Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. Although Gasparilla was a well-educated, well-dressed pirate and ladies man, things did not always go as planned. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. JavaScript is disabled. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. 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.' Jose Gaspar, the legendary buccaneer who inspired Tampas Gasparilla Pirate Festival, as well as fantastic tales of lost treasure, most likely never really existed. Florida at this time was in its Second Spanish Period which runs from 1783 to 1821. ", 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. However, this treasure is also attributed to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. 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 team searched the waters at low tide for a canon buried in the sand.
The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure: A gripping, heart-pounding The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. Theyve done this every Sunday for a year, looking for the booty of 19th century pirate Jose Gaspar. 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.
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. 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. Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony. 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? Later that fall, he captured a large French slave ship bound for some sugar plantations. .
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). The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. After sustaining heavy damage, the famed Spanish pirate tied himself to his anchor and leaped to his watery death apparently not wanting to be killed at the hands of the enemy. 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. These stories and locations presented are based on our research but should be taken with some skepticism. Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. Jean Lafitte. Or show us love by sharing articles and leaving great comments. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. ", Pirate treasure in grandpa's attic includes human hand. Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. 1. Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. To add more to the story, the treasure map contained the name of the infamous mythical pirate Gaspar. He claimed to be one of the few crew members to escape a fateful attack by American pirate hunting schooner USS Enterprise in 1821. It's located in Florida, United States.A real, albeit, small treasure chest on a real small island. Gaspar apparently did not share this attraction and instead gave his attention to other women of the court. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. These stories really get your imagination scrambling about finding buried riches yourself. He spent nearly 30 years plundering ships in and around the gulf coast. link to 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure.
Historic City Memories: Pirate treasure rumors With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. 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. Santa Rosa Island has been sort of a local hotspot for finding bags of gold and silver coins. 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! 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. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. "I'm considering it. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. His piratical career always starts with an injustice and he is seen as a lovable rogue rather than a murderous monster.
10 Lost Treasures in America Waiting to be Found - History Collection His ship was scuttled in the battle sending the valuables to the bottom of the ocean. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth.
15 Lost Treasures People Actually Found | TheRichest But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade won't care. Whether the coins are authentic or not, Mike thinks the hand is real, and may belong to Jose Gaspar himself. Another logical location said to hide this cache of valuables is in South Carolina. Not much is known of his early life before his pirating career. Spain and Great Britain were adversaries in the complex tangle of European politics . Inside was a tattered map of the Hillsborough River, century-old coins, a family picture and a hand wearing a ring. Barnes & Noble Booksellers 10 Bookstores Music & DVDs Toy Stores So, we stole Jose Gaspar. 2. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! Some speculate that this is remnants of Rogers great treasure. I love searching for all types of "treasures" with my family. 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). I love this place built around 1640 . As mentioned above one of the rumored locations for his treasure is on Woodland Beach in Delaware. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 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. Kidd set sail for England and was commissioned as a privateer by the English government.
Jos Gaspar - Wikiwand If the legend is true, Gasparilla was extremely successful and plundered more than 400 ships. Rogers is said to have hidden huge amounts of gold and silver bars worth a fortune today. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. Spending most of his time here and running a larger business would provide ample opportunity and necessity to hide valuables. As the legends go, the famed Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla, used the island as his home base of operations throughout the late 18th century and into the early 19th century. When you go in the attic you expect to find something old. Starting in 1911, though, the event's founders, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, switched . Deleware holds one more possibility around Woodland Beach. 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 . You'll need a boat or kayak for this cache. By clicking Accept Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Magnet fishing is a hobby that is quickly increasing in popularity with good reason. By Geoff Dobson. While in Florida, Caesar palled up with Jose Gaspar, better known as "Gasparilla.". It was done for tourism purposes," Gattuso said. Marias brother Mike believes the couple in the photo may be their great grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez. 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. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? As promised here is the start of your Pirate Treasure stories. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But they know long-lost treasures and artifacts are out there. He was sentenced to prison and eventually released. 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. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost.
Gasparilla Season | Visit Tampa Bay And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. 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. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. 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.
Tampa family finds pirate treasure in grandpa's attic - USA TODAY Lesser and Greater Antilles / Windward and Leeward Islands What is What? 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. 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. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. 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. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. When he finally realized that it was a warship, it was too late. The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . Toward the end of his pirate career, Bowlegs was being pursued by an English warship. Dropa Stones: Are They 12,000 Year Old Discs? Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! Jos Gaspar. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. These men witnessed the battle and when the pirate ship began to sink, they loaded this vast treasure onto small boats and escaped unnoticed to a place called Spanish Homestead around the Peace River. 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. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. Do you think there's buried treasure out there? | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. While doing some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, Maria Lopez made an unusual discovery in her grandfathers attic. Evidently, though, the treasure is not. . It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book.
The history of Gasparilla and legacy of Jose Gaspar | wtsp.com The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. Most of the suspected locations are in and around the state of Florida. The treasure on Money Island is said to hidden in the crevice of a large rock that is only visible during low tide. Who was this figure, and what was he supposed to have done? Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. 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. Jose Gaspar commandeered the 'Floridablanca', the ship upon which he was serving, to commence his life of piracy.
Jose Gaspar Treasure - Flagler Beach, FL - Yelp First of all there was a Spanish Catholic missionary named Gasparillo that had a mission on the island that bears his name. The Story of Jose Gaspar Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico.
Jos Gaspar - Wikipedia His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth. In the 1690s a war broke out between England and France. Story continues below video. In 1897, he purchased land at Boca Grande, an island outpost. This particular lost treasure consists of a bunch of silver coins, ingots and even pieces of jewelry. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesnt believe that the legendary figure was even real. Not being able to pass up this giant score, he pursed the ship that was flying a British flag. Okay, that was. 2 chests are also rumored to be buried on Clarkes Island on the Connecticut River. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla Island. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! 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. The notorious pirate then committed suicide by wrapping a heavy chain around him and jumping over the side. Or they were always togahter. $ 6 reviews. Maybe you can find one and claim the fame and wealth that will ultimilty accompany your successful efforts. 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. Billy left the vast majority of his crew behind and sailed north to gather supplies to salvage his ship. 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? He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship. "I'm considering it," he said with a big smile.
The Pirates of Charlotte Harbor 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. ", "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. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. The items found by his sister were neatly packed inside a wooden box. You must log in or register to reply here. Just . His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. What date is Gasparilla 2021? When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. Charlotte Harbor is an ideal spot to go treasure hunting.
Gaspar's Lost Treasure - WTF Florida? The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Enjoy. 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. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. It does not store any personal data. This is extremely suspect as this is the same location rumored to hide the treasure of Billy Bowlegs Rogers. Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Josh is on a mission to find Jos Gaspar's hidden treasure.
The ship at the center of it all: A history of the Jose Gasparilla II jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. | TreasureNet The Original . 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.
Shipwrecks: Who owns the treasure hidden under the sea? Treasure hunter Erin Melcher drives his boat as Michael Gattuso navigates directions to a wetland believed to have lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia on Sunday, January 13, 2019. Here is what we have been able to piece together about this controversial pirate. 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 . 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. In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. He met and married his wife in New York and had 2 daughters. 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. Born in 1756 in Spain, Gaspar served in the Spanish Navy until a mutiny in 1783. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. New details have emerged about the San Jose, a Spanish galleon sunk by British ships 300 years ago. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He continued the diving operation, but while they were working, his wife came down with a fever and died. They used Barataria Bay in Louisiana as a hub for their enterprise. From a four-mile long parade of pirates and period memorabilia on display, to specialty packages and a waterfront half . In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. "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.
Jose Gaspar Treasure Co - Tripadvisor