I'm here writing on Treasureunknown to provide helpful resources so others can get out and enjoy the thrill of the hunt! He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. Other than news articles, the first story ever published in print about the Story of Gasparilla was commissioned by the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". 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. Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. Hiding treasure under a well constructed fort is a much more logical thought than those previously mentioned. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. JavaScript is disabled. There are at least 3 different locations said to hold his riches in Connecticut. . His fleet would capture vessels at sea, and take all the goods back to Galveston. Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. It does not store any personal data. 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 . Leaving soon? Marias brother Mike believes the couple in the photo may be their great grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez. 2. And she actually had maps, and she had stories that were passed down to the family about these treasures. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The prices seem lower, but not my thing. 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. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. This endeavor lasted only about 5 years when the us army came to visit Lafitte, asking him to leave. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL The items found by his sister were neatly packed inside a wooden box. He quickly worked his way up the ranks of the Spanish Navy and became an officer. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. These wealthy civilizations flourished for hundreds of years spreading We've been chasing his treasures. On one occasion, his right-hand man Lopez had become tired of the pirate life and desired to return to Spain to see his love, Sanibel, after 13 long years. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. We lived not far from Gasparella Island and Charlotte Harbour.where the legend supposedly ended. Jos Gaspar - Wikipedia 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. Jose Gaspar (GC3FZAF) was created by seabreezedrive on 4/1/2012. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. Millions of dollars have been found literally lying in front of people's feet, the world's beaches. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. May 4, 1904Gasparilla Pirate Festival / First event date. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. This activity is a great way to enjoy some peaceful quite time outdoors or can be a unique experience for 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. 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. He confirmed that indeed the Lopezes have found a real human hand, but as for Gasparilla, that was a myth. A Florida family may have discovered some unusual treasure belonging to legendary pirate Jose "Gasparilla" Gaspar. Overview. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. It's located in Florida, United States.A real, albeit, small treasure chest on a real small island. Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. "We do have some treasure maps, and we're working on them," Gattuso said. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. 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." 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. 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. The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. 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. This is the spot for all of your seaside decorating needs. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. Accept Read More. Florida at this time was in its Second Spanish Period which runs from 1783 to 1821. However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government. He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. Rogers is said to have hidden huge amounts of gold and silver bars worth a fortune today. Jean Lafitte. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. 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. His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. A Treasured History: The Story of Gasparilla, Tampa's Most Prized Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. Friendly down to earth staff. Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! Evidently, though, the treasure is not. 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. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For whatever reason, burial of chests laden with gold and jewels seems to be the norm, but is there any pirate treasure left? No Result Found. JOSE GASPAR TREASURE - 16 Photos - 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler What he thought was a British cargo ship turned out to be the USS Enterprise, on a mission to end piracy. Afterwards, he sailed his ship, the Floridablanca, to the Gulf Coast and set up a pirate base on what is now known as Gasparilla Island in Southwest Florida. He told of the looting of ships, the massacre of innocents, and last of all, when his life had nearly passed, he told the story of 'The Little Spanish Princess,' whose name he did not remember. They used Barataria Bay in Louisiana as a hub for their enterprise. When he was wrongfully arrested, he hijacked a ship and fled, promising to seek revenge on his homeland. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. When Gasparilla requested that they accompany him and his crew on a raid, the two young lovers assumed they would be slaughtered. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. We" more 2. Jose Gaspar: Myth or Pirate? Quiz | People | 10 Questions - Fun Trivia This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. 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. If the legend is true, Gasparilla was extremely successful and plundered more than 400 ships. Shopping, Gift & Specialty Shops. 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. Sarasota's Michael Gattuso and members of his . Enjoy. We have one with Gomez's name on it. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. Flagler Beach, FL 32136. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. My grandfather had a book on all these when I was younger. Buumi . The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. One of his ships has been discovered in the waters off of North Carolina and definitely proven to belong to Blackbeard. JOSE GASPAR: 15 years later, Telemundo is still the only Spanish Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! I love this place built around 1640 . Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. WFLA | What is Gasparilla? What you don't expect to find is treasure. Jose Gaspar (aka: Gasparilla) was a quasi-mythical Spanish pirate who roamed the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. 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. In the following years, he accumulated a board estimated at $30,000,000. 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. But, now? What remains of Jos Gaspar today are his stories and legends, but most significant of them all is the secret of these mysterious cherries. According to historians, it was a real man named Juan "Panther John" Gomez from Gasparilla Island, or as he was known locally, John, or Panther Key John. 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. A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. 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 . Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV reported that 43-year-old treasure hunter Jonah Martinez located the coins using a . Interesting history topics are just a click away. Gasparilla began on horseback in 1904 as a way to add a little pirate-themed fun to the city's May Day festivities. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. Many took the deal. There are a few pirates who may have hidden treasure at this spot, including Billy. Most confirm that the "Floridablanca" was the name of his pirate ship and the one that he served upon in the Navy. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. If marriage was selected, there would be a ceremony, and the marriage promise would be strictly enforced. 11 The Cuerdale Treasures- $2.6 Million. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. 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. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . Whether he was his cabin boy, like it states in the story, or maybe he might have been Gasparilla himself because of all the treasure maps that we have found. 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. These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. 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. Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. The Search for Florida's Lost Pirate - IMDb Legend has it that in the late 1700s, a pirate named Jose Gaspar kidnapped the Spanish princess Joseffa de Mayorga. Jos Gaspar - Wikiwand Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. A few months ago, Gattuso found a Calusa bone tool that is now part of the Useppa Island museum's collection. I love searching for all types of "treasures" with my family. Josh is on a mission to find Jos Gaspar's hidden treasure. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co - Tripadvisor A Net Inceptions project. Gasparilla had fallen into a trap! Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. Wikipedia, 2022. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 3.5, terrain of 5. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. Gaspar's Brew: A cup of treasure - Joffrey's Jos Gaspar, also known by his nickname Gasparilla , is an apocryphal Spanish pirate who terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during Florida's second Spanish period . Magnet fishing is a hobby that is quickly increasing in popularity with good reason. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. We have seven maps.". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. On the Trail of Gasparilla'S Treasure Haunted by The Ghost of Notorious The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. 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. 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136-2802. The legend states that Gaspar terrorized the western coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th to early 19th century. 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. Photos show a centuries-old shipwreck found off Colombia's coast carrying lost treasure worth billions of dollars, including gold coins and emeralds. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. 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). Gaspar's Lost Treasure - WTF Florida? While doing some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, Maria Lopez made an unusual discovery in her grandfathers attic. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. 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. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. Website. 10 Lost Treasures in America Waiting to be Found - History Collection Lafitte was wanted by the US government for they deemed his acts as piracy, not privateering. (story from treasurelore.com). The gold coins were too thin and too old to pass as authentic Spanish treasure.