, the Portrait miniature was highly popular in introducing people to each other over distances, Police arrest a 72-year-old suburban grandfather suspected of being the Golden State Killer, Im not dead yet: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gdel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, Little Ease: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. 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. 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. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. 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. 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. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . 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 . It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 3.5, terrain of 5. Once he was a few hundred meters away, the British flag came down and the American flag rose up the mast. ", According to the railroad brochure, the "narrative was compiled by the writer from incidents told by John Gomez, better known as Panther Key John, a brother-in-law of Gasparilla and a member of his crew, who died at the age of 120 years, at Panther Key, Florida, 12 miles below Marco, in the year 1900; also from records left by John Gomez, Jr., the cabin-boy on Gasparilla's ship, who was kidnapped by Gasparilla and who witnessed the death of this pirate and all on board his vessel. All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. Or they were always togahter. Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You must log in or register to reply here. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. 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 . The story of the famed pirate may have been the tall tale of a U.S. naval officer. Perhaps this suggested location is merely a case in mistaken identity. Mike Lopez said his sister was not expecting to find a human hand, a treasure map, and gold coins. There are a few pirates who may have hidden treasure at this spot, including Billy. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. 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. Jean Lafitte. This tale doesnt give the Lopezes a helping hand in solving the mystery of the finds from their grandparents attic. "Maybe my great-grandparents were pirates," Mike Lopez said. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. 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. 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. Tales of love and marriage, an aristocratic captain with nobility in his crew, a handsome and debonair adventurer: all these stories seem too good to be true. 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. The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. 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. They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. We've been chasing his treasures. In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. What we do know is that he is considered a hero to some and a villain to others. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. 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. Gaspar is presented as dignified, noble in heart and rich and titled in some versions. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV reported that 43-year-old treasure hunter Jonah Martinez located the coins using a . He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. Inside, bound to the box by copper wire, she found a dessicated hand wearing a ring with the word "Gaspar" on . Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. The race of the old buccaneer was nearly run, but all through that night, he told a story of piracy that could scarce be believed, yet it was a dying man that was clearing his soul before his Maker. The American Government then decided to get into the act and sent a Navy squadron to end his career. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. 2 chests are also rumored to be buried on Clarkes Island on the Connecticut River. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. It's located on the north side of town, next door to the Turtle Shack cafe. So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. The team, known as the "Temple Twelve," have been . Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. There is another treasure said to be buried on Kelly Island in Delaware by James Gillian, a member of Kidds crew. Michael Gattuso and his crew got a cable debut Wednesday night in an episode of Discovery Channel's show "Expedition Unknown." This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Evidently, though, the treasure is not. Old Hand Found In Florida Attic With Coins And Treasure Map. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? He subsequently set fire to all his buildings before sailing out to sea, never to be heard from again. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. Florida at this time was in its Second Spanish Period which runs from 1783 to 1821. 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. Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Company are said to have distributed the brochures. Many took the deal. Or show us love by sharing articles and leaving great comments. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . His piratical career always starts with an injustice and he is seen as a lovable rogue rather than a murderous monster. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. Plundering the high seas and ports alike resulted in vast riches for some of these ruthless criminals. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. 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 . In Polish origin the meaning of name Gaspar is : Treasure keeper Spanish Meaning : The name Gaspar is an Spanish baby name. Just like most pirates, there is little known about his early life. 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. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. Sometime later a large sum of gold coins was found near the Spanish Homestead. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. 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. He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. We're back to the hotel brochure. Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? However, if they do, they are still up for grabs. Gasparilla, if he existed, wrapped himself in chain and jumped overboard with both hands still attached. His men, who numbered in the hundreds, also buried their smaller caches on these islands. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Theyve done this every Sunday for a year, looking for the booty of 19th century pirate Jose Gaspar. . Jos Gaspar. Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. 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. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia: Politician: Capricon: 06 January 1766 AD . Lets do this. 3. The Legend of Jose Gaspar. He successfully captured a few ships during his years long voyage. 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 pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. No contemporaneous mention of his existence or achievements has ever been found in Spanish or American ship logs, court documents, newspapers, or other archives, and no tangible items associated with Gaspar have been unearthed in the area where he is said to have operated. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. It was done for tourism purposes," Gattuso said. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. 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. This endeavor lasted only about 5 years when the us army came to visit Lafitte, asking him to leave. The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. "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. ", "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. It does not store any personal data. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. All rights reserved. We will discuss a few of them here. The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. When he was wrongfully arrested, he hijacked a ship and fled, promising to seek revenge on his homeland. Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. Lafayette Street, which is now Kennedy Boulevard is also labeled on the map. Did Grandpa find pirate treasure? Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This was around the 1870s, after the Civil War. The men were executed but Gomez was to be the final survivor of this piratical outfit. Later that fall, he captured a large French slave ship bound for some sugar plantations. was reading about Jose Gaspar aka Gasparilla Pirate and one story tells of his friend Roderigo Lopez wanting to leave the Pirate life and Gaspar helped him leave, so it seems Maria Lopez great great grandfather may have been Roderigo. Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". With Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses, How We Became Mr. and Mrs. He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. He ignored this order and stayed in Galveston for about another year before the Army returned forcing him to leave. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 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. Some say it reveals compass bearings around Lettuce Lake. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. 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. Do you think there's buried treasure out there? 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. Crystal and I greatly appreciate any support! While doing some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, Maria Lopez made an unusual discovery in her grandfathers attic. He's rumored to have had a secret base in Charlotte Harbor and would sail back and forth to Spain as well as roam around the Gulf of Mexico until his death in 1821, at the hands of the U.S. Navy. There are also inherent dangers involved with any of these types of adventures. The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. Rogers lost interest in the hunt after this and it is said he lived near his treasure to guard it for the remainder of his life. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". RECOMMENDED: The legend of Jose Gaspar and the history of Gasparilla. Having spent some time here, Blackbeard built a fort near a swamp west of Charleston. 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 . As with any treasure hunting adventure, be sure and obtain permission from any applicable parties before your hunt begins. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar, Sachs, S, 2022. No Result Found. Texas is also a logical location for this pirate to bury treasure. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. How did the legend of Gaspar begin? Who has not heard the rumor which has been going on in St. Augustine that Six Flags is coming to St. Johns County and will be constructed off of State Road 206? It's located in Florida, United States.A real, albeit, small treasure chest on a real small island. All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. What he thought was a British cargo ship turned out to be the USS Enterprise, on a mission to end piracy. On my recent visit, I was on a shell mission to use for a hairpiece for a . I love this place built around 1640 . The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate: With Josh Gates, Shamus Warren, Rodney Kite-Powell, Michael Gattuso. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Overview. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. Icelanders and the Huldufolk: A Nation Gripped by Farinis Great Discovery: Is there a Lost City Top Ten Knights of King Arthurs Round Table. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. I have never found any real evidence he lived. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. 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. So it is a huge, huge draw for people to come to Tampa.". Jos Gaspar. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. Here are some Metal Detectors for you to start your quest. Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . 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 . The notorious pirate then committed suicide by wrapping a heavy chain around him and jumping over the side.
Oracle Ebs Business Event Subscription, 1934 10 Dollar Bill Yellow Seal Value, Tornado Bus Houston Southwest, Articles J