For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. This story states that the vast treasure was actually siting on the beach in numerous chests waiting to be divided. It may not display this or other websites correctly. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. The American Continents have a rich treasure history dating back to ancient civilizations of the Toltecs and Aztecs who understood the mining and smelting of gold and silver from which they made ornaments shields and household utensils. Enjoy. 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. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. Many took the deal. Top 10 Best Bookstores in Palm Coast, FL - February 2023 - Yelp Billy left the vast majority of his crew behind and sailed north to gather supplies to salvage his ship. It's located in Florida, United States.A real, albeit, small treasure chest on a real small island. With Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses, How We Became Mr. and Mrs. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. The notorious pirate then committed suicide by wrapping a heavy chain around him and jumping over the side. 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. 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 love this place built around 1640 . Theyve done this every Sunday for a year, looking for the booty of 19th century pirate Jose Gaspar. On the Trail of Gasparilla'S Treasure Haunted by The Ghost of Notorious "Maybe my great-grandparents were pirates," Mike Lopez said. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. We are constantly looking for opportunities to metal detect, magnet fish, pan for gold, and search for real life lost treasures. In Polish origin the meaning of name Gaspar is : Treasure keeper Spanish Meaning : The name Gaspar is an Spanish baby name. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. Do you think there's buried treasure out there? 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. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If marriage was selected, there would be a ceremony, and the marriage promise would be strictly enforced. The vessel was said to be transporting gold, silver and precious gems collected in the South . In or around 1806 the brothers arrived in New Orleans Louisiana and were licensed privateers operating in the Gulf of Mexico. 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. . Legends tell how he amassed a huge fortune, and hid an enormous treasure before dying a hero facing the might of the US Navy. There are also inherent dangers involved with any of these types of adventures. What you don't expect to find is treasure. link to 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure. Michael Gattuso lends a hand to his wife Lauren as they dock on a wetland on the Peace River in Arcadia. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. 3. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. 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. 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. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL 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). We're back to the hotel brochure. "I'm considering it," he said with a big smile. 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 legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. "They were the ones that profited from the story to attract visitors to their new train stop and hotel (Gasparilla Inn)," Crystal Diff, Executive Director of the Boca Grande Historical Society and History Center, wrote in an email. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. The History of Gasparilla - Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Supposedly this fort had hidden tunnels leading under the fort. This characterization continues through the stories of Gasparilla as a pirate. His death seems to come straight from Hollywood. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. In all, he buried 13 casks and chests of treasure in the vicinity of his headquarters. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! The history of Gasparilla and legacy of Jose Gaspar | wtsp.com He eventually retired and settled down on Shell Creek near Lettuce Lake in DeSoto County, where he lived for many years. I love this place built around 1640 . When you go in the attic you expect to find something old. 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. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. My grandfather had a book on all these when I was younger. Old hand, coins and treasure map found in Florida attic - The Vintage News Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. ", The story said Gaspar hid in the Charlotte Harbor area, and "while taking the census of 1900, two gentlemen stopped at Panther Key and spent the night with *John Gomez. No Result Found. So it would seem that Gasparilla is a fiction, no more real a figure than Mickey Mouse. His ship soon followed him to the watery depths. 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. Before deciding to pursue this ship, Gaspar left some of his men behind with the treasure. They used Barataria Bay in Louisiana as a hub for their enterprise. However, this treasure is also attributed to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. Legend has it that in the late 1700s, a pirate named Jose Gaspar kidnapped the Spanish princess Joseffa de Mayorga. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla Island. In 1897, he purchased land at Boca Grande, an island outpost. The team found a few nails, a beer can, and a screw during this hunt. Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. 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. Treasure hunter Stacey Hunt holds an old nail found under the ground on a wetland believed to have lost treasure. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. 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. Have you ever hunted a treasure story? | Friendly Metal Detecting Forum The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co 5 1 #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach Speciality & Gift Shops Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Fun shop with good prices! He has written for 8 years in a variety of fields including history, health and politics. 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 . In the following years, he accumulated a board estimated at $30,000,000. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. Gasparilla Pirate Festival - Wikipedia The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . Finding a real human hand is probably not what the Lopezes had in mind, but thats exactly what this family from Florida found in their grandparents attic. Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. 15 Lost Treasures People Actually Found | TheRichest Old Hand Found In Florida Attic With Coins And Treasure Map. The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as "Gasparilla.". The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. 1. Louisiana makes sense because during most of his time here, he was considered a fugitive by the US. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. 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. It was done for tourism purposes," Gattuso said. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. 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. Pirate Treasure on Goodland in Southwest Florida - LITTLE BAR Restaurant Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. 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. . Ancient Viking treasures found in England actually seems to be a thing, as many of relative value have been found throughout the years. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136-2802. The items found by his sister were neatly packed inside a wooden box. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. St. Vincent Island off the coast of Florida is said to have been an island frequented by early pirates. He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. The story goes that Lafitte and his men used an old barn on LeBleau Plantation as a gathering location and perhaps buried treasure here. There are at least 3 different locations said to hold his riches in Connecticut. 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). 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. Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. Jose Lopez's sister, Maria, was cleaning out the attic of a home owned by her great-grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez, in Tampa's historic Ybor City area, when she stumbled upon the box, WFLA-TV reports. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. The man behind Gasparilla: Who was Jos Gaspar? Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story Cleaning the dreaded attic turned up a darling wedding photo of the Lopezes grandparents, but it also uncovered some interesting but creepy finds. He successfully captured a few ships during his years long voyage. A couple of his rancher buddies found him and buried him. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. 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 . Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! It does not store any personal data. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. Lafayette Street, which is now Kennedy Boulevard is also labeled on the map. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. Inspired by the Legend of Pirate Jose Gaspar - Ye Mystic Krewe of Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. When he finally realized that it was a warship, it was too late. As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. Most of the suspected locations are in and around the state of Florida. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. From seashells to lost treasure, this shop has it all. Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list. The treasure on Money Island is said to hidden in the crevice of a large rock that is only visible during low tide. Gasparilla Season | Visit Tampa Bay Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. $ 6 reviews. 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.