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. He soon picked a good spot in Charlotte Harbor, and began to build his pirate kingdom. Youll read about many that are hidden and a few that were found, so it can happen. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. Latest Blog . 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. During this time a woman of the royal family, rumored to be the kings daughter-in-law sought the attention of this young naval officer. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. Is this your business? Jose Gaspar commandeered the 'Floridablanca', the ship upon which he was serving, to commence his life of piracy. Josh is on a mission to find Jos Gaspar's hidden treasure. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. There are a few theories as to the location of a hidden treasure by Lafitte in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence appears in writing before the early 20th century. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. ", 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. There are many differing versions about the pirates origins and life, but there is no real historical evidence that he ever existed. This allegedly infuriated the young lady who devised a plan to essentially frame Gaspar for stealing some jewels. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL It was done for tourism purposes," Gattuso said. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV reported that 43-year-old treasure hunter Jonah Martinez located the coins using a . 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. Much of his treasure was carried to him up the Peace River. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. Most stories agree he was an aristocratic Spanish Navy Officer who later. A Beginners Guide to Magnet Fishing: 15 Sure Fire Tips. The pirate, whose full name is Jos Gaspar, is a legend from the 18th and 19th century. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co. 2119 N Oceanshore Blvd. However, even from the first we run into different versions of the story. This tale doesnt give the Lopezes a helping hand in solving the mystery of the finds from their grandparents attic. The prices seem lower, but not my thing. ", Pirate treasure in grandpa's attic includes human hand. 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). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. 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. A Net Inceptions project. 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. Legends tell how he amassed a huge fortune, and hid an enormous treasure before dying a hero facing the might of the US Navy. 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. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. 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. In Polish origin the meaning of name Gaspar is : Treasure keeper Spanish Meaning : The name Gaspar is an Spanish baby name. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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 seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. 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. The battle raged and the story goes that as Jose Gaspar realized the inevitable, he stood on the bow of the ship and stated something like Gaspar dies by his own hands. Mysterious box containing a map, coins and a mummified hand found in Tampa Bay attic. Professional blogger, rum judge, consultant, marketer, and consumer of blue water beauty. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. We actually located the great great, great, great-granddaughter of Juan Gomez. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony. Our knowledge of Jean and his brother Pierre begins in the early 1800s. It's located in Florida, United States.A real, albeit, small treasure chest on a real small island. 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. But, now? Available at: https://ymkg.com/the-legend-of-jose-gasparilla/. Show more. However, there is another story, that has some validity, of what happened to his treasure. Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. He then tied himself to an anchor and jumped in the ocean disappearing for all time. Overview. 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 . Jos Gaspar. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. After that, they searched his cabin and found a jar of gold coins and a small sheet of copper engraved with a code indicating the location of buried treasure. He renamed this ship Queen Anns Revenger which gave him one of the largest fleets on the East coast of America and Caribbean. The map is estimated to be from the 1930s and shows the Tampa area. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. Tyrons Landing located between the towns of Wethersfield and Naubuc. However there are several problems with the story which have led many to question whether Gasparilla as he was known was a real historical figure. Finally Pirates Cove, which is on the southern tip of Connecticut may house these valuable chests. In the late 1600s a Scottish sailor named William Kidd came to America. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. This location is said to be on the southern end at False Live Oak Point. Gaspar's legend is one of a murderous, bloodthirsty swashbuckler who stole money from Spain, stole a ship, kidnapped a Spanish Princess, and left a trail of death and gold throughout the high seas. 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. Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. (story from treasurelore.com). Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. We thought that was awesome. And to this day, Jose Gaspar returns on board his pirate ship every year to capture the city.". He successfully captured a few ships during his years long voyage. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. 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. He was wanted until 1815 when opinion of him changed. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. 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. Many took the deal. (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. The rest of the treasure remains hidden, waiting to be found. The author of the pamphlet readily stated that the spectacular tale was a work of fiction with no genuine facts in it. Jose was also an officer of high standing in the naval affairs of the Spaniards. 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. Later that fall, he captured a large French slave ship bound for some sugar plantations. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136. 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 had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. The leaflet establishes Gaspars legend, claiming that he chose Gasparilla Island as the best of the islands in Charlotte Harbor to establish his base. Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. His work appears here every third Monday; the views expressed. These stories and locations presented are based on our research but should be taken with some skepticism. 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. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. . Despite his brutal reputation, Gasparilla was supposed to have a soft side as well. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. 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. Having spent some time here, Blackbeard built a fort near a swamp west of Charleston. Despite its long history, there is no definitive origin of the name. 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. We have compiled a list of 11 potential pirate treasure troves left unfound. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A treasure said to be worth $30 million. The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. His fleet would capture vessels at sea, and take all the goods back to Galveston. "The reason I believe in Gasparilla is because I believe in Juan Gomez," Mike Gattuso, a member of The Real Treasure Hunters, told Paluska. We also participate in programs from eBay, CJ, Bluehost, Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. Treasure hunter Stacey Hunt holds an old nail found under the ground on a wetland believed to have lost treasure. Not being able to pass up this giant score, he pursed the ship that was flying a British flag. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. 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. History Gattuso will keep them busy on Useppa and across Florida. Name of The Day. The most notorious and successful pirate was Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla. According to archives, the island community was created by Albert W. Gilchrist, Floridas 20th governor. He would even compensate for injuries if they were sustained while obtaining cargo from another ship. Powell showed us museum exhibits full of gold coins recovered from shipwrecks and explained how the legend of Jose Gaspar launched the Gasparilla Pirate Festival we know and love today. Some say it reveals compass bearings around Lettuce Lake. He met and married his wife in New York and had 2 daughters. Similar Names. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. Therefore hiding treasure might have seemed like a logical choice. Just a salty pirate looking to explore and document the wonders of the Caribbean. I love this place built around 1640 . | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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? And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. This Plantation is said to be roughly 5 miles West of the town of Iowa. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In this time Spain controlled a huge swathe of the Americas and Gaspar grew rich. 11 The Cuerdale Treasures- $2.6 Million. Buumi . The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . You are using an out of date browser. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. Some speculate that this is remnants of Rogers great treasure. This treasure as well as the tunnels remain lost. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. 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. Many say he buried treasure here during this time. The story goes that Lafitte and his men used an old barn on LeBleau Plantation as a gathering location and perhaps buried treasure here. He enjoyed telling stories about his adventures on the high seas and a large amount of Gasparillas treasure that was never discovered. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. 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. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f2/ferret-iii.htm, Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story. 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. Michael Gattuso and his crew got a cable debut Wednesday night in an episode of Discovery Channel's show "Expedition Unknown." jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. Rumors take on a life of their own and ultimately cause hurt or expense. 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. 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. 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 . All of it is built around the story of Gaspar. What year did Jose Gaspar invade Tampa? Gilchrist intended to turn the area into a community. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . One of the most popular pirates in Florida folklore is Jose' Gaspar. 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. When a ship was taken, the people aboard were not immediately murdered but instead offered the option of dying or joining Gasparillas crew. Blackbeard also spend some time in North Carolina, in fact he secured a Royal Pardon in the town of Bath. The team searched the waters at low tide for a canon buried in the sand. There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. He told where the body would be found and a sketch was prepared under his direction, and in recent years in the exact location as described, the skeleton of a beheaded woman was found.". Canceled2021 Gasparilla Pirate Festival / Date We've been chasing his treasures. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. Ye be walkin the plank if ye so think. If we find that buried treasure together, we can split the booty among all of our readers and we never have to work again.